Giving a stray a second chance.

I have learned a lot about FIV in the past few days, the reason being is because I have fallen for a sweet old stray cat I named Big Red. This poor cat was abandoned ten years ago by some heartless people that used to live in my trailer park. Left to survive on his own and no one wanting him he had to fight for his life. 

I found him under my porch, he would come around at night and eat cat food I put outside for the neighborhood cats. (I swear I am NOT a crazy cat lady) just someone who loves animals. Well he finally learned to trust me, before then he wouldn't approach me he would bolt seeing anyone. 

I asked my neighbor and my landlord about him, people had been trying to catch him to take him to a shelter but he wouldn't let anyone approach him. 

All in all my cat started living on my porch because I started feeding him tuna and skinless, boneless chicken. When I first found him he was matted, skin and bones, he was an inch from death.

Taking him into the vet yesterday I started crying when I heard he had feline AIDS because I have three normal cats and thought I can't bring him in and he is going to die if I don't.

A lot of people think, including myself in the past, that even petting a cat with FIV will get my normal cat sick. But it is false. Actually normal social contact will not cause your cats to get sick, even sharing bowls is a slim chance. Fighting, sex, and litter boxes are the main ways. 

I say to just even keep them separate. Now Big Red lives in my master bedroom and he is so old, he is just happy to sleep on a giant queen bed and have someone bring him breakfast in bed. 

I could have given to a shelter and I could have put him down, but I would rather give him a second chance at life and I knew that taking him to a shelter no one would take a 14 year old cats with AIDS. 

It's not easy losing a pet, and I know I could lose him even five minutes from now. But I know that I am giving him a life he never thought he would have again. 

He is now on antibiotics, eye drops for conjunctivitis, he had gotten flea medication, and de worming. He has gingivitis, conjunctivitis, and swollen glands. But he is doing better.

This is him in the picture obviously, could you look at this cat and reject giving him a better life? I hope your answer is no.

If you have up and abandoned an animal look at how infected this cat is, and realize how screwed up it is to ditch an animal. A creature that loved you and you threw it away to die. If you don't love an animal and want to keep it forever then DON'T GET A PET!!! It is people like me that clean up your cruel mess. If you don't want your cat anymore take it to a shelter, not a pound a shelter. Have a heart, and don't be afraid to love an animal even the really sick ones.