Coping With Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

I rescued a cat that was just wondering around my old apartment complex a little over 2 years ago. I asked around and he didn’t belong to anyone so I took him to the vets to be snipped and get all his shots, etc. Of course I had the vet run all the normal tests and she called me back later that same day. My stomach dropped to my knees when she said he was FIV+. After I asked her if he tested positive for anything else and she said no, I didn’t hesitate when she asked me what I wanted to do. He was otherwise healthy and happy and only 18 months old.

I take him in quarterly for a check up, shots and all the things I can do preventively. My vet is also wonderful and knows exactly what his situation is, so she watches for certain things and checks other things that normally wouldn’t be checked on such a young cat.
When people ask me why I took in a cat that I know will be expensive and hard to care for, I simply tell them that I took on the responsibility for a precious life and money will never be a factor in any decision I make regarding him or his care.

Niko is a wonderful, smart, loving (well, mostly loving..sometime he gets that “bug up his butt” cat thing..haha!) and funny cat. I am so glad I didn’t just give up on him. I know that he’s going to have a hard time later in life and, when the time comes, I will have to make that horrible decision that will come way too soon for me. But until then, I’m going to love him and give him the happiest life I can.