Mango: Our Special Needs Boy Goes Home!
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Mango was surrendered to Kingdom Animal Shelter in early January, 2020. He is the most lovely, sweet cat, one who rolls over for a belly rub, one who reaches up and wraps his arms around your neck for a kiss. Mango had one challenge to adoption. He is FIV+. If a kitty is FIV+, it means that he has a virus that can compromise his immune system. Sometimes that virus has its way and a kitty is very sick. But often, a cat with the virus is rather a carrier...and his health is tip top. That is Mango’s situation.
There is little to worry about with an FIV+ cat in the home. They are no risk to humans or other species. And they can co-exist with non-FIV cats, as long as there is no out-and-out fighting, no deep canine bites. They can play together, they can share bedding and litter boxes, they can eat together. They do need a bit more attention on the health front. For instance, where we recommend a wellness check up with the vet once a year for non-FIV+ cats, we recommend a check up twice a year for an FIV+ cat. One area that may be affected with FIV’s is their teeth and gums, so those bear special attention.
Most Shelters will not take FIV+cats as surrenders or if they get them as a stray, they will euthanize them. Over the past 8 years, we have found homes for probably 20 or so FIV+ cats. At first, we found other shelters that would take them...one in Massachusetts and one in the southern part of Vermont. Then we began to put them in our own fosters, and adopted them out of the foster. And several years ago, we began taking them right into our Shelter and adopting them directly from there. Even though they can live in a home with a non-FIV+ cat, in the shelter, with the turnover of cats, we keep the FIV kitties separate.
We are so thrilled that Mango has gone to his forever home. He will be an only kitty with a wonderful woman who has read up on FIV and is ready to welcome him into her home with open arms and a loving heart. We are so glad for this very special feline boy.