In July of 2000, my then 18-year old cat, Shannon was tested positive for FIV. Although he no longer ventured outside except with supervision, Shannon had a history of aggressively dealing with neighborhood cats who would dare venture into his territory, and we surmised that one of those fights had been responsible for his contracting the virus, which had apparently laid dormant for several years.
Shannon coped with his illness in the same way he had lived his life, with dignity and courage. He was truly a cat's cat, and my best friend right to the end. He rose to my challenge to "give me another year," and went to the Bridge a few days after the year had passed. Nowadays, I sponsor special needs cats, in his honor.