Cat's Name, Age at Adoption and Now, and Gender
Remy, adopted at 6 months (in 2002), 8 years old now, DSH male
Gitana, adopted at 4 months (in 2002), 8 years old now, DSH female
Name of Special Needs Condition (Blind, Deaf, FIV, etc)
Both my kitties are FIV+ and Remy is paraplegic.
How I Came to Meet my Special Needs Cat
After my old kittie passed away in 2002, my best friends got me Gitana, she was a tiny, adorable kitten. I felt terrible leaving her alone going to work, I would come home and could hear her meowing hysterically from down the hall in the apartment building, so when my best friend moved in with her "cat-allergic" boyfriend, I took her Remy after two months. They were adopted from the same foster and there's a chance they might be brother and sister. They're also both FIV+. In 2008, Remy fell from the 3rd floor window, he jump up and the screen didn't hold him, and fractured his spine in two places. He's now in a diaper
How I Care for my Special Needs Cat
Remy's bladder needs to be expressed 3 times a day. He gets boarded at the hospital when we go away. He occasionally (although rarely) gets bladder infections and very rarely gets diarrhea (only happened twice since 2008).
Advice
- Don't shy away from FIV cats! There's almost no extra work required.
- Do consider paraplegic cats but only if you have the resources and time to dedicate to them. The bond is incredible.
