Last month, NAWS Humane Society of Illinois held a cat adoption event. While lots of kitties happily went home with new families, at the end of the day, two babies named Pixie and Sprout were left behind.
Sometimes, it’s a mystery why animals get overlooked at adoption events. But in this case, sadly, the humane society’s staff and volunteers knew exactly why people weren’t interested in Sprout and Pixie.
“Sprout and Pixie are FIV+ kittens,” NAWS Humane Society of Illinois director Fran Grzesik wrote on TikTok. “Which causes them to be extremely overlooked. Not even catching a second glance sometimes.”
Because Pixie and Sprout are a bit different from other cats, people don’t take the time to get to know their sweet, bubbly personalities.
Sprout is known among the humane society’s volunteers as one of their most playful kittens. He never passes up an opportunity to pounce on a toy.
“Whether he’s chasing a ball, stalking a feather wand, or investigating the sound of a crinkly bag, he’s always on the move — unless he’s following you around like your loyal little shadow,” NAWS Humane Society of Illinois wrote on Facebook.
On the other hand, Pixie is one of the shelter’s most affectionate kittens. Her favorite thing to do is curl up on someone’s lap.
“When she’s not showing off her acrobatic skills, she’s snuggling up for some well-earned cuddles,” NAWS Humane Society of Illinois wrote. “She’s the best of both worlds — playful energy and gentle affection.”
While people might feel unsure about adopting a feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) positive cat, the truth is that the diagnosis is not as scary as it might seem. There isn’t a cure for FIV, but according to the Cornell Feline Health Center, cats with FIV tend to live just as long as cats who don’t have the condition.
Adopting a cat with FIV requires just a few simple lifestyle choices that would actually benefit any cat. As with all pets, it’s important to take FIV+ kitties to regular vet appointments to keep an eye on any potential infections.
Because the condition is transmitted through bite wounds, it’s also important to keep FIV+ kitties indoors, slowly introduce new household members, and spay and neuter everyone to minimize fighting instincts.
“[C]ats in households with stable social structures where housemates do not fight are at little risk of acquiring FIV infections,” Cornell Feline Health Center wrote on their website.
As Sprout and Pixie are both social butterflies, they would do best in households with other cats, whether they’re adopted together or separately. At the end of the day, all these kitties want are loving families.
“These kittens don’t deserve to wait for their forever home because of their diagnosis,” Grzesik wrote on TikTok. “They don’t understand that they are different. They just want to be loved.”
Source link
