Aminal
12-01-2006, 04:38 PM
He first came into my life almost a year ago. I took him off the street and gave him a place to live. Although, after he had been in the house about a week I almost threw him back in the street. (Thankfully, I did not.) He physically hurt me, almost taking out one of my eyes. I forgave him though and let him stay. I knew it was not totally his fault. He had become too wild, being a product of the street. Mostly, I knew he was just scared.
Not too long after, I took him to get his blood checked. It was determined he had Aids. A few months later, I took him to get retested. The second test confirmed the first.
Through the months, I have come to love him. He has become very loving and affectionate, loving me, also. Now, he rarely misses a chance to be next to me, and to show me that he cares for me, too.
How then, can I consider killing him?
He just does not know better. He does not realize that he can harm others, by possibly transmitting his virus, and 'issuing' a probable and unwarranted death sentence.
Since he has been with me, he has settled down a lot. But, he is still reckless, and still has a 'natural' mean streak in him. It's honestly all he came to know from being in the street. Also, he will not walk away from a fight. He does not tend to start them, but he surely will not walk away from one. And he can be physically vicious.
If you have read this much, and before you read any more, I want to ask you to forgive me. I don't mean to be over dramatic. It's just that I think all living things on earth deserve a chance at life. That is why I am here. I don't want to kill him. But, I have answered my own question, and you can 'see' why I would consider doing just that.
Since you have been kind enough to read, I will introduce him to you. - His name is Word. I named him that because he talks English, which is not his 'native' tongue. (However, since he was tested, he does not talk so much anymore. I believe he can sense my great hurt for him, and it is affecting him. Because before, I could not get him to be quite.) He is a beautiful American Shorthair, Blue Tabby, with big beautiful green eyes. - Yes, a cat. (Hence, my asking you to forgive me.) - Word the talking cat.
Only once in the past have I been close to a person that Aids has affected. It was my ex-roommate. Her brother died of Aids. I only met him a couple of times. I did not really know any of her family very well. I went to the funeral. I cried a little. I have always been the type to hold in emotions from public display. I cried a great deal later, though. I felt so very bad for him, as well as her and the family. I still feel the hurt and it has been a few years now.
I don't want to cry over Word. I want him to live. He is a creature of this earth, just like you and me. He deserves to live. He does not deserve to be 'put to sleep' (which is just an unkind version/derivative of kill/ed) just because he has Aids. But, if I do not find him a home soon, I will have to kill him, even though it will break my heart. I just cannot allow him to be in my house anymore. You see I have other animals that I have rescued. Their lives are in danger every day Word is here, and he has already been here too long. I am very sorry to have to say something like that, but it is true. He injured the Alpha male of the house a few months ago. So far, after one blood test, that cat has no virus. I have to retest him. But, I worry constantly about him, and the others. Fortunately, he cannot affect any animal but a cat, but even that is too much.
Anyone that is a lover of life can understand my pain, even though 'it is just a cat'. Of people that love life, most tend to love animals, too. Well, I need a lover of life to 'step forward'. Word needs a loving and caring home!
Let me tell you a little more about Word. - He brings a great deal of love to my live. But, you may think I have painted two different pictures of Word. Your thinking would be somewhat correct. However, know that he is only the way nature has taught him to be. While he has become a very loving and affectionate animal, him being in the street his whole life makes him territorial and defensive. Again, though, he has settled down even more than 'I' thought he would. I actually thought he would never be able to be adopted by anyone. It really amazes me how far he has come. And, he can only 'get better' staying in a good home.
-
The immediate above brings me to places like, where I live, the SPCA, Society For The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which takes in animals and tries to find them a home. In no way will I bad-mouth the SPCA, they are a great organization, but if I take Word there he will 'automatically' be killed because of his disease. And I can find no place anywhere that will take him to try and find him a home.
-
Word is currently isolated in my master bedroom. Unfortunately, most the time I spend with him is when I am sleeping. That's not quality time. Also unfortunately, the master bedroom is where I would spend most of the time with the other cats, playing with them and exercising them, and that is where they use to sleep. (I have 4. All rescue cats. I still rescue other animals, but these four I have kept as my own through the years.) Consequently, because of time with work etc, we are all kind of isolated form each other. This, in combination with the animals not getting along, has taken a toll on all. Myself, and my animals, are stressed out. (No, this is not the only stress factor in my life. But even if it was, it would be enough, constantly worrying about the other rescue animals being infected with a deadly disease.)
More about Word.
-- He also has leukemia. (Yuk!) Specifically, he has FIV, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, and FeLV, Feline Leukemia Virus. ('You' might want to do a little research on both.)
-- Word would have to be an INDOOR cat. He can go outdoors, but only on a leash, and not to be 'walked'. Meaning, he cannot be permitted to 'use the restroom' outdoors. Hence, indoors with a litter box. Leashed with owner outdoors on an empty stomach. I have been training him to take a leash. He has accepted a leash and is doing very well. (Staying completely indoors would be better, though, as long as he is getting exercised. But even though he had a hard life in the street, he so loves the out doors.)
-- Diet: I currently have him on what I consider to be a MINIMUM diet for nutrition and health. It would be good for him to stay on that diet. It is nothing special. He eats a medium priced food, Science Diet, mostly consisting of the canned chicken. The entrée is better, because he tends not to chew his food. (He still does not realize that he does not have to worry about his next meal, or another animal stealing it, and gobbles it up like it is his last meal.) I give him some dry indoor cat Science Diet, but it has to be soaked in an appropriate amount of water till it is soft, because of the previous mentioned, or he will not digest it properly. (NOTE: I would feed him (wet) canned food only, I just cannot afford it. But because of his diseases, I WILL NOT feed him a 'cheaper' food.) (So I have a few less bologna sandwiches. Big deal.) (His diet should really be ‘better’, though.)
-- He has to be the ONLY CAT in the household. While I said Word will fight, he does not really start them. The other cats are afraid of him, growl, and that excites Word and makes him want to go after them. He actually tries to be their friend, or, for as long as he can, ignores their (scared) hostility. I honestly believe he could become a good companion to a dog.
-- Word can only infect another cat, but he can infect male or female. He cannot infect humans. His diseases are not Zootonic.
-- Word, at this time, can be considered, otherwise, healthy, except for his teeth. His teeth need a cleaning by a Veterinarian, and he has at least two broken teeth that need to be removed or fixed. (Fixed, preferably.) - He has a slight respiratory problem, but it has actually improved. (Respiratory problems in animals are not uncommon even in otherwise completely healthy animals.)
-- He does not tear up, or mess up stuff. He uses his litter box and his scratch post.
-- If you adopt Word, be prepared to have a lot of fun. He loves to play (since he has learned how). And be prepared for a lot of affection. However, on both counts, he will not annoy. If you want to be left alone, he will leave you alone. But, he does need quality time, of course.
OK. All considered, he is actually in good shape, mentally and physically. Of course, in regards to his diseases, he could live a (relatively) normal life, or, as you can guess, could succumb to an ailment in a year. I do believe, though, that he has some good years in front of him... if I can find him a home... soon!
I am going to stop here (for now). I sincerely want to thank you for reading this long post. If you think you can help Word by giving him a home, please, respond. I bet he will tell you,
"I love you".
Check Word out. :) (http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/232/word001320x240tj8.jpg)
Not too long after, I took him to get his blood checked. It was determined he had Aids. A few months later, I took him to get retested. The second test confirmed the first.
Through the months, I have come to love him. He has become very loving and affectionate, loving me, also. Now, he rarely misses a chance to be next to me, and to show me that he cares for me, too.
How then, can I consider killing him?
He just does not know better. He does not realize that he can harm others, by possibly transmitting his virus, and 'issuing' a probable and unwarranted death sentence.
Since he has been with me, he has settled down a lot. But, he is still reckless, and still has a 'natural' mean streak in him. It's honestly all he came to know from being in the street. Also, he will not walk away from a fight. He does not tend to start them, but he surely will not walk away from one. And he can be physically vicious.
If you have read this much, and before you read any more, I want to ask you to forgive me. I don't mean to be over dramatic. It's just that I think all living things on earth deserve a chance at life. That is why I am here. I don't want to kill him. But, I have answered my own question, and you can 'see' why I would consider doing just that.
Since you have been kind enough to read, I will introduce him to you. - His name is Word. I named him that because he talks English, which is not his 'native' tongue. (However, since he was tested, he does not talk so much anymore. I believe he can sense my great hurt for him, and it is affecting him. Because before, I could not get him to be quite.) He is a beautiful American Shorthair, Blue Tabby, with big beautiful green eyes. - Yes, a cat. (Hence, my asking you to forgive me.) - Word the talking cat.
Only once in the past have I been close to a person that Aids has affected. It was my ex-roommate. Her brother died of Aids. I only met him a couple of times. I did not really know any of her family very well. I went to the funeral. I cried a little. I have always been the type to hold in emotions from public display. I cried a great deal later, though. I felt so very bad for him, as well as her and the family. I still feel the hurt and it has been a few years now.
I don't want to cry over Word. I want him to live. He is a creature of this earth, just like you and me. He deserves to live. He does not deserve to be 'put to sleep' (which is just an unkind version/derivative of kill/ed) just because he has Aids. But, if I do not find him a home soon, I will have to kill him, even though it will break my heart. I just cannot allow him to be in my house anymore. You see I have other animals that I have rescued. Their lives are in danger every day Word is here, and he has already been here too long. I am very sorry to have to say something like that, but it is true. He injured the Alpha male of the house a few months ago. So far, after one blood test, that cat has no virus. I have to retest him. But, I worry constantly about him, and the others. Fortunately, he cannot affect any animal but a cat, but even that is too much.
Anyone that is a lover of life can understand my pain, even though 'it is just a cat'. Of people that love life, most tend to love animals, too. Well, I need a lover of life to 'step forward'. Word needs a loving and caring home!
Let me tell you a little more about Word. - He brings a great deal of love to my live. But, you may think I have painted two different pictures of Word. Your thinking would be somewhat correct. However, know that he is only the way nature has taught him to be. While he has become a very loving and affectionate animal, him being in the street his whole life makes him territorial and defensive. Again, though, he has settled down even more than 'I' thought he would. I actually thought he would never be able to be adopted by anyone. It really amazes me how far he has come. And, he can only 'get better' staying in a good home.
-
The immediate above brings me to places like, where I live, the SPCA, Society For The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which takes in animals and tries to find them a home. In no way will I bad-mouth the SPCA, they are a great organization, but if I take Word there he will 'automatically' be killed because of his disease. And I can find no place anywhere that will take him to try and find him a home.
-
Word is currently isolated in my master bedroom. Unfortunately, most the time I spend with him is when I am sleeping. That's not quality time. Also unfortunately, the master bedroom is where I would spend most of the time with the other cats, playing with them and exercising them, and that is where they use to sleep. (I have 4. All rescue cats. I still rescue other animals, but these four I have kept as my own through the years.) Consequently, because of time with work etc, we are all kind of isolated form each other. This, in combination with the animals not getting along, has taken a toll on all. Myself, and my animals, are stressed out. (No, this is not the only stress factor in my life. But even if it was, it would be enough, constantly worrying about the other rescue animals being infected with a deadly disease.)
More about Word.
-- He also has leukemia. (Yuk!) Specifically, he has FIV, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, and FeLV, Feline Leukemia Virus. ('You' might want to do a little research on both.)
-- Word would have to be an INDOOR cat. He can go outdoors, but only on a leash, and not to be 'walked'. Meaning, he cannot be permitted to 'use the restroom' outdoors. Hence, indoors with a litter box. Leashed with owner outdoors on an empty stomach. I have been training him to take a leash. He has accepted a leash and is doing very well. (Staying completely indoors would be better, though, as long as he is getting exercised. But even though he had a hard life in the street, he so loves the out doors.)
-- Diet: I currently have him on what I consider to be a MINIMUM diet for nutrition and health. It would be good for him to stay on that diet. It is nothing special. He eats a medium priced food, Science Diet, mostly consisting of the canned chicken. The entrée is better, because he tends not to chew his food. (He still does not realize that he does not have to worry about his next meal, or another animal stealing it, and gobbles it up like it is his last meal.) I give him some dry indoor cat Science Diet, but it has to be soaked in an appropriate amount of water till it is soft, because of the previous mentioned, or he will not digest it properly. (NOTE: I would feed him (wet) canned food only, I just cannot afford it. But because of his diseases, I WILL NOT feed him a 'cheaper' food.) (So I have a few less bologna sandwiches. Big deal.) (His diet should really be ‘better’, though.)
-- He has to be the ONLY CAT in the household. While I said Word will fight, he does not really start them. The other cats are afraid of him, growl, and that excites Word and makes him want to go after them. He actually tries to be their friend, or, for as long as he can, ignores their (scared) hostility. I honestly believe he could become a good companion to a dog.
-- Word can only infect another cat, but he can infect male or female. He cannot infect humans. His diseases are not Zootonic.
-- Word, at this time, can be considered, otherwise, healthy, except for his teeth. His teeth need a cleaning by a Veterinarian, and he has at least two broken teeth that need to be removed or fixed. (Fixed, preferably.) - He has a slight respiratory problem, but it has actually improved. (Respiratory problems in animals are not uncommon even in otherwise completely healthy animals.)
-- He does not tear up, or mess up stuff. He uses his litter box and his scratch post.
-- If you adopt Word, be prepared to have a lot of fun. He loves to play (since he has learned how). And be prepared for a lot of affection. However, on both counts, he will not annoy. If you want to be left alone, he will leave you alone. But, he does need quality time, of course.
OK. All considered, he is actually in good shape, mentally and physically. Of course, in regards to his diseases, he could live a (relatively) normal life, or, as you can guess, could succumb to an ailment in a year. I do believe, though, that he has some good years in front of him... if I can find him a home... soon!
I am going to stop here (for now). I sincerely want to thank you for reading this long post. If you think you can help Word by giving him a home, please, respond. I bet he will tell you,
"I love you".
Check Word out. :) (http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/232/word001320x240tj8.jpg)