Ashley, your story is so moving. Kong is a very lucky kitty. You are an angel for caring for him.
I found my Gabby (or he found me) when I was visiting on a farm down south this summer. He simply showed up on Sunday morning underneath my car, meowing for attention. The vet thought he was about 10 weeks old. It had been a particularly difficult weekend -- arguing intensely with my then-husband -- I was at a low point in my life. Gabby -- short for Gabriel -- was like a miracle. He is the most loving, huggable kitten I've ever had. He tested FeLV+ but is now happy and healthy at 7 months. It is very likely someone dumped him in the country, as he was clearly not a feral and had been tamed to the point that he was perfectly content tucked into my bib overall while I worked on my computer. He would have very likely been killed by coyotes or hawks had he not found me. I've left my husband. It was as if Gabby showed up to help me. We need these guys in our lives, FeLV+ or not. Take care, and best of luck with law school. You'll make a terrific lawyer -- complete with heart and conscience. Verna > Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:54:11 -0500 > From: ashley.vano...@gmail.com > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Subject: [Felvtalk] Introduction > > Hi, everyone, I have been actively reading this list for a month or so now, > so I figured it was time I join. > > My cat, Kong, just turned 3 in October. I found him in a Wal-Mart parking > lot when he was 12 weeks old. He was mostly feral, had been starved, most > likely abused, and had a nasty case of lung worm. > > It was love at first sight. > > He had his initial kitten vaccinations, and was declared to be in good > health once the lung worm cleared up. He has come such a long way in > socialization--he is not a lap cat, and really doesn't even like to be > petted for long periods of time, but I can tell he adores me in his special > "Kong" way. He also has an incredibly intense bond with my 4 year old cat, > Gonzo. I've never seen two unrelated cats take to each other they way they > did. > > Around October 15, I noticed Kong wasn't acting like himself. I am a law > student, and I am gone most of the day, so I kept an eye on him and told > myself if he didn't perk up I'd take him to the vet (I was hoping he would > perk up, because I am unemployed, live on a very limited student loan budget > and live in an incredibly expensive area of Chicago--money is VERY tight). I > noticed he wasn't eating or drinking much, and when I saw him wobble as he > stood up, I knew he had to get to the vet right away. > > To make a long story shorter, he ended up at an Emergency treatment > facility. He had many tests done, and 3 blood transfusions. He was diagnosed > with FeLV, and non regenerative anemia. His ELISA was negative, but the IFV > was positive. The emergency vet charged me over $5K and sent Kong home with > me to die. > > A vet in my neighborhood is now treating him, and I have him on prednisolone > and interferon. It's been over a month since his diagnosis, but he is > hanging in there. He has a healthy appetite, and occasionally feels well > enough to play with his favorite string. I call him my miracle cat, because > according to every vet I've spoken to, he should be dead right now. > > He is my world, and I am going to continue to do every thing I possibly can > for him. I've currently spent about $7K on his treatment, which is about the > amount of loan money I will get for my spring semester starting in January > (so I've got to find a paying job pronto, or I'm in big trouble) I'm > terrified that he will require more transfusions or expensive treatments > that I can't afford. > > So, that's Kong's story. I look forward to talking with you all and learning > from your experience. > > --Ashley > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org _________________________________________________________________ Bing brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MFESRP&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MFESRP_Local_MapsMenu_Resturants_1x1 _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
