I am heartsick today. Our sweet cat Lindy has been missing for 3 weeks. Last week a lovely lady called and said that she had found Lindy. I raced over to her house and she showed me this poor, beat up, skin and bones, male tabby cat. Definitely not our female Lindy. I went home but couldn't stop thinking about this poor skinny, one eyed, cat living in her bush. I called her the next morning and asked her what she was going to do with the cat. She didn't know but she definitely didn't want him. I decided to take him home and care for him the way I would want someone to care for Lindy if they found her. Well, we have all gotten so attached to him. I have put up posters, put his picture on Craigslist, and called all of the humane shelters and vets around us. Noone has claimed him.

Today I took him to the vet and found out that he is FIV positive. I am so upset. We have another kitty in the home and I still believe that Lindy will be home soon. The new cat, Mike Wazowski (the one eyed monster in Monsters, INC) has just settled into our family beautifully but I am worried about the FIV. How will I find him a home now?? He is not the most attractive guy (missing an eye and all), he is FIV +, and he is only "mostly" litter box trained.

I am heartbroken. . . I want Lindy back, I want Mike Wazowski to be healthy, and nothing is working like it should.

Hi, Lisa, I am so sorry about your precious Lindy missing, and now the very sad news about little Mike Wazowski. It sounds like little Mike has found the person who will love him for as long as his earthly journey continues. What does the vet suggest about little Mike?

I know what it's like to have a missing kitty; I've had two in my lifetime in my much younger years. I hope that your precious little girl is able to come home to you very soon. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, Lisa, and please do let us know how things are going.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Thank you for the kind wishes. The vet said that while Mike Wazowski can expect to live for many many many years he probably needs to do that in family where he is the only kitty. Dogs are no problem and he does love my dogs, so that would be nice for him. I just feel so bad for the guy, first a lady finds him and thinks he is my Lindy. Then I try to rescue him, got all of his shots, dewormed, flea stuff, only to find this out. Plus, somewhere along the line he lost his eye. Poor poor baby.

What an awful thing to have happened, I do feel so sorry for you Lisa. How traumatic, having your precious Lindy missing and now through your kindness you have even more heartache. I'm trying to put myself in your position and it's difficult, I just don't know what I would do. I guess you will have to find another home for him somewhere. If you took that darling kitty in, surely someone else will be kind enough to, it's just finding them that's the problem. Could your vet ask around for you? What does your vet say about keeping him with your own cat?
I really feel for you having Lindy missing too, it is the most awful feeling in the world when a pet goes missing, you never stop looking and it is so stressful. I will pray for her return. xx

madi xx

Thank you all! It IS stressfull having Lindy missing. We keep getting sightings but she is never there when we get there. I can't understand how she can be so close but still not have come home.

Mike is looking so much better these days. Amazing what a couple weeks of food can do for a boy! Still hope to find his family. I can't bear the thought that I have a cat that someone is searching for!

Here is Mike!

LisaP, did you decide what you are going to go about Mike?

I wanted to tell you that I have an FIV+ cat. He lives out and about throughout the house with the others. Before I adopted him, I spoke with the shelter's veterinarians and my own veterinarians. I did research myself, as well. I would have never done anything to compromise the health of my little ones.

According to research, FIV can only be spread through deep, penetrating bite wounds. Such wounds would be suffered in a cat fight and not through casual play. It cannot be spread by sharing food bowls or litter boxes.

I recently lost my baby, Jet, to FIP. During the initial exploratory surgery and blood tests, they checked for everything to determine what was wrong. They did an FIV test, which came out negative. At that point, he had been living with my FIV+ cat for two years. They not only lived together, but they were best friends and played together all the time.

It is always best to protect your beloved pets. But, I just wanted you to know that it is possible to add an FIV+ cat into the mix.

You are in my thoughts and prayers, as is Mike.