Our organization “VZW Zwerfkat in Nood II” (Stray cat in Trouble II), which celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year, gives shelter to an average of 500 cats per year. Some stray cats are FIV infected.
It can take quite some time to find a new home for the FIV infected cats, mainly because of the many prejudices surrounding FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus or feline AIDS).
Of course, we never euthanize a cat for the sole reason that we do not have enough places in our regular shelter (guest families take in stray cats until we find a loving home for them). However, the number of guest families that can take in a FIV-infected cat is limited. Therefore, in 2006 we decided to create a shelter especially for FIV-cats: Buddykat.
Besides taking care of the FIV infected cats, we find it very important to give proper information about FIV.
When a cat has been tested FIV-positive, it can raise a lot of fear, questions and doubt with the cat’s owner. Therefore a very important task of Buddykat is to talk with owners and to try to take away some of the fears and give information and advice to them.
In the past 3 years, we gave shelter to 27 FIV infected cats.
Every FIV-positive cat that is rescued by our organization finds a temporary home in Buddykat, our FIV project. Next to that, we have a few guest families that are willing to take care of them.
When a cat arrives at our shelter, we give him or her all the tender love and care we have. The cats that are in the final and most severe stage of the disease will be humanely euthanized; but every cat that has the slightest chance of survival will be given the opportunity to a new home and a wonderful life!
Buddykat is a cosy, homelikeplace. There’s a bed, lots of baskets to sleep in, scratching posts and even a television with DVD-player! We play movies of aquaria and such J
It’s a sort of living room, where they hopefully feel secure, happy and loved, because it is possible that a cat will live in our shelter for several years. We have a separate room for severly ill cats, a little kitchen, and since 2007, we also have a fenced outside area.
Buddykat is meant to be an intermediate station, not a final station.
The FIV-infected cats will stay in Buddykat until we find a loving owner for them. During their stay in Buddykat, they will be pampered by our dedicated caretakers.
The caretakers (all volunteers) come over twice a day to take of the cats and spend some play- and cuddletime with them.
Of course, they also take care of the hygiene in our shelter, empty and clean the litter boxes and feed the cats. If necessary, they’ll also give the cats their medications.
The cats get dry food twice a day. Next to that they get some canned food, treats and cat milk.
The only additional thing they get and “normal” cats don’t, is Interferon, an artificial immune system booster. The cats will be taken to a vet when they are ill and we nurse them in our separate sickbay. Here, we have all the necessary medications; diet food and our caretakers have all the knowledge needed to give the cats the proper care. The caretakers keep a logbook to communicate with each other. Next to that, every cat has its’ own card where we write down the cat’s habits, treatments, etc.
