CatRescue NSW is currently caring for Mitch, a gorgeous 10 month old who has been looking for a home since he was rescued from a Sydney pound at just 10 weeks of age. This handsome tabby and white boy has a fun, vivacious and affectionate personality and under normal circumstances people would be fighting to adopt him. So why is Mitch still waiting? He's one of the rare and unlucky kittens to have contracted FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) in utero.

There was a time when FIV was erroneously considered a death sentence but vets and pet owners have since altered their perspective and developed a better understanding of the virus enabling cats who are FIV positive to lead long, healthy and normal lives.

Many people in the community now live with FIV positive cats - even in multiple cat households - and aside from making small adjustments to how they care for them (such as not allowing an FIV positive cat outside) it is easy to forget that there is anything different about them.

FIV is a commonly misunderstood virus. The below article explains more about it in the hope of giving cats like Mitch a second chance.

FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus which attacks certain cells in a cat's immune system. A cat infected with FIV may be clinically normal for years before the virus becomes active (in human terms we call this AIDS; so here we will call it Feline AIDS) and many cats will never show overt signs of feline AIDS and will live normal and healthy lives.

Once the FIV becomes Feline AIDS, it attacks and weakens the immune system, which makes the cat susceptible to other infections. Much like with HIV and AIDS in humans, FIV positive cats generally live for many years before the first signs of Feline AIDS occur. Even once the first infection occurs it can still be many years before the cat becomes chronically ill, provided each infection is promptly treated and the cat is well cared for. It is also best to minimise exposure to illness by keeping FIV positive cats indoors and separate from sick cats. Lady (pictured right) is 10yrs old and FIV positive. She lives a very happy life indoors.

The main way for a cat to contract FIV is through deep bite wounds, where the saliva from the FIV infected cat enters the blood stream of the non-FIV infected cat. For infection to occur, it has to be quite a serious bite wound where blood is drawn. A playful nip is not sufficient to transmit FIV. It is not transmitted from saliva to saliva, so cannot be passed through the sharing of food bowls, or by cats grooming each other.

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CatRescue is looking for someone special to adopt Mitch (pictured). Mitch is now 10 months old, and has been in the care of CatRescue since he was 10 weeks old. Mitch is very unusual, in that he was unlucky in contracted FIV from his mum.

Over the past few months CatRescue volunteers have devoted their time to rescuing, caring for and rehoming abandoned animals. Thanks to your ongoing support many lives have been saved from an indefensible, unnecessary and tragic death.

But this vital work has also incurred significant vet bills and in order for us to continue rescuing animals, we are in urgent need of donations. Please consider making a donation today. All donations to CatRescue over $2 are tax deductible and are used immediately to save lives.

Thank you for reading our newsletter and for your ongoing support!

Help Mitch Find A Home

Help Mitch Find A Home

Mitch is looking for his forever home

Donations Urgently Needed for Vet Bills