New Addition

Thank you to everyone who sent good thoughts regarding my friend Allan. There has been little change in his condition these past few days, but he is stable and his wife and family continue to surround him. His stay in ICU will stretch into another week and we won't know anything concrete for several days, if not longer. So your positive thoughts are still very much appreciated.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, our household has expanded with the arrival of Phoebe (judge ye not my unpretty linoleum and carpet):

Before I brought her home last week, Phoebe resided under some bushes along a busy commercial street. Though being fed daily, she was cold, wet and lonely. So I stepped in and took the wee thing into my care. As for her name, well, she just looks like a Phoebe, while also bringing to mind that breed of little bird called--appropriately enough--the Black Phoebe.

Since my apartment is already home to a sweet 8-year-old grey tabby, I had the newbie examined by a vet and given the entire roster of kitten vaccinations to ensure she was healthy before allowing her contact with Melody. The vet estimated her age to be about a year and said she won't grow much bigger than her current 5 pounds. The runt of the litter, perhaps?

Sadly, blood tests confirm Phoebe has feline HIV. Several people who've heard this news were surprised to learn there was such a thing. Yup. Much like its human counterpart, it compromises the immune system, leaving Phoebe susceptible to all manner of infections and illnesses that would be relatively harmless in healthy cats. (But thankfully, Elton John has yet to pen a moving ballad about feline HIV.)

It is quite possible Phoebe could have many healthy years ahead. Or, she could get sick tomorrow and need to be euthanized. Since both cats are female and therefore can't transmit the virus through sexual contact (unless they watch too many k.d. lang videos), the chances of Phoebe infecting Melody with HIV are slim. The only likely method of infection is a deep bite wound and one would hope these two have better things to do than gnaw on each other's flesh.

Knowing this, I had to decide whether or not I want the responsibility of a pet who will sooner or later become very ill. Considering the sad fact that the only alternative for this sweet animal was immediate euthanization (no shelter would take on an HIV-positive kitty), I decided I'd take a chance on her. Similar to human AZT (minus the soothing subway ads), there are drug cocktails available for HIV cats, though the jury is still out on how effective they are.

Meanwhile, Phoebe is adjusting to her new surroundings, deftly ignoring the constant chorus of hisses and growls from Melody. I do hope they grow to be pals as opposed to simply tolerating each other's presence. The important thing is, this sick little girl who would likely have died very young now has a chance at a long life in a warm, safe home. Apart from her basic needs, she'll have no shortage of the affection so sadly lacking in her homeless state. For that I feel incredibly gratified and, of course, generally warm and fuzzy. Isn't that what the friggin' holiday season is all about?

Posted by ayelet at December 17, 2004 10:40 AM