Archie
This funny little cat that we have been wooing all summer is sick. I grabbed him and stuffed him into the cat carrier this morning and Erica took him to the vet to be fixed. It turns out that he was already fixed, but he has Feline HIV - FIV. This is a death sentence for Archie, and means that possibly he has infected the other cats.
I have asked for a second test, as it is possible that he could test false positive if he has been inoculated. The second type of test is more accurate. If it comes back positive I will have to have Archie put to sleep. Archie has horrible gum disease and it appears that the FIV is already starting to affect him, so there is little hope.
I would keep Archie and let him live a little longer if there were a way to keep him from the other cats. The disease is transmitted by saliva and he eats out of the cat's bowls and licks the other cats. I hope that the other cats are well. I have no way of segregating him and there is no one who will rescue a feral sick cat.
Damn damn damn damn damn damn damn
Update: It is certain that Archie has the disease. I can't risk the other cats getting sick and no one wants to adopt a sick cat with probably just a few months left to him. I can't kick him out because he will still interact with healthy cats.
I told the vet to be gentle and to put him to sleep. I will bury him tonight with Bubble, Squeak, Widget, Penny, Toby and the others under the pine tree.
When we first moved here almost 30 years ago, Bubble was so happy not to be an apartment cat. He used to sit under the pine tree for hours and watch the birds and squirrels in amazement. When Bubble left us, we buried him in his favorite place. Every few years since then, another cat has joined him.
I hate it.
Cats should live longer. We've had bad luck with traffic and cat cancers and other diseases. I hope that the current batch keeps out of the road and stays healthy. I can't keep doing this.
