Compassionate Commitment: Adopting an FIV+ Community Cat

Since I was young, I’ve always loved cats and wanted my own. However, my parents were against it. I vividly remember once getting into a drain to touch a cat’s tail when I was just four years old. Later, during secondary school, a cat started following me home, and I ended up feeding it for years outside. 

As a working adult, I always carried kibbles in my bag to feed any cats I encountered on my way to and from work. In 2019, while on my way to work, a particular cat caught my eye. It was washing its face using its hind legs—a behavior I found peculiar and adorable. I wondered if it was a male or female due to its large size. It turned out to be a female, so I named her “Cowgirl.”

I started noticing Cowgirl regularly during my commutes, and if I didn’t see her for a day, I’d become worried. One weekend, although I wasn’t working, I went to look for her and found an elderly man chasing her away with a metal object. Realizing Cowgirl was in a precarious situation, I decided to lead her to a nearby park, away from the elderly man’s area. 

Luckily, she followed me, and from then on, I became her sole feeder, visiting her at her designated “queen seat” in the park every morning and evening. I even woke up early on weekends to maintain her feeding schedule. After learning about the dangers in the park, including snakes and stray dogs, I relocated Cowgirl to a void deck, where I continued to feed her for about two and a half years. During this time, I grew closer to Cowgirl and began dreaming of bringing her home. In 2019, as the thought of bringing Cowgirl home became stronger, I realized it would be unsafe for her to remain on the streets if she fell ill.

With Cowgirl’s blessing, I embarked on house hunting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, I found my first home on my second viewing, with Cowgirl by my side. The next challenge was helping Cowgirl adjust to indoor life after years as a community cat. Initially, I confined her to the kitchen, spending the entire day with her, including sleeping there at night. It was tough, but eventually, she explored the entire house, realizing it was a safe and comfortable environment. 

Nighttime was particularly challenging, with Cowgirl becoming active and vocal. To minimize disturbances, I closed windows and drew curtains, providing her with toys for entertainment. After about six months, her nighttime energy levels decreased, and she settled into a more regular routine.

It has been three years since we brought Cowgirl home. At this year’s health check, despite being a FIV+ cat, she scored 10/10 in her blood test. To ensure she remains in optimal health, I give her supplements daily. I also added water additive to her water bowl to delay tooth decay. Of course, the home environment is stress-free and loving. FIV+ cats can live as long and as healthily as any other cats. I hope more people give FIV+ cats a chance.

A well cared for FIV+ cat trumps over a neglected FIV- cat!

Cow girl is a black-and-white, domestic shorthair, FIV+ cat who has found her forever home!

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