In My Spare Time

For several years I've volunteered at a local no-kill animal shelter. I love all the animals, but my passion is cats. Shortly after I started to volunteer at the shelter, I fell in love with the often forgotten "FIV Cats". These are cats who, in general, live a normal life, but who unfortunately have contracted the feline version of HIV. FIV is not contagious to anyone else except cats, and most likely all these cats got it from being "outside" cats. They need daily meds, but other than that are, like I said, normal cats. The shelter where I volunteer offers FIV cats as "permanent foster" (meaning you are the "pet owner", but they pay for and provide the meds.) I haven't been into the shelter in a couple of months, but was happy to have a reason to stop in there yesterday to take some photos of a few of the newer FIV kitties, as well as spend some time socializing and petting the gang.

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Niko, a beautiful, friendly long-haired kitty. Unfortunately he gets picked on by the other cats, perhaps due to his gentle nature. He was found surrounded by a pack of dogs, but calm as could be. A kind stranger heard the barking and rescued Niko. He was extremely matted, dirty, and had a cold so he was probably lost for some time.

OK, this guy isn't new, but he's just special to me. One of the side effects of volunteering at an animal shelter is you have your favorites, one or two that just melt your heart. Tiny Tommy (I just call him Tommy) is "my" cat. Isn't he magnificent?



This big boy with the chipmunk cheeks is Frat. He's a total love bug, friendly and would do well in a home with lottsa love and attention! I can't even imagine what cruel person would "dump" (illegally leave in some manner on the shelter property) this cat on a frigid night. He nearly froze to death before he was found confined in his cat carrier.


Did I mention that Frat is a polydactyl?



Cottonball has been around for a while, but what a camera hog! And the camera loves him too! Cottonball was found as a stray.



Campanelle is another lover boy. Soooo friendly, and a total lap cat hiding in a big tom's body.


This is the most I've ever seen of Big Smokey. And I used the zoom lens at that. He's not too keen on people; not sure why, don't know his story, but he was humanely trapped as a stray by a good samaritan.


This is one of the newer FIV cats, Santa. I'm betting he arrived in late December. I don't know what his story is, but he's missing his left ear. Super friendly cat, though, and would quietly wait for me to come pay him some attention!