Haven't been to this forum in YEARS, but I'm back...
Lolli was a feral for his first year, is a huge, strong and very healthy proud looking male. He decided to become a house cat this spring, all on his own and has made remarkable progress in that regard, gradually moving to domestic life, cuddling in our arms, sighs of love and relief from being outside. Still has some wild in him, and can display that side in a second if he gets a bit angry. But otherwise, his temper is wonderful 90+% of the time. And still adjusting. He's been living apart from our other two elderly females, in a bedroom or a bathroom (and Lolli's not all that happy about that). Yesterday he tested positive for FIV.
We really really want to keep him. Problem is our two elderly females (~15 and ~16) also live inside and except showing signs of age, are healthy. We know very well there will be some defense posturing, territoriality disputes and just plain disagreements that will lead to scuffles and minor injuries among them. Heck, that happens between the elderly pair to this day from time to time. Cats will be cats.
The house is not big enough to forever keep Lolli from mixing with Junebug and Ember. We have learned that FIV is not a death sentence, but are crushed with the diagnosis and afraid of what might play out next.
We don't want to put Lolli back outside. He'll freeze to death or soon be eaten by a coyote if we do, and after the domestic life, would be cruel and heartless. If we mix the cats inside he'll no doubt find a way to infect the other two.
Logically, at 15 and 16, I'm thinking the older pair might die of natural causes sooner than any FIV related progressions - or am I totally wrong about that? I can't find much (or any) about elderly cats contracting FIV late in life and how it progresses at advanced ages.
Mostly, we've been despondent and devastated on what to do next. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.
Lolli was a feral for his first year, is a huge, strong and very healthy proud looking male. He decided to become a house cat this spring, all on his own and has made remarkable progress in that regard, gradually moving to domestic life, cuddling in our arms, sighs of love and relief from being outside. Still has some wild in him, and can display that side in a second if he gets a bit angry. But otherwise, his temper is wonderful 90+% of the time. And still adjusting. He's been living apart from our other two elderly females, in a bedroom or a bathroom (and Lolli's not all that happy about that). Yesterday he tested positive for FIV.
We really really want to keep him. Problem is our two elderly females (~15 and ~16) also live inside and except showing signs of age, are healthy. We know very well there will be some defense posturing, territoriality disputes and just plain disagreements that will lead to scuffles and minor injuries among them. Heck, that happens between the elderly pair to this day from time to time. Cats will be cats.
The house is not big enough to forever keep Lolli from mixing with Junebug and Ember. We have learned that FIV is not a death sentence, but are crushed with the diagnosis and afraid of what might play out next.
We don't want to put Lolli back outside. He'll freeze to death or soon be eaten by a coyote if we do, and after the domestic life, would be cruel and heartless. If we mix the cats inside he'll no doubt find a way to infect the other two.
Logically, at 15 and 16, I'm thinking the older pair might die of natural causes sooner than any FIV related progressions - or am I totally wrong about that? I can't find much (or any) about elderly cats contracting FIV late in life and how it progresses at advanced ages.
Mostly, we've been despondent and devastated on what to do next. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.