Can you give loving home to sick cat?

A terminally ill cat who has used up almost all of his nine lives is looking
for a loving home.

Stray tomcat Cedric was taken in by Sarah Hand, of Hounslow, after he
appeared in her garden.

Sadly Cedric carries a virus he could pass on to other moggies so he needs to live in a home where there are no other cats.

Cedric, who has been neutred and vaccinated, suffers from feline
immunodeficiency virus (FIV). There is no cure for the disease but cats who
carry the virus can still live long lives. They should be kept indoors so
they do not spread the disease to other felines or pick up other illnesses.

Anyone who lives in an upper floor flat would make an ideal owner for Cedric
because he would not be able to get outside and have contact with other
cats.

Cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) may not show symptoms
until years after being infected. The virus makes them susceptible to
diseases that don't affect healthy cats.

However, although the illness can be fatal, an FIV-positive cat can live for
many years without any signs of illness.

Infected cats kept in a stress-free, indoor environment can live relatively
comfortable lives for months to years before the disease reaches its chronic
stages.

FIV is mainly passed from cat to cat through bite wounds, often inflicted in
fights and territorial disputes.

Miss Hand said: "My heart sank when my vet told me Cedric had FIV because it
means I can't keep him since I have several other cats which he could
infect.

"He is a lovely lap cat and desperate to find an owner he can live out the
rest of his days with.

"I can't ask an animal shelter or charity to take him in - they are all
completely overloaded with unwanted pets and some of them also have a policy
of putting FIV-positive cats to sleep."

Anyone interested in adopting Cedric can contact Miss Hand on
jemimapuzzlecat@gmail.com.

23rd January 2014