Should they or shouldn't they?

Yes, of course they should.
Just because those babies have an illness doesn't mean that they don't deserve a good loving home.

Originally Posted by Moz

I think they should. FeLV/FiV cats need homes too.

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Originally Posted by furryferals

Thats a very good point.
I would have thought tho that the 'stupid' people would have been weeded out by the adoption process or the homecheck

You could be right

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But before the homecheck etc, I often check out the available kitties at the local shelter knowing that 1. they will not let me have a kitty because I have four already and 2. my BF would kill me if I brought another home (even though they are all his cats). But someone like me just looking to adopt before speaking to the shelter etc could be put off.

Originally Posted by icklemiss21

But before the homecheck etc, I often check out the available kitties at the local shelter knowing that 1. they will not let me have a kitty because I have four already and 2. my BF would kill me if I brought another home (even though they are all his cats). But someone like me just looking to adopt before speaking to the shelter etc could be put off.

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Oh I'm sorry I didn't mean you or people like you are stupid.

I meant the type of people who for example turn up after the homecheck has been approved and don't even bring a cat carrier to take the cat home....and we have had a few of those

I just think the rescues don't do enough to inform people before they decide to get a pet,I don't see the point in hiding cats with this illness away,by doing so is not educating.
When I was at scool we used to have people come in and give us talks on different things but we never had one on animal welfare.
When I first heard the word vegetarian and asked the teacher what it was she said I would have to find out in the library because it was considered a 'political' issue and she could not inform me and animal welfare issues are the same.

Thank god for the internet ,Hopefully the next generation will be better informed than my peers.

Oh I know - just thought I would explain LOL

Hopefully they will be better informed (and my mum teaches animal welfare in her class - and they are 5)

If they are trying to find them homes, then yes, they definitely should be listing them... and I wish they would label them properly on petfinder, when I see the special needs icon paired with the no other cats icon, I automatically assume it is probably going to be a FIV or FeLV cat, but some places do not even flag these kitties as special needs and I HATE it when the cat is listed as special needs and then they put "for more details contact the shelter" usually when someone is looking at special needs cats it is for something specific, like in my case FeLV+ cats.

oh, and I did e-mail this person about Balboa on Friday and have heard nothing back

It's a judgement call depending on the kitty.....but in about 99% of cases, i would go ahead and say that yes, if the animal is officially up for adoption (not waiting months to be socialized or fostered) it should be placed on the website with the other kitties. The more publicity the animal gets, the better chance it stands of getting a forever home. ALLLLL of the animals at the shelter I volunteer for are posted within a short amount of time of them comming in

I think they should as well, some of the cats with FLV/FIV need companions too and should be able to be placed with a cat of the same problem! They need as much of a chance as the other cats in the shelter!

Of course! Advertise everyone because you never know when someone will be looking for just that cat.

The only exception to the advertising rule would be the perfect 8-week-old kittens who will be adopted in no time even without advertising. But all older kittens, all adults/seniors, and all "special needs" kitties should certainly be advertised!

oh, and I wanted to add that if you or anyone you know is looking for an FeLV or FIV positive cat, there is a website www.felineleukemia.org that has those special kitties up for adoption from all over the US.... some have been on there for a very long time

Yes, they should list them. I know I "browse" petfinder all the time....and that a friend of mine w/ 2 FeLV+ boys is looking into a 3rd I found of petfinder. She's going to drive quite a ways to get him, too!

Just because they are sick kitties doesn't mean they don't deserve a home.. There are lots of loving people who could take care of them!!!

Originally Posted by white cat lover

Yes, they should list them. I know I "browse" petfinder all the time....and that a friend of mine w/ 2 FeLV+ boys is looking into a 3rd I found of petfinder. She's going to drive quite a ways to get him, too!

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What an angel your friend is.

I've often thought that someday I hope MANY years from now when Gracie, Lizzie, Annabelle and Billy the Kidd are gone that I would adopt three or four FelV+ kitties.

I definitely think they should. Under different circumstances -- had we not been living with a couple who already had two cats -- my FI and I would have adopted special needs kitties (well, we adopted one anyway, not knowing Spike was brain-damaged, but even if we had known I think we would've taken him home ... he chose us, after all). I think there should be stricter screening practices for people willing to adopt special needs cats, insofar as I think the shelter needs to be sure the adoptive parents know what they're getting into and are prepared (and able) to meet the cat's needs, but aside from that, why not list special needs cats? They need homes, too!

Originally Posted by furryferals

Thats a very good point.
I would have thought tho that the 'stupid' people would have been weeded out by the adoption process or the homecheck

You could be right

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I am not stupid by any means, but I have never been a cat owner the way I am today. So I was never aware of any of the illnesses a cat could have. And when we found LuckyGirl, I tried to educate myself as best as I could with the internet....I found TCS and it helped tremendously, but I didn't know specifically about FeLV/FiV and Bartonella. It was our vet who suggested we do a blood test, and educated me about the illnesses with pamphlets. If I was adopting and saw that the kitty was sick, I would most likely ask 1st, as I know that some illnesses can be lived with and maintained. But I can see how to some people it might just seem like a sick cat, and they don't want a sick one.

So, to answer the ? yes, I do think they should advertise kitties with FeLV/FiV, but they should advertise them with information. To educate the average person who has never heard of such a thing, cause they have never owned a cat.

I would love to look at the special needs ... I have looked for CRF kitties but am guessing most places put them down ....