Help! Charlie is FIV+

The movable/removable enclosure is a good idea... but a longer term project as Gary is pretty limited in his capacity to help. I'm sure there are ways we can do it rather inexpensively, but I'd rather focus the time we have on making it work inside if we can since I've got to prioritize both time and money. The IFA Test is going to cost $150, and we do need to get a full blood panel done on the boy - that's about the same.

...and unfortunately Gary's having problems with his teeth right now, and that - I don't even want to think about what that's going to cost. We're going to have to use care credit to get that work done. I'm just very thankful the vet will let us make payments over time when necessary, because we're going to use up the credit we (try) to keep at the vet in very short order.

Scent swapping 2.

Took a mat I'd forgotten about that had all the kitties sleeping on it up in a cabinet for months without being washed ( ) and took it over to Charlie's - set it next to where I usually sit on the couch, so it was where he usually sits on the couch. He jumped up, trotted over - and began intensely sniffing. He looked up at me - I offered him his brush - and he plopped down on the mat and I started brushing him, and he purred up a storm.

I also went armed with two wash clothes - one that I'd rubbed all over Billy and one I'd rubbed all over Shelly. I held one out to him - he sniffed it for a while but didn't react. I set it in the place I feed him his wet food.

We played - I put the "Billy towel" down and set treats down on it. He sniffed for a quick few seconds, gobbled up the treats, and sniffed another few seconds - then wanted to play some more. I left that towel down under his dry food dish.

After play and food, he did the legs on my lap for brushies - and I held out the brush I'd brushed Spooky with and she drooled all over (he's half on my lap and half lying on the "all cat" scented mat). I held it out for him to sniff - he nuzzled his nose in there for a little while - looked up at me - and I blinked at him. He blinked back and held his cheek out - so I started brushing him.

Each time I let him sniff something that smelled like just one cat, I told him all about the kitty, using the cat's name a lot "Shellly this and Shelly that..." &etc.

Tomorrow we're going to focus on Lazlo and Tuxedo - the potential problem kitties.

I left a clean mat over there on Charlie's back-of-the-couch blanket perch to nap and watch out the window. He's been using it all afternoon. I'll leave it unti tomorrow - and then I'm going to focus on getting Laz to associate Charlie's scent with "good" things. Playing, treats, his wet meals. I'm going to also bring Charlie's brush over here and have it available to use for Lazlo (who is INSANE about being brushed as frequently as possible).

Do the same for Tuxie. I also think Ming Loy will need some "good things" association with Charlie - she can get really pissy.

Flowerbelle I'm not worried about - all the kitties totally tolerate her, and she's never had an issue with any other cat. If they're into playing with her, she's into it, but never pesters anyone to engage with her either. She's just - always like a little kitten but doesn't bother anyone because she doesn't direct her energy at them. When I let her sniff the Charlie blanket, she took a few seconds and was like "oh, another cat. Whatever."

I'm beginning to think the biggest problem we're going to have is that he LOVES the counter and hanging out in the sink - and we don't allow the kitties here on the counter.

...and I finally got a "natural light" picture of his eyes. In photos, his eyes always look yellow - but in real life, there is a circle of green then a circle of yellow outside of that, and they almost always look this beautiful light green....

Awww....he's so sweet. he looks so frightened, still, what a good thing you are doing. I don't have anything to add, but continue to follow this thread.

that Charlie finds his forever home.

He seems scared of very little, actually (except the vacuum cleaner, as per usual LOL) - I think it was the noise I was making to get him to look my direction - and I'd been flashing the camera quite a bit at him - I think he was getting annoyed.

Here are a few more pictures:





I swear - of his 10 pounds, at least 3 or 4 of it is his head!

He is so very handsome . I love his chubby pawsies and his markings are striking. He has a very telling look, he just does. And a BIG HEAD like you said .

We pretty much gave up with having no kitties on the kitchen counters. During the intros with Sweets, Chloe was so terrorized by Leo and so afraid all the time, that she started going on the counters and ask to eat there. We just did not have the heart to say no of course. So she kept the habit. Leo is our sink baby, he is constantly in the kitchen sink. So we just clean and clean and clean...

I can't wait to read more about the intros. Food may be a huge motivator with Charlie!
Marina

He does have the cutest paws - broad shoulders, too - and I love his stubbly little legs! I've posted this elsewhere, but this picture (on a tilt - it's him standing up peeking over the back of the couch) really shows off his markings. We must have a couple of really monster cats, because Lazlo and Shelly, when they stand on their back legs, can reach to the top (easily) of the kitchen counter. Charlie barely makes the back of the couch!



I got my two "Charlie" rags and brought them over here - also cleaned the brush I used on Spooky for Charlie, and got it full of Charlie hair and smell.

Worked with Lazlo first (also a very food motivated kitty LOL). He sniffed it for all of five seconds - obviously recognized the smell - and I put treats down on it for him.

Did the same with Tuxedo - got the same reaction.

It's been 1 1/2 years (?) since we brought Billy inside - and before that, it was 3 or 4 years before we brought Ming Loy inside. BUT... before that, we had a lot of fosters coming and going. So they may be out of the swing of the foster thing, but seeing cats out the window (which they do all the time because we feed the ferals right outside so we can keep an eye on them) doesn't make anyone get upset or aggressive - and they've obviously been smelling Charlie on us for over a month now.

I still like doing the individual intros with explanations. I reminded Lazlo and Tuxie about Charlie, who he is and what he needs....

We'll see.

I think my next step is going to be taking some pee and poop out of the litter boxes here and bringing it over to Charlie's. He hasn't been getting worked up at all about any of the new kitty scents - and I think we'd better just go ahead and find out how he's going to react to sharing a litter box.

We have seven cats using three. It'll be 8 using three. We can temporarily add a 4th, but the only place it fits is the shower, which is a real PIA - it is also easily blocked by anybody stalking the bathroom... and Lazlo's favorite place to be brushed is the bathroom - and if we can avoid upsetting that applecart, I'd rather not. I have a feeling it's one of the problems with had with Bill's introduction, actually.

Laurie
I think he has munchkin in him, judging by the face and short legs. It may help to put this in his brochure. He really is very unique looking.

I am thinking the food will help a lot. It did help in our case. We were feeding them at the gate their wet food meals and giving treats there also (which is EVO dry from a Whiskas bag , we do not give them commercial treats anymore).

Lots of prayers and good vibes that it will work out!
Marina

Originally Posted by LDG

He seems scared of very little, actually (except the vacuum cleaner, as per usual LOL) - I think it was the noise I was making to get him to look my direction - and I'd been flashing the camera quite a bit at him - I think he was getting annoyed.

Here are a few more pictures:

Click to expand...

He's a beautiful boy and I love all the pics, but this is my favorite. I love watching a cat have a bath, it is the most soothing thing in the world to me.

Well, he didn't (seem) to mind having other kitties' pee and poop in his litterbox. I brought over one of each (don't know whose) and lightly covered it in one of his litterboxes. He watched me put it in there and sniffed for just a few seconds, then trotted away to pounce on a rattly mousie.

Later in the day he'd used that box, not the other one - and he didn't try to cover either one up with his scent, as he went in the opposite corner of the box. And outside, I definitely watched him pee (spray) right where one of the ferals had just peed, so.... I'm taking this as a really positive sign.

Sounds promising!

Charlie is such a handsome fellow and it sound like things are going well.
I love your signature, Laurie, and the fact that it links to the Best Friends article about FIV - great info! Thanks so much for educating others about FIV.

Still keeping en eye on all your updates on Charlie.

I agree the nonreaction to the pee and poo sounds promising.

During Sweets and Leo's intros, I used to pet Sweets a lot all over and then go and pet Leo right away; Leo would get upset about Sweets scent on him so I knew we would have to work hard at introducing them. But now they play chase through the house and hang out in the windowsills together, so there is hope for Charlie...

How are things going?

Marina

Thank you all for the good thoughts being sent his way! I really want intros to work out so we don't have to freak out with another hard decision now that we've made this one.... Ultimately, I do hope we're able to adopt him out, but with the limited time we have, we're just concentrating on being able to bring him over here for the long term foster.

So far, just scent swapping. The only one that seems to continue to exhibit any interest in Charlie's scent is Shelly - and he's always been our ambassador kitty, so it's not worrying me. (knock wood, don't want to jinx that LOL).

Mostly I'm trying to get Charlie used to their smells at this point - for a kitty that scared away the ferals and obviously didn't have good interaction with cats before or he wouldn't have FIV, seven in a small space is going to be overwhelming. I just want him as prepared as possible before we even bring him over here in a crate for a few minutes.

We are going to have his file copied to Tuxedo's vet, and take Charlie on the 45 min ride to see him next week. We're going to do this before we even bring him over here in a crate.

...but assuming he gets the all clear from Tuxie's vet, the plan is to bring him over here in a crate, and bring it back to the bedroom, the only place we can close off. Let him explore it for a while if he wants to. Then take him back to his trailer. Either that - or we run the engine, and "lock" our gang in the bedroom (where they run when we run the engine) and let him explore up front. But basically, just work on letting him get comfortable here - hopefully that happens quick - within a few days.

After that, the idea is to bring in one kitty at a time (that will have to happen in the bedroom) with him in the crate.

We'll just have to see.

Other matters...

I haven't gotten the clippers out yet, but so far he's got no problem with me touching his feet and pushing out his claws. May try clipping later today....

And I just keep putting out mats in a spot where everyone loves to lay down, and taking it over there - he sniffs - for less and less time each time, and then just lies down on it to get brushed. ))) I leave treats for him on the mats when I leave, and I just keep talking to him and telling him about the kitties, and how they don't want to fight or hurt him.

He goes to the vet Thursday for the IFA Test and full blood work. I had a lot of questions, but they were busy, so I'll just have to wait until Thursday to ask them. I don't know when we'll get the results back.

Yes, seven kitties in a small place will be overwhelming. Hopefully it will go much better than you anticipate, this is what we all pray for.

If you bring the crate in the bedroom the rest of the gang will see him and smell him. I wonder if keeping the other seven babies in the bedroom and allowing him the rest of the place would be better for starters.

WOW, you can handle his paws, that is great! He is such a lovebug, yes indeed

Have you decided yet who will be the first kitty to see him when he is in the crate in the bedroom?

Marina

Just wanted to say I hope everything works out for you and your cats.

Youve been so supportive to everyone else here!

I wish you all the best!!

m935, thanks!

Marina, it'll be Billy, Shelly or Flowerbelle - unless Lazlo or Tuxie are like totally chomping at the bit.

Flowerbelle is probably best - she'll be the least interested in him, and the most likely to interact with us playing while he's there, so she would be the least confrontational and the most educational.

Billy and Shelly will be the friendliest. If Charlie hisses and acts aggressive, Billy will retreat. Don't know what Shel would do - but he can be easily distracted with the sight of a brush.

No matter who it is - treats are going to be readily at hand, because it's a big motivator for all of our cats.

Laurie
It sounds like you have a great plan . I was thinking today about the detective work we have to do every day to figure out these amazing creatures. Critical thinking is a must

I gather Charlie's stomach problems have gone away...
Marina

Yes they have! I bought a probiotic combo (don't know the whole list, but the major was acidopholous) at the local health food store. I give him 1/4 to 1/3 of a capsule sprinkled on his food each morning and each night (he gets fed four times a day, so the probiotics are given about every 12 hours). The instructions for humans are 1-3 pills daily.

That worked/is working.

We tried Fortiflora first - that was NOT the right probiotic for him. (It made things worse).

Good luck to Charlie on his vet visit today!