getting a new cat

If this is in the wrong place please feel free to move it.

As I said in an earlier Paul relented, I can get another cat. A local rescue has 2 kittens that either needs homes or a new foster situation as their current foster parent simply has too many cat. I might foster one of them, I really can't take both or I would.

Now for the tough decision, which one or neither and I offer my name up as a foster parent at a different rescue(there are several across the river in MO that accept FeLV+ cats) and wait for them to place a baby(and I mean any cat of any age, it doesn't have to be a kitten it just has to be playful enough to get along with Nuts) with me, or do I go to the one Humane Society that attempts to adopt out FeLV+ cats and adopt one from them.

Here are the 2 from the one situation, which one do I choose or do I not choose either? Whoever I take is most likely going to be re-named because I don't like their names. Keep in mind I have not met anyone or even looked beyond petfinder.

Ricky, a little boy:
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/17517234

His sister Patty:
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/17517201

Both are adorable and I'd love to have them.

This is Evie, I would have to adopt her and as I said I'm not keen on shelling out a huge amount of money adopting a terminally ill cat(since I know what I'm going to end up spending on vet bills in a worse case scenario) but she is so beautiful(and the only one I've seen this time that I would want to adopt):
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/12852903

The Humane Society(they don't have a set fee on FeLV adoptions) doesn't have anyone listed on Petfinder that I am interested in. Finding a FeLV+ cat is actually difficult(which in reality is a good thing, if it just means there aren't many, but it could also be a bad thing if they are just being put down for the FeLV.) There are a ton of FIV cats available, FeLV is more rare and/because fewer organizations will take them and try to give them a new life. I have the wrong cat illness to find a lot of adoptable animals in this area.

Who do I choose or should I go to the Humane Society and see who they have in their special FeLV area? They are a 'kill' shelter so I really would be saving a life. or should I just offer to be a foster parent for FeLV kitties in need? I prefer the idea of fostering but hate the idea of having to give it away. Do FeLV+ cats even really have a chance of adoption? This area is overflowing with healthy cats, you can't give cats away around here that's how many there are.

Taryn

I know that chances are I will always end up with leukemia positive cats and I have no problem with that. If I get burned out I can stop getting new cats and just keep the current one(s) happy and healthy and let it live out the rest of it's life. They have a harder time finding homes and I have no problem taking care of them and the expense it entails. The vet even said Attitude was the exception(with the never ending eye infections then the untreatable URIs), not the rule for the most part. I learned from my experience with Attitude, have digested what happened, and I know in the future I will do certain things differently. I would have to have serious thoughts about accepting a cat with herpes, that is what made Attitude so sick(even the vet agreed with me on this), when it moved from her eye to her nose and then her lungs(when we couldn't get the eye under control) it was the end of her, I think I should have let her go a little sooner than I did. I would also be quicker about getting a second opinion and this time it would be with a feline specialist, if I felt it was necessary.

In fact, until all the cats outside(5 all FeLV+, all healthy) pass away I can't bring in a healthy cat, I'd be too worried about the possibility of door dashing or otherwise escaping or otherwise ending up infected. I know it's not very likely but I also don't want to have the worry and I don't want to have to be forced to give FeLV vaccines(I really wouldn't have a choice, having them right out the door is high risk.) I know the vaccine itself comes with risks.

I am fine on money at this time, I don't qualify for welfare but are receiving food stamps and Medicaid. I don't even have to use the Medicaid for my medication now, because they changed my medications. I was paying over $300 a month for medication, now it's less than $20 a month(and the new stuff they have me on works better) and it would be free(or almost) if I used my Medicaid prescription benefits. I was able to pay off the vet on Attitude's final bill and pay for Nuts' yearly fees.

I have a list of questions I am going to ask when they call me back(I left a voice mail message for them to contact me.) His health is one of them, I am going to ask about eye infections, URIs, and other issues. I have other normal questions- any litter preferences, if I have to try and scoop every time the box is used(I have 3 boxes, will add more if needed, I usually do them once a day with 1 cat), what food they eat, age, any dietary issues, and just normal things that you would want to know about any cat you are thinking about fostering or adopting. I'm not jumping into this blind. I have taken time to think about this and I do want to help out a cat in need. I am still thinking about this, this wasn't a snap decision, I have wanted to foster FeLV+ cats since Maude crossed the bridge which was in Feb, so for over 10 months.

I wouldn't do this if I didn't have the money, I'm not stupid. Attitude also went to the vet when she needed to, I would pawn/ sell my stuff if I needed to(haven't had to yet.) My main issue with affording vet care(and I could afford it, it was just really tight at times) was having to pay over $300 a month on my own medication. Like I said I have that down to less than $20 a month.

If I didn't have the ability to do this I wouldn't. I know what I am getting into, I've seen the good, the bad, and the really ugly side of this disease, I lost a cat that was less than 18 months old to this disease. I have no problem taking in another cat with this disease. There is a reason I can only have 2 cats total at any given time, financial reasons are a big reason for that.

Taryn