Tyco, my FIV Positive cat.

Tyco, my FIV Positive cat.
Tyco, my FIV Positive cat.

I was driving to work one morning flipping through the radio stations like I normally do, and for some reason Ann Arbor's 107.1 was what caught my attention at that moment. I tuned in on the middle of an interview with an employee from the HSHV. They were promoting their free cat adoptions in November and gave a sales pitch for "Tyco," their cat of the week. He was described as a very social, active, playful, and all around awesome cat to be around.

They also said that he had a disease called FIV, the feline version of HIV to humans. Described as being very similar to HIV, cats with FIV can lead long and healthy lives with just a little more attention to when they might get sick. They don't have as strong an immune system as a non-FIV positive cat, so extra measures are taken to make sure they don't get sick.

From my high school years and unto graduating college, I found that my body is not perfect. I was diagnosed with a kidney disease, which in a similar vein to the FIV, is a disease that with special attention, will cause no other adverse effects on a long and happy life. Tyco having FIV struck a cord with me. I felt (and still do feel) a desire to give this soul the long and happy life that he deserves.

I bought my first house in June of 2014, and as a single guy, by November I was settled in and ready to get a companion to share my living space with. We had just bought my mom a puppy a year earlier, and I knew I wasn't ready and didn't have the time to take care of a dog, so I decided that I wanted to get a cat.

When I heard about Tyco on the radio, it was perfect timing. When I got to work that morning the first thing I did was look up Tyco's profile online, looked at his pictures, and read the description that was basically everything they said on the radio. I was hooked on getting him. I was worried that him being cat of the week that someone was going to adopt him before I did. I called HSHV and got more information that afternoon.

What I learned was that Tyco was in a foster home, so I'd have to go there to visit him, and that's what I did. I met with his foster mom, Nancy, who conveniently lived about 10 minutes away from the shelter. Tyco was shy at first, but after a few treats he warmed up to me and was letting me pet him. He had been living with Nancy for 7 months, and Nancy had no idea that he was cat of the week. I told her my story about hearing about Tyco on the radio and she thought that was amazing.

It's been about a week now since I brought him home. He's gone from constantly hiding under the bed to constantly following me around the house, meowing for food or for me to pet him. I have a new alarm clock, as soon as my regular alarm goes off at 7:30, Tyco is up walking all over me until I get up and feed him. He's giving me that extra push I need to get out of bed in the morning and not hit the snooze button a few more times. I'm so happy with my adoption from HSHV, thank you!

 

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Humane Society of Huron Valley

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