Charlie the Lonesome Sweetheart

Not Afraid · 10-27-2005, 09:58 PM

Charlie the cat appeared one day out of the blue. He must've known that our house was cat-friendly and that he wouldn't be lonesome if he hung out around here. Chris said he looked like a Cougar, so we dubbed him Charlie. I don't know where he came from or why he was here, but he was loving, talkitive and very friendly - and hungry. If I see a starving cat, I will help it out. Charlie ate with gusto and stayed.

Now, I don't like kitties outdoors. There are scary things outside like racoons, possoms, other mean cats and cars, so I asked Charlie if he wanted to be an indoor cat. He looked at me with his big head and seemed to say yes, so I made a vet appointment.

I always wish cats could talk so I could find out where they came from, what they had been through and what their life had been like. Charlie was such a sweet, well-mannered cat that someone must've loved him once. Well, we went to the vet and Charlie didn't like being in the cat "suitcase" so I opened the top a bit to reassure him. Charlie climbed right out and into my lap. He looked at me with his big grey eyes and started purring. Charlie liked the car!

By the time we get to the vet, Charlie has gone up a few notches in my book. He's a very special boy! The vet takes a look at Charlie, tells me his fang is broken but that he's about 4 years old. He suggests that we give him some tests for the major cat diseases - Feline Lukemia and Feline HIV. I wait in the waiting room.

The Vet comes and and says bad news - Charlie has tested positive for Feline HIV. I know nothing about feline HIV but I know the human version isn't good. Basicially, he can't have contact with any other cats. HIV is spread through blood, urine and saliva. Indoors with other cats is not the place to be for Charlie.

We have to get another blood test in a month. There is a 30% chance that he's been exposed but will fight it off. But, there's still a 70% chance that he will have HIV until he dies.

So, we have one month to decide what to do. The best scieniero would be to find a loving home for Charlie where he is kept indoors and is the only cat in the house. There's no telling how long he will live - it could be quite a while. The other scieniero is that we put him to sleep so he doesn't infect other cats in the neighborhood.

I'm so glad we have a least a month to work things out. Meanwhile, Charlie is most comfortable on a fuzzy bed on our front porch. He really is a wonderful cat and it just breaks my heart that we may have to make an awful decision. Time will tell, I'm sure. Meanwhile, Charlie is being well loved by us.

Ponine · 10-27-2005, 10:09 PM

Oh NA,
I am so sorry. He sounds like the biggest sweetie. I want meet him........ but alas, I too cannot take him home.

it is so very hard when the kitties cant tell us what happened to them, or who they were with. All they can do is show us how to love them,
Give him some ear noogies for me.
And a hug for you.

Prudence · 10-27-2005, 10:15 PM

Yea verily that sucketh. I really hope that you will find a nice home for him.

wendybeth · 10-27-2005, 10:32 PM

Poor Charlie!!!! But yay for him that he found you guys and can enjoy a bit of love. GIve him big hugs from me, and keep us posted on what happens with his infection!

I have to go kiss my kitties now.

Motorboat Cruiser · 10-27-2005, 11:21 PM

I'm so sorry to hear this news and to know that you have to be faced with these decisions. As someone who has been there many times, it is never easy, no matter how long they have been in your life. I do know that Charlie is in very capable and loving hands though.

Let's hope that a home can be found. That does sound like the best alternative. I don't know enough about FIV to know what to expect, but if he needs to be away from the other kitties, there isn't much else you can do.

I wish we had the means to take him right now. All we can offer is to keep you in our thoughts. I hope everything works out. ::hugs::

Snowflake · 10-28-2005, 05:11 AM

Oh, my heart goes out to you and Charlie! If I could take him, you can bet I would!

Please keep us posted, at least you know he has the best possible place, on your porch and under your loving care.

Donna

Where's Barbie? · 11-01-2005, 09:14 PM

I liked that movie "Charlie the cougar" I'll have to watch it again.

How sad that a sweet one could be so so sick. I think that he isn't and all will be well. If I belived in reincarnation, I would return as a cat to your house.

Snowflake · 11-02-2005, 10:35 AM

I'm sorry, I have got to see this lovely boy. Any chance you can post a few pics of this lonesome lover?

Donna

Cadaverous Pallor · 11-02-2005, 11:25 AM

Sorry to hear such bad news. I wish Charlie the best!

Not Afraid · 11-02-2005, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowflake

I'm sorry, I have got to see this lovely boy. Any chance you can post a few pics of this lonesome lover?

Donna

I will take some pics and post them. He's really a beautiful cat. He looks like a pint-sized cougar with the sweetest personality. And he talks! He tels us stories. It's adorable!

Just now, he was laying on the porch wall like a cougar in a tree.

10-27-2005, 09:58 PM	#1
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	Charlie the Lonesome Sweetheart Charlie the cat appeared one day out of the blue. He must've known that our house was cat-friendly and that he wouldn't be lonesome if he hung out around here. Chris said he looked like a Cougar, so we dubbed him Charlie. I don't know where he came from or why he was here, but he was loving, talkitive and very friendly - and hungry. If I see a starving cat, I will help it out. Charlie ate with gusto and stayed. Now, I don't like kitties outdoors. There are scary things outside like racoons, possoms, other mean cats and cars, so I asked Charlie if he wanted to be an indoor cat. He looked at me with his big head and seemed to say yes, so I made a vet appointment. I always wish cats could talk so I could find out where they came from, what they had been through and what their life had been like. Charlie was such a sweet, well-mannered cat that someone must've loved him once. Well, we went to the vet and Charlie didn't like being in the cat "suitcase" so I opened the top a bit to reassure him. Charlie climbed right out and into my lap. He looked at me with his big grey eyes and started purring. Charlie liked the car! By the time we get to the vet, Charlie has gone up a few notches in my book. He's a very special boy! The vet takes a look at Charlie, tells me his fang is broken but that he's about 4 years old. He suggests that we give him some tests for the major cat diseases - Feline Lukemia and Feline HIV. I wait in the waiting room. The Vet comes and and says bad news - Charlie has tested positive for Feline HIV. I know nothing about feline HIV but I know the human version isn't good. Basicially, he can't have contact with any other cats. HIV is spread through blood, urine and saliva. Indoors with other cats is not the place to be for Charlie. We have to get another blood test in a month. There is a 30% chance that he's been exposed but will fight it off. But, there's still a 70% chance that he will have HIV until he dies. So, we have one month to decide what to do. The best scieniero would be to find a loving home for Charlie where he is kept indoors and is the only cat in the house. There's no telling how long he will live - it could be quite a while. The other scieniero is that we put him to sleep so he doesn't infect other cats in the neighborhood. I'm so glad we have a least a month to work things out. Meanwhile, Charlie is most comfortable on a fuzzy bed on our front porch. He really is a wonderful cat and it just breaks my heart that we may have to make an awful decision. Time will tell, I'm sure. Meanwhile, Charlie is being well loved by us.
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10-27-2005, 10:09 PM	#2
Ponine Virgin Ears Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,075	Oh NA, I am so sorry. He sounds like the biggest sweetie. I want meet him........ but alas, I too cannot take him home. it is so very hard when the kitties cant tell us what happened to them, or who they were with. All they can do is show us how to love them, Give him some ear noogies for me. And a hug for you. __________________ There's something strange, There's something wrong. I see a change - It's like when love dies.
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10-27-2005, 10:15 PM	#3
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	Yea verily that sucketh. I really hope that you will find a nice home for him. __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
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10-27-2005, 10:32 PM	#4
wendybeth Nevermind Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,847	Poor Charlie!!!! But yay for him that he found you guys and can enjoy a bit of love. GIve him big hugs from me, and keep us posted on what happens with his infection! I have to go kiss my kitties now. __________________
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10-27-2005, 11:21 PM	#5
Motorboat Cruiser Cruiser of Motorboats Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: So Cal Posts: 3,665	I'm so sorry to hear this news and to know that you have to be faced with these decisions. As someone who has been there many times, it is never easy, no matter how long they have been in your life. I do know that Charlie is in very capable and loving hands though. Let's hope that a home can be found. That does sound like the best alternative. I don't know enough about FIV to know what to expect, but if he needs to be away from the other kitties, there isn't much else you can do. I wish we had the means to take him right now. All we can offer is to keep you in our thoughts. I hope everything works out. ::hugs::
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10-28-2005, 05:11 AM	#6
Snowflake lost in the fog Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 7,831	Oh, my heart goes out to you and Charlie! If I could take him, you can bet I would! Please keep us posted, at least you know he has the best possible place, on your porch and under your loving care. Donna
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11-01-2005, 09:14 PM	#7
Where's Barbie? I enjoy being a HAG Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Torrance Posts: 6	I liked that movie "Charlie the cougar" I'll have to watch it again. How sad that a sweet one could be so so sick. I think that he isn't and all will be well. If I belived in reincarnation, I would return as a cat to your house. __________________
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11-02-2005, 10:35 AM	#8
Snowflake lost in the fog Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 7,831	I'm sorry, I have got to see this lovely boy. Any chance you can post a few pics of this lonesome lover? Donna
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11-02-2005, 11:25 AM	#9
Cadaverous Pallor ohhhh baby Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parental Bliss Posts: 12,364	Sorry to hear such bad news. I wish Charlie the best! __________________ The second star to the right shines in the night for you
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