The FIV+ suite is a pretty rambunctious place, populated almost entirely by sweet, but rough-and-tumble boys. But if you can work your way past the swirl of affection they invariably provide at the door, and if you can get by the perpetual wrestling match you’ll find in the middle of the room, you’ll find one beautiful girl, patiently tolerating the mayhem and waiting for some quiet attention.

That would be Mona. Mona is a beautiful dilute tortie, and this 3-year-old serves well in her position of den mother/chaperone amongst the boys of the suite. Maybe it’s the practice she had with her own kittens before she arrived at Tabby’s Place – it certainly takes a motherly quantity of patience some days in the FIV+ suite! Mona came to us from a private rescue; her kittens all found homes of their own, but Mona’s FIV+ status made her placement more difficult, and she made her way to us by way of our waiting list.

Yes, this beautiful and sweet girl has Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). This virus disables or destroys a cat’s white blood cells, leaving her more susceptible to infections than the average feline. Once a cat is infected with FIV, she’ll have the virus for life. FIV is most commonly transmitted through bites, and it’s much more common in male cats. Mona contracted the virus at some point while she was an outside cat; it’s good that she’s inside now, where we can keep her in the best health possible.

Mona’s still a shy girl with us. She’s affectionate with a few of the other cats, especially Hocus, and she’s opened her heart to a few loving humans as well. We know she can learn to trust us, because she’s already come a long way since she arrived, but in the meantime, she’s a quiet, calming presence that both cats and humans appreciate. It doesn’t hurt that she’s so sweet and stunningly beautiful, either!