As cute as he looks here, Jimmy’s pictures don’t do him justice. This solid boy is simply one of the most adorable cats we have ever met.

The one thing cuter than Jimmy’s sweet face is his personality. “Snuggle bug” isn’t a strong enough word for our boy. Rub his belly, and you’ll immediately become Jimmy’s best friend forever. Give him a cuddle, and Jimmy will twist his big, solid self upside-down, tossing his legs in the air and wriggling with delight.

And what if you should stop snuggling this sweetheart? You’re likely to hear Jimmy’s one-of-a-kind protest: a gentle meow that sounds…well, like a duck’s quack.

So what is a superstar like Jimmy doing without a home and family of his own? Jimmy’s sweet nature hides a very bumpy history. Jimmy was found as a stray, and wound up at a public shelter.

When he tested positive for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), Jimmy’s chances looked rather grim. Public shelters are often forced to euthanize sweet, amazing FIV+ cats like Jimmy simply because they are likely to take up cage space for a long time. The virus disables or destroys the white blood cells, and leaves the cat susceptible to infections. Once a cat gets FIV, he is infected for life and can transmit the virus if he or she bites another cat. Although cats can live with FIV for many happy, healthy years (like our own Nickey, who made it to age 20), the condition tends to scare away potential adopters.

But our Jimmy was fortunate to have adoring advocates at the shelter, and they were able to hold onto him for over 2 years while he made his way up the waiting list for Tabby’s Place’s FIV+ Suite. We are grateful beyond measure that they did so, because having Jimmy here is an absolute joy. He now has a life free of cages and the risk of euthanasia, and his future is full of love.

In his short time with us, Jimmy’s life has just gotten sweeter. When he first arrived, he was in excruciating pain due to severe stomatitis, an autoimmune condition that makes Jimmy allergic to the plaque on his own teeth. Poor Jimmy’s mouth was in such agony that he could barely be coaxed to eat.

Following a major dental procedure at Tabby’s Place, Jimmy is now toothless – and very happy. Without those painful teeth in the way, Jimmy eats like a champ and is more affectionate than ever with his many human fans.

At the moment, Jimmy still requires some pain medication to control his stomatitis symptoms, and it’s possible he may require steroids or even laser treatment to remove any lingering root tips from his gums in the future. Along with our other FIV+ kitties, he also receives frequent veterinary examinations and vigilant monitoring for any signs of illness.

Jimmy is thriving on all the snuggles and special care he’s getting at Tabby’s Place. Still, we know that our affectionate boy will be happiest when he has a family he can snuggle to his heart’s content. We know that Jimmy’s FIV+ status and tooth troubles mean he will need an especially patient and loving adopter. Until Jimmy’s true love comes along, please help us to care for him and to give him the happy, healthy, well-snuggled life this brave boy deserves.