Rusty is a very friendly and outgoing four-year-old who was found on the streets of Philadelphia with his feline friend, George. When they were rescued, both cats were tested and found to be FIV+, making them poor candidates for adoption. The shelter could not keep them; luckily, they were taken to a rescuer’s home to be fostered until Tabby’s Place was able to accommodate them. Both were added to our waiting list and we are now glad to have them here in our FIV+ suite.

A real lover of food, Rusty is one of the largest cats in the FIV+ suite, perhaps only second to George. Rusty is a torbie, which is a cross between a tortoiseshell and a tabby, with a coat of extra soft pale gold and brown fur. He has a buff-colored stomach and white on his muzzle. The tip of one of his ears is missing; Rusty was most likely ear tipped by a vet to indicate that he was neutered. Rusty’s tail looks rather skinny in proportion to the rest of him!FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) disables or destroys a cat’s white blood cells, and leaves him or her susceptible to infections. Once infected with FIV, a cat is infected for life and can transmit the virus to other cats via saliva transmitted through biting. Thus the majority of cats with FIV are street cats, who, in fending for themselves, often end up in skirmishes with other cats that pass on the virus. Overall, a very small percentage of cats are found to be FIV+, and many of those diagnosed with this virus will live for years so long as they receive treatment of any secondary infections they might have. The cats in Rusty’s suite are monitored very carefully for any signs of sickness, and the staff is extra-careful about disease control procedures in this suite. The cats get frequent examinations from our veterinarians.

Rusty is thriving in his environment and hasn’t had any other medical issues. He enjoys attention from people, even newcomers, and loves to be petted and scratched behind the ears. He can be feisty at times, especially when another cat is messing with HIS food, but otherwise he’s rather laid back.Because Rusty is FIV+, his chances of being adopted are diminished. Hopefully, his friendly and outgoing personality will help to find him a forever home someday. In the meantime, please consider sponsoring Rusty and helping us to give him the continued care and monitoring he needs.