The FeLV+ cats in Quinn’s Corner have a secret, and they want to spill the beans. Brace yourself. Ready? Felvies can live long, healthy, happy lives.
This simple fact should never have been a secret, certainly not one held as tightly as cats’ secret names. Unfortunately, due to fear being a part of human nature, a niggling little retrovirus has led us down a path of fear and misinformation. Once it was believed that cats stricken by this particular virus would not live out their full nine lives. Once it was believed that people could spread the virus by visiting infected cats and then carrying it to uninfected cats on their clothing. Once it was believed that the only way to handle FeLV was to euthanize infected felines.
Wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong!
So very, very wrong.
The opposite of correct.
Wrong!
Now comes the part where beans get spilled everywhere and all of the proverbial cats are let out of various and sundry bags.
Based on prior misunderstanding, at 4-years-old, Mr. Rogers would have basically been considered done for. Anyone who has spent a moment with the aptly named, gentle soul in Suite F understands that Mr. Rogers is just getting started. His life work is unfolding before him: following in the footsteps of beloved therapy cat and fellow infectee Trifecta. Trifecta, for the record, is a whopping 14 years old with another birthday coming soon. Nearly 15 is a solid age for any cat, not to mention one with double-viruses (including FIV) plus diabetes. Regardless of his age and his three diagnoses, Trifecta regularly demonstrates The Way of The Lap to Mr. Rogers. It is the starting point of all things great and good. That cat is definitely out of the bag.
But, there is one cat who won’t come out of the bag…except for overnights. Regina George has paraplegia in addition to being FeLV+. Living in Suite G, with its epoxy floors, could be tough-going for a 2-year-old whose hind end is not self-propelling. Solution: mermaid bags lovingly stitched by volunteers just for her. These keep Regina George sliding freely while protected from abrasions. These also keep Regina George in the height of fashion. It is no secret that Regina George was adorably misnamed. Without a mean bone in her body, her sweetness and playfulness shine through even when her younger companions explode with excessive effervescence.
Those explosive companions are Kitty Purry and Leonardo DiCatrio, siblings who bubble along cheerfully through each day in Suite G. Beyond the duos’ FeLV+ diagnoses, their shared energy level seemed unimaginable only a short time ago. Both were both stricken with FIP. At nearly one year old, Kitty Purry has only just completed her treatment, and Leonard DiCatrio still has a little way to go yet to complete his, but their great secret is that they simply do not care about FIP. Neither one of them fears any potential barriers to the grand festival that is life itself. With optimism and mutually assured destruction of toys and fish mush, Kitty and Leo fizz through their daily routines and give all who bear witness a bouncy lift.
But there is still another not-so-well-kept secret that the Quinn’s Corner inhabitants flaunt with delectable flagrancy. Hoopla Green, a shy, but hale – not to mention beautiful – adult tuxedo, has something…nay…someONES to celebrate with respect to this subject. Timid Hoopla Green sings songs of praise from her preferred corner of the Suite H solarium. For, without all of the benevolent benefactors that made Quinn’s Corner possible, there would be no stories to tell. There are stories! Absent the special sponsors, tales would go untold. There are tales! Without the dearest donors contributing to the Linda Fund at ever more amazing levels, a single, resounding word could be, “mum.”
Being autumn in Ringoes, NJ, the only mums around the cat sanctuary are chrysanthemums. Secrets are few and far between when it comes to the Tabby’s Place family caring for, loving, and doting on cats and each other. We shout at maximum level at how much we adore every donor, each staff member, and all of our very many volunteers. We holler and whoop over our FeLV sponsors (You can be one too!). The cats uptail and demand treats and every more treats to demonstrate their jubilation.
With so much celebration, there are no proverbial cats to be found in any bag anywhere. The one real cat that will stay (largely) in a bag is Regina George. She’s not really sure what the big fuss is about cats being in or out of bags anyway. To her it’s a matter of choice: paper bag or cardboard boxes. Cats love both. Furthermore, Regina George knows that her snazzy mermaid bags are very special. She wears them well, and that is the farthest thing from secret.