Update on our newest cats! There's not three, there's EIGHT!

Our latest foray by TEAM WHISKERS brought eight felines to the Animal Care League on Tuesday June 1! Three adult male cats, and five kittens!

First, an update on our male cats, Rusty, Midnight and Scruffy:

Rusty is an orange tabby who is 1-2 years old, and was neutered, tested and vaccinated by the ACL. He has been returned to the colony.

Midnight is also 1-2 years old and is pure black. He was neutered, tested and vaccinated by the ACL. He has been returned to the colony.

Scruffy was another story - a 4-5 year old black and white male cat, he was very injured and ill when we brought him into the Animal Care League. The veterinarian assessed his injuries and the state of his health and determined that he was FIV+, which means Scruffy had feline immunodeficiency virus. FIV is communicated to other animals most often by biting, and is very infectious. Cats with FIV that become sick with other infections can make other cats and household pets very sick.

What does FIV do to a cat?
Infected cats may appear normal for years. However, infection eventually leads to a state of immune deficiency that hinders the cat's ability to protect itself against other infections. The same bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi that may be found in the everyday environment--where they usually do not affect healthy animals--can cause severe illness in those with weakened immune systems. These secondary infections are responsible for many of the diseases associated with FIV. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

House cats with FIV can be isolated and treated, but strays that cannot be brought indoors to be treated will suffer with FIV and the infections that it brings, so Scruffy was euthanized. So sad to make this decision, but we did not want Scruffy to suffer or affect other healthy cats.

Our five black and white tuxedo kittens were found at 1 month old - their eyes were open, but their ears were barely unfolded! There were four males and one female, CUTE as a button all of them, now we have to bring in momma too! Our friends at the Animal Care League have checked them out and they are healthy and doing fine. They are being fostered at ACL because the colony caretaker ordinance of Cook County does not allow us (nor would we want to) release kittens back outside. They are able to be socialized and welcomed into good homes! ACL volunteers have named them after the Chicago Blackhawks, and we're sure that the Blackhawks will win the Stanley Cup now, paws down!