Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Cats for Adoption: Rigley!

Rigley is a black and white cat of no small substance, and is “super” at all the best things about cats: play, affection, companionship. In fact, he’s got that diamond on his chest that just might mean he’s Supercat. You can see he’s ready for action, whatever that might be!

He’s two years old and was rescued last year with a lot of fur missing from around his neck, but with time and proper care it’s all grown back in.

Pittsburgh CAT always tests all its rescues for both Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), because they are contagious illnesses and affect a cat’s immunity, influencing how it’s cared for and if it’s housed with other cats. FIV is not a big deal among cats who are healthy otherwise, with a good diet and regular vet checkups, and all spayed and neutered with no fighting and biting.

FeLV is a different story, but even that can vary depending on the cat. The disease attacks the cat’s immune system in the way that leukemia does and in time the cat’s health will deteriorate. The disease doesn’t have any really specific symptoms, mostly lethargy and a poor appetite. Kittens and young cats without a mature immune system will succumb more quickly, sometimes shortly after they’ve been diagnosed. But the older a cat is when it comes in contact with FeLV, the more its immune system can put up a fight, and an adult cat like Rigley will carry the disease but with a good diet and vigilant health checks he could live for years with no problems. Some secondary conditions might arise, like dental issues or frequent upper respiratory issues, but as long as they are treated as they come up he’s just like any other cat.

Rigley chilling.
Rigley chilling.

One important thing is that Rigley needs to be an only cat, because he carries the disease. It’s spread easily by sharing food and toys, and can infect another cat whose immune system might not be so robust. It’s a cat-only illness, though, and won’t affect dogs or any other animal.

In many shelters and even in some rescues, a positive test for FeLV is an immediate euthanasia because of the risks to other cats. But that’s not so here. Someone who just wants a really special black and white cat to share their lives for a decade or more can give Rigley a great home.

You can also see Rigley on Pittsburgh C.A.T.’s Petfinder page and Facebook page.

Adopting from Pittsburgh C.A.T.

All Pittsburgh C.A.T. adoptions begin with our application. After it’s reviewed you’ll be contacted about meeting your cat or kitten. All cats have been fostered in homes and are healthy, spayed or neutered, up to date on vaccines.

Also look for more adoptable cats on Pittsburgh C.A.T.’s Petfinder page.


Can’t adopt? Foster! Can’t foster? Donate or volunteer.

There are so many ways you can help cats who need homes and care. You may not have room to adopt another cat, but can foster a cat or kitten for a few weeks. If not that, you can volunteer at a shelter or with a rescue, or donate. You do this because you love your cat, and by doing so you help all cats. No matter which of these actions you take, you help to save a life, and make life better for all cats.

  • Adopt one of the cats I’ve posted here, or from any shelter or rescue near you, or from Petfinder, to open up a space for another cat to be rescued and fostered.
  • Offer to foster cats or kittens for a shelter or rescue near you.
  • Volunteer at a shelter or rescue.
  • Find a group of volunteers who work with homeless cats and help them with their efforts.
  • Donate to a shelter or rescue near you.

If you can foster kittens or adults cats to help prepare them for a forever home, please run to your nearest shelter and find a cat who needs you! Anyone can help with this effort at any level, even if all you do is donate to a shelter or rescue so they can help to pay for the food or medications needed for their foster, or the spay/neuter/veterinary care during a clinic.

Need to know more? Read Fostering for Your Shelter and Fostering Saves Lives


Gifts featuring cats you know! Visit Portraits of Animals

AfterDinnerNap-Etsy

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Pittsburgh C.A.T. 2019 Calendar: Rescue, Foster, Rehome, Repeat 2019

Rescue, Foster, Rehome, Repeat 2019: Pittsburgh C.A.T. 2019 Calendar
Rescue, Foster, Rehome, Repeat 2019: Pittsburgh C.A.T. 2019 Calendar

 

Each month features a cat or cats and the story who Pittsburgh C.A.T. volunteers rescued through TNR or rescue from abandonment, neglect or abuse, offered medical treatment, fostering, socialization, and a loving forever home that met their individual needs. Read more and purchase.



Copyright

All images and text used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission, although links to your site are more than welcome and are shared. Please ask if you are interested in using and image or story in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of an image or a product including it, check my animal and nature website Portraits of Animals to see if I have it available already. If you don’t find it there, visit Ordering Custom Artwork for more information on a custom greeting card, print or other item.


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© 2022 | www.TheCreativeCat.net | Published by Bernadette E. Kazmarski

Weekly schedule of features:

Sunday: Essays, Pet Loss, Poetry, The Artist’s Life

Monday: Adoptable Cats, TNR & Shelters

Tuesday: Rescue Stories

Wednesday: Commissioned Portrait or Featured Artwork

Thursday: New Merchandise

Friday: Book Review, Health and Welfare, Advocacy

Saturday: Your Backyard Wildlife Habitat, Living Green With Pets, Creating With Cats

And sometimes, I just throw my hands in the air and have fun!

 
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Bernadette

From health and welfare to rescue and adoption stories, advocacy and art, factual articles and fictional stories, "The Creative Cat" offers both visual and verbal education and entertainment about cats for people who love cats, pets and animals of all species.

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