Leroy gets to go out!

[YesItsMeIDontCare]

He (grudgingly) accepted the harness, so my FIV+ boy gets to enjoy the sunshine .

He's a gorgeous boy.

How has he settled generally?

He seems quite happy with the way his little furry life has changed. He's a complete nutter and still very bitey. Not nasty bitey, but I don't think he was socialised properly when he was little.

He sleeping on the windowsill at the moment 😸.

Why does he have to have the harness? It's not because of the FIV is it? Neutered FIV cats really aren't a danger to other cats.

so there is 0.00% chance that OP's cat could pass FIV to another cat?

The rescue centre wanted him to go to an indoor home, but I asked about going out on a harness and they thought that was a good idea.

Tbh I'm more worried about him picking up viruses and not being able to fight them off. Selfish of me I know, but there you go.

He's an absolute beauty and a lucky boy to have found you!

cozie found him for me 😊. Sort of. Pointed me at a website and there he was! I thought they'd say no, but the lady I spoke to was lovely and he's been here just over 2 weeks. Spent most of his furry life in rescues so far I think 😿.

lljkk to pass it on he would have to get into a full on fight, the sort that generally only unneutered males have. That is quite unlikely for a neutered cat.

I really don't think he's any more likely to get a virus off the harness than on it. If it's a safe area for cats generally then I would let him have a bit of freedom if he wants it.

Thecatneuterer - I'm not sure about that.
All of my neutered cats have been in a fight at some point, and one of our males has been bitten several times.
Not sure if he bites back though, but he has had to have antibiotics, so I guess in that respect anyway there's more risk of picking up something.

It's great that he's able to go outside, though! He really is lucky to have found you.

Too close to a busy road tbh. I specifically wanted a cat who needed to be an indoor cat, I had a thread about it a few weeks ago. I didn't want a cat that could go outside and not let it but one who would be safer inside regardless of the road, iykwim.

Besides, the rescue wanted him to go to an indoor home and it would deceitful for me to renege on that agreement.

A quick trot around on a harness sounds safe enough, either way. (And come the winter weather, he likely won't be so keen.)

His coat seems to be recovering? His front is looking very black and glossy. How is he eating now?

His coat? He's had a lovely coat since at least 23rd June!

And he's never had a problem eating... I think you may have confused Leroy with someone else!

He's lasting longer with brushing though.

I think he's likely just happier then.

His coat is certainly looking great at the front of him. The brushing is also possibly doing good.

When I was a kid, Our neutered boys used to get lots of abcesses, I imagine from fights.
The neutered cats I have now, have never had any fight injuries. We live in a much lower density area compared to where I grew up.

OP sounds like a fab kitty mom. :)

I think it's luck of the draw in many cases - what the temperament of your cat(s) is like, whether they have any enemies out there etc etc. I've had neutered boys who have fought, myself, including having fight injuries.

- thank you lljkk -

I do try... I hope Leroy thinks I'm fab too!

He looks happy.

Mine is neutered and has managed to get a cracking abscess, probably from a cat bite

Out of interest have they done snap test or full bloods? Mine was homed to me as FIV. After struggling with settling in, he had a full blood test and is negative

How is Ollie? I didn't see the thread about him missing 'til he was home.

I don't know about the tests. I've got a sheet, but it's not clear who the original vets were. I've emailed Avon Cats, but the lady who runs it works full time so probably doesn't get much chance until the weekends. He's got a "meet & greet" appointment at my vets on Thursday.

I hope he doesn't think he's going back to the rescue. 😔

He's good :)
The snap test shows antibodies which I believe they can have from other reasons (it was complex, and I forgot most of it)
But the actual blood test shows FIV as opposed to the antibodies