Bilton

After two months as a 2 cat household, we still felt like we had room for more. I had volunteered a couple of times at the Cat Adoption Team and knew first hand that cats with FIV are practically ignored at shelters.

It broke my heart to see family's avoid the FIV+ cat room as if they were going to catch it themselves and/or give it to their other cats at home. I'm sure they thought "Why would I adopt a cat that's just going to die?" If they had taken the time to understand what FIV+ means, then maybe they would also understand that infected cats can have a life expectancy that is just as long as a "healthy" cat.

It seems to me, and this may just be in my head, that FIV+ shelter cats are extra sweet and wonderful, because they seem to know they're at a disadvantage. So if you are going to be "brave" and go into an FIV+ cat room at a shelter (known as Paul's Library at C.A.T.) you would be met with some of the most grateful, sweet felines rubbing against your ankles and purring like crazy.

So now I'm going to step off my soapbox and continue with the story of Bilton.

Like I was saying, after two months with just Bits and The Bot, there was still an empty space in our home. The Bot is so very docile and timid. He never causes any trouble...ever. I'm not exaggerating. He keeps to himself and is happy to lay on the couch with you for hours. Then there's Bits, who is so very energetic and playful. When Bits tried to play-wrestle with The Bot, it seemed more like bullying than fun. So we decided that there was room for a third cat, and that this third cat would be the final piece in our family puzzle.

This new cat would be a friend for Bits, so maybe The Bot could feel a little more safe in his own home. He would also add some feline energy to the house that seemed to be lacking since the passing of our beloved cat Amy back in March. (Amy was all the cat you needed and then some - a true lady.)

I went on Petfinder.com and searched for a 2-ish year old cat with FIV in our area. Bilton's (named Sesame at the time) picture popped up and I fell in love. I could see right away that he only had one eye. Which made him quite charming in my opinion. He was the perfect age and in reading his bio, the perfect temperament for dealing with both Bits and The Bot.

Bilton came in to our home on June 2nd and we quickly discovered that he was absolutely what we were hoping for. He climbed out of his cat carrier and immediately started purring and rubbing his head against our hands. We kept him in the bedroom for a little while, but he ended up meeting his new brothers just a couple hours after being brought home. There were no fights and no hissing. Just some booty sniffing and nose touching.

Everything fell in to place much better than we ever could have expected. Bits and Bilton love wrestling with each other. They could tussle for hours. Afterwards, they lay on the ground and groom the others head and neck for a while.

The smart money's on Bilton.

Once they're all tuckered out they both climb on to the couch with me and we watch Animal Cops: Houston together while The Bot lays on Brad's chest, safe from any bullying.

I tell Brad almost every day how much I love our family. The five of us compliment each other so well. I never ever regret the decision to care for our FIV+ kitties. They are my children, how could I ever regret them?

Bilton has found his forever home, and we have found our missing puzzle piece.