OLM Catnip Cottage
Very Active Member
:cry: Well, we are being hit HARD here.
One of my other main foster homes, the Vice Director's, has been closed for intake for months now because she had gotten some nasty viral infection in that her cats just kept passing back and forth. We are nearing the end of that now, she is completely renovating her home to try and eradicate it - all carpeting is being torn up and replaced with hard floors. Much of the wood in her home has been torn out and her kitchen rebuilt because of mold that was descovered. New Air Conditioning unit to filter the air better. We're finally getting to the bottom of it there.
The test results today from my house - I began with my own cats, who have lived with me at least a decade, most more. Belle, 17-18 year old Hyper-T, negative both FeLv, FIV.
Blade, 14 year old, negative both.
Lucky Son, 13-14 year old, negative both.
Franklin, 8-10 year old, FIV positive, FeLv negative.
Raphael, 10 year old, FIV negative, FeLv positive.
Ivory, 8 year old, FeLv positive, FIV positive.
The fosters are all newcomers (less than 1 month here) and are negative. They are being vaccinated and moved to my Cottageville Foster Home in the Critter Cabin, until adopted.
The 3 ferals, I cannot grab and test. They are going into isolation in the garage together until I can trap them in a humane trap out there and have them tested. Those negative can rejoin the house. Those positive, I have to make a very hard decision on. FIV I will leave alone and put into the FIV isolation room. If FeLV positive, they will have to be euthanized before they awaken because they will NEVER EVER allow me to treat them in any way to help alleviate pain or improve their quality of life, or even to offer them palliative care at the end. They will suffer, and there will be no way I can stop their suffering, particulary at the end. I think particularly of Thomasina, who has lived with me 9 years now and still won't come closer than 6 feet of me. Praying all are negative and can simply rejoin the household.
So, I have a FIV isolation room with Franklin, an FeLv isolation are at the opposite side of the hall in my bedroom with Goose, Raphael and Ivory. An unknown feral isolation are in the garage until tested. And the main parts of the house has all negative, vaccinated but less adoptable sanctuary cats. New A/C unit with filtration being quoted for installation within the next month for the house. I am taking out a loan with the electric company for that.
All adoptable cats are being moved out to Cottageville until adoption.
And my home, the heartbeat of Our Lady of Mercy's Catnip Cottage for these past 8 years, has closed its doors to incoming cats - at least for about 2-6 years, during which time nature and the diseases will change the situation. I will remain the director, and will do just that - direct, market, work things. I will work to help network and provide education and support, to try and help people keep their cats, or network to find safe places to place them. I will only be able to take in those newcomers that I have foster homes for - they cannot come into my home. I will have to work through my spoke foster homes, which I only have 3 that can possibly take in foster cats right now. If God wants us to take in more, He will have to send us more foster homes. I will direct and manage those.
Our future, I leave where it started, in God's hands.
This is a very difficult and dark time for us. But God is with us through it all. "Yay, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff comfort me."
But I'm going to be getting wine and chocolate tonight.
One of my other main foster homes, the Vice Director's, has been closed for intake for months now because she had gotten some nasty viral infection in that her cats just kept passing back and forth. We are nearing the end of that now, she is completely renovating her home to try and eradicate it - all carpeting is being torn up and replaced with hard floors. Much of the wood in her home has been torn out and her kitchen rebuilt because of mold that was descovered. New Air Conditioning unit to filter the air better. We're finally getting to the bottom of it there.
The test results today from my house - I began with my own cats, who have lived with me at least a decade, most more. Belle, 17-18 year old Hyper-T, negative both FeLv, FIV.
Blade, 14 year old, negative both.
Lucky Son, 13-14 year old, negative both.
Franklin, 8-10 year old, FIV positive, FeLv negative.
Raphael, 10 year old, FIV negative, FeLv positive.
Ivory, 8 year old, FeLv positive, FIV positive.
The fosters are all newcomers (less than 1 month here) and are negative. They are being vaccinated and moved to my Cottageville Foster Home in the Critter Cabin, until adopted.
The 3 ferals, I cannot grab and test. They are going into isolation in the garage together until I can trap them in a humane trap out there and have them tested. Those negative can rejoin the house. Those positive, I have to make a very hard decision on. FIV I will leave alone and put into the FIV isolation room. If FeLV positive, they will have to be euthanized before they awaken because they will NEVER EVER allow me to treat them in any way to help alleviate pain or improve their quality of life, or even to offer them palliative care at the end. They will suffer, and there will be no way I can stop their suffering, particulary at the end. I think particularly of Thomasina, who has lived with me 9 years now and still won't come closer than 6 feet of me. Praying all are negative and can simply rejoin the household.
So, I have a FIV isolation room with Franklin, an FeLv isolation are at the opposite side of the hall in my bedroom with Goose, Raphael and Ivory. An unknown feral isolation are in the garage until tested. And the main parts of the house has all negative, vaccinated but less adoptable sanctuary cats. New A/C unit with filtration being quoted for installation within the next month for the house. I am taking out a loan with the electric company for that.
All adoptable cats are being moved out to Cottageville until adoption.
And my home, the heartbeat of Our Lady of Mercy's Catnip Cottage for these past 8 years, has closed its doors to incoming cats - at least for about 2-6 years, during which time nature and the diseases will change the situation. I will remain the director, and will do just that - direct, market, work things. I will work to help network and provide education and support, to try and help people keep their cats, or network to find safe places to place them. I will only be able to take in those newcomers that I have foster homes for - they cannot come into my home. I will have to work through my spoke foster homes, which I only have 3 that can possibly take in foster cats right now. If God wants us to take in more, He will have to send us more foster homes. I will direct and manage those.
Our future, I leave where it started, in God's hands.
This is a very difficult and dark time for us. But God is with us through it all. "Yay, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff comfort me."
But I'm going to be getting wine and chocolate tonight.
