This is a request from Jamie Khoo (016 323 9567):
Remember the stray cat that “found” me, Grumbles? The one who had sporo-trichosis? After 8 weeks of treatment, he healed very well… but a few weeks later, the sporo flared up again. So he went back on treatment for 11 weeks and has been in the vet for the last 6 weeks since I have not been able to house him (vet bills are tremendous now). He has also been diagnosed with FIV. I have to pick him up from the vet on Tuesday where he has been boarding, and I am in desperate need of a home for him. I can’t keep him as I already have a dog now, and I don’t think I can keep this cat confined in the house. One of my housemates is allergic to cats and I think Grumbles would tear up my house cos he’s so active and quite aggressive. Also, he may attack and eat my fish. Also, as you know, I am very seldom home. As he has FIV positive, I do need to find him a home where someone is sincerely willing to spend time and effort on this little cat. They’ll also need to be diligent about checking him in case the sporo comes back… I am really at wits end with this cat. I did think of just releasing him back into my neighbourhood, but I am very concerned he will fight with the other cats and thereby spread more illnesses to them (perhaps also sporo). Would you be able to help me pass the word around?
Grumbles is very cuddly, very manja and likes people A LOT. Generally, he’s very independent and likes to hang out on his own… which would be great if only he wasn’t stricken with so many illnesses.
I would be so grateful if you might be able to pass the word around or refer me to someone who might be able to help.
If you can help Jamie by adopting Grumbles, please contact her directly at the hp given above.
Comments
7 responses to “Grumbles the Cat needs a home”
Please beware! Sporotrichosis is a) virtually incurable and b) EXTREMELY contagious. Cats infected with it die a horrible, painful death.
Remember one of your rescuers who took in a cat with sporo, and her housemates released it? Heaven only knows how many other cats it has infected since.
My own opinion is that it's irresponsible to re-home a cat with this fungus, but if Jamie insists on doing so, please make very sure that any potential adopters know the risks. 🙁
Thank you for your comments and advice. I am well aware of the risks of sporo-trichosis. However, I have also heard from vets that they have treated cats with sporo-trichosis, where the disease has never reoccured.
I will of course definitely inform the new owner of all medical history and alert them of the potential risks so they know what they might expect. It is never my intention to rehome an animal without updating the new owner of the full details and history.
I do believe that we should exhaust all possibilities to help an animal and try every possible way. I also feel that it would also be very irresponsible to just put a cat down without first trying every way we can and giving it a chance.
By the way, I do have a good update. Grumbles is now being temporarily fostered, while full bloodwork is being done to check out the full current condition of his health (apart from the sporo and FIV).
Once all that is sorted, he will go to his new family! A friend has found a home for him!!! The new owner is aware of the situation and I'll be briefing them again with full details.
It looks like a happy ending for Grumbles 🙂
Thank you to all at AnimalCare for all your support, help and advice.
If everybody is to wash their hands off sickly animal, then where would they go? One should have a heart to adopt such animal. And I really salute such a noble hearted person.
Hi, Devi — I do salute Jamie for trying (and apparently succeeding! YAY!) to find Grumbles a good, SAFE home.
I'm not suggesting that we simply euthanise every sickly animal, simply to find the easy way out. I do think, though, that we all need to be very aware of the diseases that the cat is carrying. In Grumbles' case, he's got both a deadly virus (FIV) and a deadly fungus (trichospirosis.) To handle Grumbles carelessly, allowing him to infect others with either disease, would be as irresponsible as leaving him on the streets to die a horrible death by himself, if not more so. I know that Dr. Chan and many others would disagree with me, but if Jamie cannot find a home for Grumbles with no other cats and with people who take his medical problems seriously, I would suggest that euthanasia is the most responsible and humane solution, as painful as it is for the human making the decision. The risk of contagion is enormous, and death from both these diseases is prolonged and painful.
In these photos, Grumbles looks pretty healthy. Let's all pray for the best for him. None of us wants to see him suffer! 🙂
P. S. I've read that there are some new trials taking place with drugs to treat FIV. I'm sure it will be a while yet before results are published, but it offers a glimmer of hope to everyone with an FIV+ cat. KY, might Cow & Bunny be candidates??
Here is a blog entry by a local woman who's taking part in the study (or her cat is, to be precise…)
http://blog.lepak.com/2011/02/au-tests-retromad1-new-wonder-drug_24.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm;_medium=feed&utm;_campaign=Feed:+KatzAndOtherTales+(Katz+And+Other+Tales)
Oh, let's hope this really is a wonder drug!
Thanks, Maneki. I've just heard about it too. BTW, it's Bunny and Tiger who are FIV+. Will certainly be interested to follow up on this. Thanks.