The Felv Crew

Both my mom and dad were huge animal lovers. My dad showed my brother and I how to help stranded rain worms find their way back into the grass. My mom offered a home to all those who were looking for one. We grew up with all kinds of animals, just somehow no cats.

When I met momma cat Sui and her baby Kylie on the street at one of my nanny jobs, it seemed to me that anyone would be a better fit to offer these two ladies a home than me. But Sui and Kylie seemed to feel otherwise by running from the neighbors offering to take them in, and suddenly I had found myself to have become a cat lady.

Sui and Kylie were the most amazing two girls and when they passed away, I wasn't ready to be a cat mom again just yet. But I did miss having cats around me, so I stepped past my shyness and insecurities of trying new things and I signed myself up as a volunteer at Kitten Rescue Sanctuary, and this is where I first met the Felv crew.

Chris and Smokey

Seriously??!

Off course I fell in love with all the cats at the cat sanctuary, but the felv crew really captured my heart with shy Smokey leading the way. As I myself had always been the more shy, please don't see me, but please see me girl, it's my fellow shy ones I still see first and Smokey with his beautiful eyes and adorable tongue always sticking out a little bit, just looking to say hi, but not sure how...it only took me a nano second before I forgot I wasn't ready to be a cat mom again and home he went.

Kitten Rescue off course told me everything I needed to know in the how to of giving an felv cat like Smokey the best home possible. Smokey being an older gentleman meant he most likely became an felv gentleman at an older age through sharing food and water or a play bite from an felv cat. Because Smokey wasn't born with felv, he could live a full happy healthy life like any other non felv cat. I just needed to keep a little closer eye on any sniffles or little things that non felv cats might shake off a little easier. All I saw was an adorable old man who loved to snuggle on my lap whenever he saw the chance to do so.

Smokey

Because I had to start working longer hours and worried my little old man might get lonely, I kept my eye out for a buddy, and when shy Chris moved into the suite, I knew it was meant to be.

Exactly the day I brought home Chris, Smokey showed how sadly felv can go from completely healthy one day, to worrisome the next. And a day later I had lost my handsome little old man and the felv status became too real too fast.

But with Chris now at home I didn't get to be sad too long while watching Chris zoom after his favorite scrunchies and chat up his new hummingbird friends.

Again, the cat sanctuary had reminded me that Chris being only a year old, meant he was most likely born with felv and this meant a maybe different story than with my Smokey. But again, all I saw was my handsome sweet boy who looked as healthy as can be and clearly would be with me forever.

Right before his second birthday Chris got sick and was gone just as fast as Smokey and again I was crushed with the reality of felv.

Felv Life

Hatchie protecting Sprinkles from scary monster

We have sadly lost way too many felv friends at the sanctuary. BUT more so we have also celebrated all these amazing lives that touched us each with their own unique amazing personality and story. Every first birthday gets celebrated with extra big celebrations because for an felv kitten that first birthday is a huge milestone! Their second birthday we celebrate two times as much how amazing warriors they are. When one of the crew goes home to their forever home, we miss them before they even leave the suite, but are so happy they get to enjoy their new home with the most amazing family to choose these guys for how special they are.

Felv Love

Fred

Kitten Rescue had a huge renovation and made sure that while the renovation was happening, all cats found a secure and safe and comfy spot. The felv suite got their own cozy suite and all the cats that might need a little bit more care in being a bit more nervous or shy, went home with foster parents. I took home shy old man Bobby who hissed at me so I knew it was love at first sight and off course became an immediate foster fail. Soon after Holly adopted herself into the home from the street and my home became a non felv home. But every week I make sure to get my felv fix by running over to the suite and being greeted by the best crew I can imagine. I post about the suite on my Instagram just about every week because how could I not! But the suite also has their own Instagram page that is run by two amazing ladies who also make sure to always have the suite decorated for any and all holidays. Off course the suite has the amazing caretakers of Kitten rescue, and the suite even has their own live feed where you can watch all their antics in real time. For the live feed and their Instagram page and adoption info, I have posted some links below. Just a final note from me though too. Was I devasted when I lost my two handsome boys way too soon...absolutely! Just as devastated as we all are every time, we have to say goodbye to one of the crew way too soon. Would I do it all over again? Absolutely!! To watch Smokey introduce himself to my apartment manager with a big hi! like he had always owned this place. My growing Amazon scrunchy order thanks to Chris finding some kind of scrunchy black hole in my apartment and making sure to lose every scrunchy in it. To see the hummingbirds hover at the window where Chris would always sit and see it wasn't just me who missed him. To see the photos of some of our crew going out on adventures with their new forever family, all with big smiles on their faces...For however long we are lucky enough to know these guys, is to truly love them.

Nico

The Felv live feed: https://explore.org/livecams/cats/kitten-rescue-felv-suite

The Felv Suite Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/felvcatsofkittenrescue/

Kitten Rescue Sanctuary: https://www.instagram.com/kittenrescuela/