I have written this dedication for a few reasons. One is that I really did love Charmed more than I thought I could. Another reason is, I hope sharing this will ease the pain of his loss. I hope someday to find a cat like him but I know I can never find one with a personality identical to his. No cat is alike and I doubt by far one will ever be like Charmed.

My other reason is that I hope if you are reading this that maybe you have questions about FELV. Maybe your cat has been just diagnosed with FELV. Or possibly you found a cat that you were going to adopt but decided not to because the cat has an illness like FELV. I am hoping, that if you are reading for either reason you will consider adoption after reading all the joy I had with Charmed. You see if I didn't keep him I would never have had the joy of knowing and loving him. There are some options even if you Vet tells you there aren't any. There is more hope now and possibly down the road they will find a cure.

So don't turn down adopting a kitten that caught your eye because you heard he is FELV positive and you have heard all these stories about FELV. My first cat that developed FELV was only one and one half years old and was let outside by someone just once. We didn't know he was positive until three months later when he was sick and we took him to the vet. Chewy only lived another six weeks or so and he had to be put to sleep. He had been one of the unlucky cats that got outside once, found a cat with FELV, became infected and developed cancer. I think now with all I know he also was becoming anemic to add to his problems as if cancer was not enough. His cancer was in his throat. If I knew back in 1997 what I know now maybe his fate may have been a little different. I swore never again, and then Charmed came into my life.

This is why I wrote such a long story. You had to tell I was very negative and didn't want him. I am glad I did keep him because he touched my life in a very special way. If I had to do it over I would do it in a heartbeat. Charmed was really different. I wish someday to find a cat with his personality or at least a cat that has some of his personality or quirks! Like I said before, no cat is alike and I doubt I will find another like Charmed. They broke the mold with him. I said never again to FELV but you never know what hand life deals to you. To find another Charmed would be a true blessing again. So please if you find yourself in one of these situations, seek some advice and don't give up. If you see a cat that you like adopt it, even if the cat may be FELV, FIV, missing a limb, or have some other "special need".

Years ago it was a death sentence, but now cats are living longer with the disease. Some FELV positive cats live a normal long life. Some do not and their lives are taken away leaving a lot of sorrow. But in my opinion living with FELV is not so different that living with a child that is handicapped. It's a little more time and work but the love you get is well worth it.

I hope in the years to come there is a cure. Till then we can only hope and do the best we can. One way to prevent FELV or FIV is to not let your cat out. If unfortunately your cat has FELV please seek a support group online. You will find many people who can give you ideas and your Vet may be very helpful in keeping your cat healthy. If your Vet doesn't want to work with FELV you can always find another Vet. That is my best advise. Many Vets will work with you and your ideas. I think everyone can learn and improve their knowledge.

For information on FELV please check out: www.felineleukemia.org. You will find a lot of great information and help in getting on a mailing list.

For cancer, there are many good groups to help support you with both conventional and holistic practices. There is much good information out there on these sites. For cancer you may want to check out:

Yahoo cancer groups:

- Shortie's Website
- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Feline_VAS_Support

- Woodrow's Website
- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/feline_cancer

There is a support group on Yahoo for FIV also:
- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FivCats

This is a pretty interesting site for holistic supplementing for cats with Fiv:
- http://www.geocities.com/gittleman1

These are just a few you can look up almost anything and find help.

Please before you think about Declawing please do a little home work here are a few articles I found:

- http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/declaw.html
- http://www.declawing.com/list.html

Alternatives to Declawing:

There are many other ideas: trimming the nails, using Soft Paws (www.softpaws.com), using two sided sticky tape on furniture. The one I used which really amazed me was buying a big scratching post. Not a small little thing but one with rope on the posts and one that they can climb up in things or on top of things. I have older cats that occasionally would use the furniture. I purchased one of these scratching units and they loved it they use it all the time. I plan to get another one soon, they all jockey for position to use it. I think it's one of the best things I bought for my cats!!