In memory of Suzy Q

This week, a very special kitty crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.

Before we tell you about her, do you know what Feline Leukemia (FeLV) is? It’s a virus which weakens a cat’s immune system, and tends to lower their life expectancy because they are more susceptible to disease. These cats are often euthanized in shelters, due to the difficulty of finding adopters.

Here at HSHV, our admin office is an FeLV sanctuary where these cats can roam freely, showered with love and attention until they find homes. FeLV is transmitted through a cat's saliva, so this separate space allows us to keep them fully separate from the rest of the shelter cat population. Every aspect of our space is designed to minimize disease spread, with surfaces that can be easily sanitized, an avoidance of "clutter," and the same state-of-the-art ventilation system used throughout our shelter.

Our community is also extremely fortunate to have Leuk’s Landing, a rescue specializing in FeLV cats. Years ago, before our sanctuary space was feasible, we would send FeLV cats to Leuk's where we knew they would be cherished and loved.

Now, back to that very special kitty. Suzy Q was the last cat we sent to Leuk’s Landing, on June 1st 2014. She was 1 year old. Suzy Q didn’t have a long life expectancy, as cats who catch the virus young tend to succumb to disease the earliest.

But she defied the odds, and lived for 9 more years! Suzy Q passed away just 3 days ago, on Saturday. She lived life to the fullest, as do our FeLV+ “admin cats.” Sometimes, when they're racing down the hall, or taking over the coziest window bed, or chasing each other up and down cat trees, it seems like they know they need to pack as much enjoyment as possible into each day. We’re thankful that Leuk’s Landing gave this girl a happy life, and we’re thankful to our adopters who open their homes and hearts to FeLV+ cats without knowing how long they will have together. Because an animal’s worth is not measured in time.

If you would like to do something about Suzy Q's memory, simply help spread the word about FeLV+ cats. They have so much love to give, and are as deserving as any of finding happy homes.