I hadn't intended to add another cat to the feline family. The Group of Six were meshing nicely with few fights and power struggles.
Then I got a text asking if I'd take another cat with AIDS. With only a little introspection, I said YES, because I already had Tuukka and so am somewhat prepared for the cat disease.
The next day, a cat deliverer dropped a tortie/siamese mix at my doorstep and she walked right out of her carrier and moved into the cat tent. WOW - no hesitation at all 0n her part. I freaked though when I saw that her paperwork said she had feline leukemia and not AIDS. There is a huge difference and leukemia is easily transferred to other cats simply by eating out of the same bowls or using the litter box. I was most worried for Tuukka who has no immunity system - he'd be at serious risk.
The little cat was a sweetheart though and jumped up on my lap, curled up and fell asleep. DARN - she's putting the hard sell on me! The others really didn't even acknowledge her, just kept on with their normal day-to-day cat business of carelessly ignoring me.
I took her into my vet the next day and the preliminary test came up negative! She didn't have AIDS, or leukemia - - or anything! We sent her bloodwork to Colorado to verify the results, but it also came up negative.
I ended up with an accidentally, healthy cat!
The shelter people wanted to take her back and switch her for the AIDS cat - and I declined. Luna (named after the Harry Potter character) had already made herself a part of the family, and I was not going to send her back to a shelter. Plus, I can't switch cats out like a pair of socks that are the wrong color!
I was dismayed at the carelessness of the shelter which obviously not only shipped me the wrong cat, but mis-marked her paperwork. I just hope someone doesn't end up taking a "healthy" cat that actually does have leukemia.
But for whatever reason, the stork delivered Luna to me and it felt right immediately. My cat equilibrium has been reached.
And while she may not be a "special needs" cat, she has a place in my house anyway!
