Update - April 2026

 

There have been lots of comings and going at SVCR this month.

Luna and family arrived at the beginning of April. Luna is a very pretty, friendly,  peach and grey lady. She has 3 grey and white daughters who were all very shy but are beginning to come round with plenty of patience and loving care.

Happily Buck and Barney, Pluto and Venus and Ronnie and Reggie and Larry have gone to their new forever homes.

You may remember from last month’s update , we had a stray visiting our garden. A couple of weeks ago he turned up limping badly so was taken into the rescue and named Harry. It seemed he had been fighting so was quickly checked over and soon back to good health. He has already been reserved and off to his new home shortly.

We had an emergency admission last week when 18 year old Billie, a ginger and white female, was turned out of her home after her owned died. Poor Billie was found to be partially sighted with limited hearing so it’s a wonder she managed to survive outside on her own. However, a happy ending as Billie is now with a fosterer in a kind, loving home to end her days.

With the coming of spring there is lots of work to be done at the rescue. We are about to start refurbishing our kitchen thanks to our kind neighbour donating his old one. Handyman, Super Maurice is going to be very busy!

Once again thanks to you all for your continued support, whether it be attending our events or donating items, everything is much appreciated.

At present we have a green token scheme in Waitrose Stourbridge, if you’re shopping there please see how to help us.

Also if you sell anything on Vintage Cash Cow and use my referral code we get a £20 voucher to buy cat food at Asda.

To find out more ways to  help please look on our Donate, Events and Volunteer pages on this website.

Thank you 😻😻😻😻

 

FIV / FELV cats

 

Some of our cats unfortunately have FIV/FELV but we try to reassure potential adopters that it is entirely safe for humans, dogs, and other non-feline pets to own cats with FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) or FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus). These viruses are species-specific, meaning they cannot be transmitted to humans.


While a positive diagnosis is not a death sentence, it does require a commitment to specific, long-term management to ensure a good quality of life for the cat, especially if the cat is white (due to higher sensitivity to sun-related issues, though this is not directly related to the virus).


Here is a breakdown of what you need to know:


1. Understanding the Risks


Safety to Humans/Other Species: Zero risk. Humans cannot catch FIV or FeLV.


Safety to Other Cats: 

FIV: Relatively low risk. Spreads mainly through deep bite wounds (fighting). FIV+ cats can live with negative cats if they are neutered and peaceful.

FeLV: High risk. Highly contagious, spreading through casual contact like grooming, sharing food bowls, and litter boxes. FeLV+ cats should only live with other FeLV+ cats.

Outlook: Many FIV/FeLV cats can live long, comfortable, and happy lives, particularly if diagnosed early and kept as indoor-only cats.

 

2. Caring for a Positive Cat


Keep Them Indoors: This protects your cat from catching secondary infections and keeps other cats safe.

Veterinary Care: Regular, frequent check-ups (ideally every 6 months) are essential to catch secondary infections early.

Parasite & Dental Care: Strict, regular flea/worm control and good dental hygiene are crucial.

Diet: Do not feed raw food or unpasteurized dairy, as these can carry bacteria that are dangerous to immunocompromised cats.

Environment: Minimize stress, as it can lower their immune system.