Kyle was my first pet after I moved out on my own. I remember going to the SPCA one day, about 20 years ago, looking for a black cat. There was a gorgeous, long haired black cat with a grey undercoat that I had my eye on. When I got there, I learned that there was someone already interested in him. They showed me this ginger haired boy. At the time, I didn't realize how awesome orange boys are (now they're my favorite ), I REALLY wanted that black cat.
I got a call later that day that the black cat was adopted so I decided to go with the gorgeous orange tabby. Kyle was not only a "looker", he had quite the personality as well. He was a rough player and loved to chew on the back of my legs, attack my feet at night, and walk around like a predator, ready to pounce on anything that moved. I loved him with all my heart and soul. Working at the vet clinic at the time, I decided to do a blood test on him to check for Feline Leukemia/FIV, never dreaming it would show positive. When I got the result that he had tested positive for Feline Leukemia my heart completely sank. But, being the fighter that he was, I knew it wasn't a death sentence. With proper care and nutrition, cats with the disease can live a "normal" life. Kyle became the real life poster boy for Felv/FIV testing, and I like to think he led the way to a newer line of thinking for the SPCA that led to the testing of all cats and kittens prior to adoption, to ensure the best care possible. Sadly, we lost Kyle shortly before his 7th birthday to the disease, but his legacy lives on. |