A 17-year-old cat who was surrendered to a shelter with a host of illnesses found joy in his last five months after being adopted by a caring woman in California.
Mr. Whiskers, a gorgeous orange cat with green eyes, had tested positive for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FELV), but that didn’t stop Jess Davis from picking him.
“I was like, ‘He’s never going to get adopted with these health ailments and in a room full of cute kittens,’” Davis said in a video about the rescue. “It’s a really stressful environment and no place where they should spend their final weeks, so we took him home.”
Davis, who founded the volunteer-run nonprofit Boomer’s Buddies Rescue, said Mr. Whiskers became inseparable from her for his last five months.
Although a little nervous at first in his new environment, he quickly warmed up — following her around and seeking out love and snuggles.
Her only goal for him was to make sure the remainder of his life was filled with comfort and love.
Because FELV is contagious, Mr. Whiskers couldn’t be around other cats — until Davis, sensing he wanted some cat companionship, found him a new friend with the same disease.
Davis said Mr. Whiskers’ transition was hard on her but added she was glad his last few months were happy.
“It was a really special bond with Mr. Whiskers because he was so old and frail when I got him, and I had to nurse him back to health,” she said. “It is hard, each and every time, even though I know what I am getting myself into. I just remove myself from it and put myself in their shoes.”
Mr. Whiskers and Jess (Courtesy of @jessandheranimals)
This heartwarming story is a reminder of the critical importance of adoption! We are so grateful that Mr. Whiskers received such attentive care and nurturing, which is no less than he deserved.
To learn more about Jess and Boomer’s Buddies, which specializes in caring for animals with medical issues, trauma, and behavioral issues, you can check out their website here or their Facebook page here.
