FeLV cats need to be kept segregated, but FIV+ cats can mingle with other kitties. It’s similar to HIV in humans - in order for it to spread, it needs an introduction into the bloodstream. So it’s only an issue if there’s a big fight, which is why you see it spreading in feral populations. Like, it’s in saliva, but they aren’t going to pass it by sharing a water or food dish. They would pass it along with a deep bite. Scratching isn’t an issue, as the FIV cat won’t have it on their claws, but if they had an open wound and there was then contact, and the other cat had an open wound, transmission could happen. So as long as you gradually introduce the cats to each other so they don’t want to go tearing into each other, the odds of them spreading FIV is almost nonexistent. And FIV cats can live long, happy lives even with the diagnosis.
The most common issue for FIV cats is stomach upset, so we may have to buy some gastrointestinal specialty food from time to time, and they can suffer from diarrhea and get lethargic if they are dehydrated. So we will have to keep an eye on that. But plenty of FIV kitties have zero outward signs of their diagnosis, until one day, boom! - they’re in acute kidney failure. I have a friend who has had a couple of FIV+ cats, and she said they really were no extra trouble. They’re fine until they’re not, and once they are not, it’s very quick and all over. You just never know when you will lose them.
Which is true about every living thing on this earth, if you think about it.
I am so crazy excited to see Olivia today! Our application was accepted immediately, and apparently all of the staff are really glad she is going to have a home with us. PunkRock and I are going to visit her this afternoon, and then bring her home with us on Saturday.
I’m up with DarkKnight right now, as he’s about to go to work and I won’t see him again until Saturday night. He and I had an AMAZING Valentine’s Day together yesterday. Since his schedule is crazy full with work and then he’s also the male lead in the children’s theater production on the weekends, we had zero time on the calendar to be together for the holiday. He took Wednesday off of work just to give me time. I was really surprised at his suggestion about doing that, but I was eager to say yes! So we had a wonderful time.
We had lunch at Tranquilitea, which is a cute little tea house in Waynesboro. I had a $50 gift certificate that I got for Christmas, so it wasn’t a huge hit to our budget. We both got two different types of tea (my favorite was Creme Brûlée) and a “Queen’s Tea,” which consisted of several courses: sweet potato bisque with blue cheese crumbles, blueberry & raspberry scones with lemon curd and clotted cream, 6 different types of little tea sandwiches, and 3 different dessert bites. Oh, it was decadent and delicious!
After the tea - we were there for almost exactly an hour and a half - we drove to Gaithersburg and spent the next 4 hours at an art studio. They had lots of different options - painting on canvas, painting pottery, making mosaics, creating wood art. I can’t remember all the choices! Anyway, we decided to paint pottery and I chose this really cute graphic cat statue and I painted it to look like my cat Lenny. DarkKnight painted a soup bowl. We have to go back next week to pick them up - they are being fired in the kiln so they won’t be ready until then.
When we finished up at the art studio, we drove a couple of minutes to The Melting Pot, where I ate way too much! DarkKnight had an IPA, and I ordered something called a Love Martini - and I was definitely in love with it, omg! I only had one though. Lol Dinner was four courses. The first was a melted cheese fondue, where we dipped bread, green apples and raw veggies into the pot of cheese on a burner at the table. So good! Then we each had a green salad. Afterward, the main course came, which was a mix of veggies, filet mignon, teriyaki steak, herb-crusted chicken, andouille sausage and a pork selection too. We grilled those ourselves on the table, and there were 6 different sauces to dip them into as well. For dessert, we had a pot of melted chocolate mixed with caramel, and an entire plate of like 10 different items to dip in - Rice Krispie treats, pretzels, pineapple, strawberries, waffles, angel food cake, etc. I was seriously going to die - so much food!
Traffic was terrible on the way home and it was pouring rain, but when we finally got home, we fell into bed and I got ravaged! Lately DarkKnight has been in rare form, sexually. He seems happy with himself and with me. He’s constantly flirting and making innuendos, and just shows so much desire for me - it’s awesome. He’s also been stretching himself a bit and being a little more aggressive in bed - pinning me down, just plowing me for all he’s worth. Lol He’s also been letting me call him “daddy” in and out of bed, so I am digging that. I asked him what has been the change, and he said he didn’t know, he just has a hot wife. He’s so silly!
I have to say though that he is looking sexy himself - he picked up his new glasses on Tuesday and I can’t stop looking at him! He’s always had rimless glasses but these are thick-rimmed, nerdy looking things and holy hell, they fit his face in a way that make me think he’s like a college professor. I just wanna rip his clothes off whenever I see him. Lol
