TEMPERLEY Siamese Grand Rapids, MI

Typically we are not in the position to take FIV or Feline Leukemia positive cats from other rescues into our program, since our sanctuary is always at capacity, being the only one of its kind in West Michigan. But when my colleague from the Kent County Animal Shelter contacted me on January 27th, 2015 to ask if there was any chance we could extend the intake courtesy with a stunning Siamese who ended up homeless and FIV-positive, I had to reconsider. Since we had been fortunate enough to have adopted out a few of our residents recently, I bent the rules a bit and set up intake for the following day.

A few hours later another text came in, explaining that one of a pair of recently acquired youngsters tested positive for Feleuk and asking whether there was any way we would be able to further extend that helping hand we offered earlier. So, instead of taking in one kitty in need, we opened our sanctuary doors to two girls and Crash's to another—good things came in a trio in this instance! On another note entirely, because of this shelter transfer, I fell hopelessly in love with a Basset Hound in need of a home, so not only our organization gain three new members, but I personally adopted a bundle of energy and enthusiasm named Penelope:)

I was pleasantly surprised at not only how drop-dead gorgeous our newest Sid's Kid is, but how gentle and genuinely entrancing Temperley (born in the summer of 2009) is as well: a bit meek but magnificently graceful and elegant. No one is certain how she came to be homeless, but I suspect she had been bred, given her exotic looks and Lynx-point loveliness. Mating is the primary cause of FIV transmission from infected male to female, so if only someone had been responsible and 1. kept her indoors and 2. gotten her spayed, our precious girl here may not have contracted the virus.

Regardless of how she came to be, we are thrilled that this beautiful, mysterious girl is now ours. She has proven to be a quiet cat that waits for you to seek her out, but then she gives herself over completely and is all about awarding affection and receiving love. She absolutely adores being petted and praised, immersing herself in the tenderness and attention bestowed upon her. I can only imagine how wonderful a lap cat she will make someone, and since she doesn't have a mean bone in her beguiling body, she poses no risk of transmitting FIV to another cat (the only way it can be given to another cat is through a bite wound). As one of our Cat Care team members so eloquently put it, Temperley is simply a treasure, and more than anything we want to be able to share her with someone who will admire her and appreciate her for the true jewel that she is.