Domestic Short Hair-black and white [Mix]

Update Dec. '06 - Jackson was listed by us on Petfinder for over 6 years without receiving an inquiry for adoption. We didn't understand this as he was a lovely, loving boy, but unfortunately FIV positive and here in the south people don't seem willing to give FIV cats a chance. Last January Jaxie was diagnosed as being in kidney failure and anemic. Procrit ($15-20 a week), gave Jaxie a tenth life, but the kidney failure won in the end and we lost Jaxie two weeks before Christmas. He had a transfusion before Thanksgiving that bumped his red cells up nicely, but the kidneys continued to go downhill. He really did quite well until his last day, when he stopped eating and within a few hours became weak. He passed away in his bed in my lap on the way to vet's to be put to sleep, and we were glad really as we'd promised he didn't have to get any more needle sticks, so we were able to keep our promise. Jackson was 10 years old and contracted FIV at age 1-1/4 yrs. right before we rescued him in early 1998. If you would like to donate towards the vet bills and medicine bills we ran up for Jackson's continued care while he was alive, and for his cremation, please send your donations to Carolina Cats at P. O. Box 210705, Columbia, SC 29221. Thank you. Wrapped in a turquoise baby blanket which I trimmed with white ribbon, Jackson was cremated together with little Smokey, who lost his four-month battle with kidney failure five days after Jaxie. Jackson's story: He was a very sweet and very pretty, snuggly, fat boy in his prime. He was rescued when he was just over a year old after his owner abandoned him unneutered when she moved, and he was beaten up badly by another cat. His white fur was completely red with blood. He was frightened and hurt, and came to a window at the home of one of our foster parents, begging to be let in because he could see the cats inside were loved and cared for. Jackson tested negative for FeLV and FIV at that time, but when retested 90 days later he came up FIV positive. Apparently the cat who beat him up also gave him FIV. Most FIV cats go many years before symptoms begin to show. Jackson remained healthy and symptom-free from May 1998 to January 2006. He did develop chronic sinusitis that occasionally required an antibiotic. Jackson was very cute and very affectionate. He liked to drop and roll, and loved nothing more than to be petted and petted, especially on his tummy. He was also obedient. He hadbecome a little chunky because he was caged for a long time because we did not have the space to allow him a room of his own. FIV cats should ideally be kept separate from other cats, and since we adopt out some of our cats we didn't want to mix him with those cats. However, after he was diagnosed in kidney failure we decided he should not end his days in a cage, and he came out to live with one of our large groups of cats, who all accepted right away. Jaxie was a trooper to the end, and we will miss him very much.