Howie Mandel Tabby Concord, NC

Howie Mandel has one wish. That folks will look past his exterior which bears the scars of an unhappy previous life, and look to his soft and squishy and loving interior to see their perfect companion. Howie is the kind of cat all our volunteers LOVE, the underdog. The discarded, mistreated, plain jane with the heart of pure gold and don't let his beat up exterior fool you, this guy isn't old at all, he just looks it due to his previous life. Found outside a looking shopping mall this sweet boy was constantly being abused by other cats in the area and dodging traffic in a very busy parking lot just trying to survive. At some point he contract FIV, most likely from one of those attacks, and he still kept on surviving, until his angel Miss Becki found him and rescued him. Despite all of this, Howie is sweet and social with people and does great with other cats that want to be friends with him. He's very laid back and easy going, we think he just enjoys the safety and security of being rescued and we are hoping as time goes by he will show us more of his playful side, right now we will settle for rubbing his belly as much as he wants. Howie wants to make sure you know that his FIV+ status is no big deal and he's ready to go home ASAP. He can be visited at Princeton's Meow. ALL adoptions at Princeton's are by appointment only and preapproval as well as a vet reference check are required prior to an appointment being made. To begin the preapproval process please email us at PMadoption@outlook.com.

Here are the simple facts about FIV:
FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) is a feline only illness and cannot be passed on to humans or canines. Kitties with this condition can live long and wonderful lives if kept indoors, spayed/neutered (which this kitty is) and fed a good quality diet. They can live easily with other kitties who do not have FIV as long as everyone is spayed/neutered and gets along with other kitties. There is no reason not to consider a kitty with this condition for a pet, regardless of who you have at home.

FIV is a retrovirus that occurs worldwide, and virologists classify FIV in the same retroviridae family as FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus), but with one major difference: FIV is considered to be in the lentivirus. This type of virus is a slow virus that affects a cat’s immune system over a period of years. FIV cats most often live long, healthy, and relatively normal lives with no symptoms at all. FIV is not easily passed between cats; it CANNOT be spread casually. An altered FIV cat, in a home, is extremely unlikely to infect other cats, if properly introduced.

1) The Feline Immunodeficiency Virus is a slow virus that affects a cat's immune system over a period of years.
2) FIV is a cat-only disease and cannot be spread to humans or other non-felines.
3) FIV cats most often live long, healthy, and relatively normal lives with no symptoms at all.
4) FIV is not easily passed between cats. It cannot be spread casually - like in litter boxes, water and food bowls, or when snuggling and playing. It is rarely spread from a mother to her kittens.
5) The virus can be spread through blood transfusions, badly infected gums, or serious, penetrating bite wounds. (Bite wounds of this kind are extremely rare, except in free-roaming, un-neutered tomcats.)
6) A neutered cat, in a home, is extremely unlikely to infect other cats, if properly introduced.
7) FIV-positive cats should be kept as healthy as possible. Keep them indoors and free from stress, feed them a high-quality diet, keep and treat any secondary problems as soon as they arise.