Billy, our golden boy with a golden heart

This is one of the sad stories. Billy lived in a one-bedroom apartment with 17 other cats, a blind dog, and an elderly lady who, out of the goodness of her heart, cared for the neighbourhood cats until she could no longer walk. We were asked to take in some of her cats, as were a few other rescue organisations. Some of the cats were blind, most carried viruses due to inbreeding, and none of them were sterilised.

Billy and Loulis, the two boys who came to us, were around seven years old. They had lived in darkness all their lives, as the apartment had very few windows and the shutters were always closed. Our volunteers were shocked by the conditions. The old lady had saved the most vulnerable cats from the streets and did the best she could.

The boys stayed in a cage for months, absolutely terrified, having never experienced bright sunlight before. They were disoriented, and only Sofia’s enormous patience slowly helped them learn to trust people again.

Loulis moved into the dog area and is very loved by the volunteers, but sadly Billy’s FIV has made life in the shelter difficult. With such a weakened immune system, he also developed severe stomatitis, had all of his teeth removed, and now needs vet visits a couple of times each month.

He is one of our golden boys with a truly golden heart. He is incredibly gentle, so affectionate, and follows Sofia around like a puppy.

Obviously, no one is likely to adopt an older cat with FIV and no teeth. But perhaps someone could occasionally send a donation to help with his special food, medication, vet visits, or even the occasional treat.