Written by Amori Sakulias of Take Me Home Kitten Adoptions – Durban
Professional photography by Clickit! Imaging
Snowy’s story began on the streets of Isipingo, KwaZulu-Natal, where he’d been surviving alone for who knows how long. Every day was a struggle to find food, shelter and safety. Despite living such a difficult life, this white cat remained incredibly friendly and affectionate, always wanting attention from people instead of running away from them.
When we found him, we knew we had to try and help. Snowy needed a fresh start – but first he needed to be neutered, vaccinated, tested and given time to recover after his veterinary treatment.
We appealed to the public for help because he urgently needed a foster home for at least two weeks where he could safely quarantine while his vaccinations took effect.
Snowy the Love Bug
Thankfully, an incredible foster volunteer stepped up and gave Snowy the chance he’d never had before. For the first time in his life, he experienced what it felt like to be safe, warm and loved. He learned to trust, to relax and to simply be a cat.
Snowy’s foster mum, Cindy Standring, says he really is the perfect companion. “Snowy is the most incredible loving cat I’ve ever come across! When he jumps up onto my lap – and that’s where he’ll stay for over an hour or more. And he absolutely loves belly rubs too!”
During his veterinary work-up, Snowy tested positive for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). Fortunately, FIV is far from a death sentence.
Although many people immediately overlook FIV-positive cats because they don’t understand the condition, cats with the virus can live long, healthy and happy lives with good care. In fact, they often have a perfectly normal lifespan. The virus cannot be passed to humans or dogs. It’s mainly spread through deep bite wounds between cats, which means Snowy would do best as the only cat in a home where he can enjoy all the love and attention for himself.
Still Waiting for His Happy Ending
Snowy has come so far. He’s no longer the frightened, hungry street cat searching for somewhere safe to sleep each night. He’s overcome hardship, learned to trust people again, and is now ready for the final chapter of his journey.
Unfortunately, because of the stigma surrounding FIV, finding him a forever home has proven incredibly difficult.
We’d love to share Snowy’s story in the hope that someone sees beyond those three letters and recognises the wonderful cat he truly is. He’s affectionate, gentle and resilient – a cat who’s already survived so much and deserves the chance to spend the rest of his life in a loving home.
More than anything, we hope his story will also help educate the public about FIV and encourage people not to overlook these incredible cats. Snowy isn’t defined by his diagnosis. He’s simply a beautiful boy who was given a second chance and is still waiting for someone to choose him.
Be Snowy’s Forever Family
If you’d like to welcome one of Durban’s most loving cats into your home, consider giving Snowy his big break. He’s already overcome more than most cats ever should. Now all he needs is someone willing to look beyond his FIV diagnosis and see the affectionate, gentle companion he truly is.
If you can’t adopt, you can still make a difference. Share Snowy’s story. The more people who learn that FIV-positive cats can live long, happy lives, the greater the chance that Snowy – and many other cats like him – will finally find the forever homes they deserve.
To enquire about adopting Snowy, please WhatsApp 0027 82 851 9705 (Cathy) or 0027 83 784 9977 (Janine).
For more information about Take Me Home Kitten Adoptions – Durban and the other cats in their care, visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/takemehomekittens.
