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Chapter 29. The Long Journey of Tippy
Soon after Ebony's kittens were adopted out, Iris informed me about another cat who had recently been abandoned on the project grounds. Once again, the cat was pregnant.
"Tippy" was a very pretty and friendly Calico cat, so named for the white tip on her nose. When noting the cat's pregnant condition, I determined it was important to get her off the streets, but this time I would not allow the birth to proceed. I was already in trouble with my daughter at home and the possibility of another large litter of kittens and drained mother cat was something we could not go through again so soon after the last batch.
I arranged for Tippy to be aborted and spayed at the Humane Society on East 59th Street. Unfortunately, when I went to pick the cat up following the spay, the vet informed me that Tippy was positive for Leukemia. This was extremely bad news.
While I felt less guilt for aborting the cat (Leukemia is transmitted in utero and is particularly deadly to kittens), I was now faced with the situation that Tippy would have to be separated from our other cats. Leukemia in cats is a virus which can be transmitted to other cats via food and sharing of litter boxes. Moreover, the outlook for Tippy wasn't good. Leukemia cats rarely survive more than a year or two and of course, a "positive" cat would be a very difficult adoption. While Tara was not pleased that I was once again confining a cat to her room, she understood and was empathetic to the reasons. Tippy was a very affectionate and well behaved cat, so Tara's complaints were few. Tippy liked to snuggle up to Tara in the bed and Tara became very fond of her.
Since Leukemia is a disease of the immune system and Tippy had just gone through abandonment in the streets and a spay/abortion, it was not surprising that Tippy became quite sick shortly after rescue. She developed a serious Upper Respiratory Infection and almost died on us. She had to be on antibiotics and supplements for many weeks. But, finally the infection cleared up, Tippy gained some weight and I became guardedly optimistic about her future.
Over the weeks I read up on Leukemia in a series of books and articles on cats. One of the things i read was that some FeLv positive cats actually throw off the virus after three or so months and "convert" to a negative status. I hoped such would happen for Tippy. After we had Tippy three months, I had her retested for Leukemia. But, once again the result was "positive." I was devastated by the news.
It was neither practical, nor humane for me to hold on to Tippy in our small apartment. The other animals we had were confined to the living room. Trying always to keep the cats separated became an increasing hassle. A few times other cats escaped into the bedroom where Tippy was and other times Tippy escaped to the living room where the other cats were. I didn't want any of the other cats to become infected. I tried desperately to find another foster for Tippy, but there were no takers for a FeLv positive cat.
Then one day, Tara told me about one of her friends in school who was willing to take in Tippy. Flumi got permission from her parents to foster the pretty and very lovable cat for us.
I was greatly relieved the night I brought Tippy to her new foster home. The young High School girl had never had a cat, but listened carefully and enthusiastically to all the instructions on proper care. I told Flumi and her mother that Tippy had a blood disorder that meant she could not be around other cats and could possibly become ill at some point. "Please call me right away if Tippy shows any signs of illness or goes off her food. Please let me know how she is doing," I pleaded with the new foster family. Both mother and daughter promised to oblige my request. Flumi happily and gently held Tippy in her arms and I could hear the cat's loud purr as I left the home that night. Once again I felt guardedly optimistic. The young girl was loving and sensitive. "Please, God, keep Tippy healthy for her," I silently prayed.
Throughout the months that followed, Tippy continued to thrive and Flumi's love for the cat grew. It seemed the "foster" had turned into an adoption and I had little to worry about. I had almost fogotten about Tippy when, about a year later, i received a telephone call from Flumi's mother. "We are going to be moving to Georgia and have to return Tippy to you," she said coldly. "I will have Flumi bring her back to you tomorrow."
The news totally stunned me. I was not prepared to take Tippy back on such short notice as I now had Tara's bedroom open to other cats. Yet, I could not say, "no" to a commitment. I agreed to meet Flumi the next day at the 96th Street subway station to take Tippy back.
Flumi's eyes were red from obvious crying when she met me the next day with Tippy in the small kennel cab. She apologized profusely and agonized over having to return her beloved cat. "Don't worry, Flumi," I tried to reassure the distraught young girl. "We will take care of her. I will try to find another home. Thanks for taking such good care of her over the past year." But, the young girl could not be consoled. Tears continued to freely flow down her face as she said a long "goodby" to Tippy.
I wondered briefly how some parents live with themselves, after forcing a child to give up a loved pet? But, it was not a question I could ponder long. My dilemma then, was what was I going to do with Tippy?
I put Tippy in my small bathroom temporarily. When nothing her plump weight, her bright, clear eyes and shiny coat, it occurred to me that Tippy did not look in any way, "sick." I decided that I would take her the next day to the new ASPCA hospital on 92nd Street and get another Leukemia test. I waited more than two hours the next day in the ASPCA hospital waiting room. Finally, my name was called to see a "Dr. Tufaro."
The young, dark haired vet's back was turned to me when I walked in the small exam room. He was looking at some papers. Finally Dr. Tufaro turned to me and asked briskly, "What can we do for you?"
I explained Tippy's history and told the vet I wanted another Leukemia test. "What?" he laughed derisively " Once Leukemia positive, always Leukemia positive ! You are wasting your money." "Well, its my money to waste," I shot back. I've read that some cats can convert to negative status after some time. I want the test."
The vet begrudgingly drew blood from Tippy's leg and then asked me if I wanted to update Tippy's rabies shot. "Oh no, " I said emphatically. "No shots on an immune compromised cat."
Tufaro's "bedside manner" (which didn't exist to begin with) now turned into something bordering on the irrational. "You have to get a rabies shot." he ordered. "Its the law." "I don't WANT a rabies shot!" I answered back. "Tippy had one last year. Besides, how is she going to get rabies in a city apartment?"
"You could open your window and a bat could fly in ," Tufaro answered in earnest, though I could have sworn he was joking. "Well, if i am stupid enough to open an unscreened window, the cat has a far better chance of falling out than being bitten by a bat!" I sneered angrily. I couldn't believe this vet was for real.
I had never before had such an unpleasant confrontation with a veterinarian. The encounter left me drained and pissed by the time I left the tiny exam room. What kind of asshole was this to be wearing a white coat at the ASPCA?
Two days later I called the ASPCA hospital to get Tippy's Leukemia results. "NEGATIVE," was the reply. "Are you sure?" I asked incredulously. "That's what the test shows," the impersonal voice said to me over the phone. The anger I felt two days before was then replaced by sheer and total joy. " Thank God!"
Later in the afternoon I went over to the ASPCA to personally confirm the test results and to file a complaint against Dr. Tufaro. It would be a blizzard in hell before i would ever go to this vet again.
But, the news for Tippy was so wonderful as to block everything else out. Within two weeks, the beautiful Calico cat who had battled her way back from abandonment, the streets and Leukemia found her loving and forever home with a lovely young woman from Greenwich Village.
And hopefully, Dr. Tufaro sat down and read a medical book on cats.