When our beloved pets pass away, it no doubt can be one of the most painful things to process. They take a chunk of our hearts out and take it with them over the Rainbow Bridge. Although they are gone, we always strive to let their legacy live on. In this way, a cat named Lenny will forever have his legacy live on to inspire others.
Lenny the FIV+ Cat Changed Lives
Lenny, a beautiful orange and white tabby, passed away recently in his owner’s arms. He was the best boy up until the very end. But this isn’t about how or why Lenny moved on to the Rainbow Bridge. This is about his well-lived life. So why a lovely story on his life? Lenny, almost 10 years ago, was diagnosed with FIV.
“Lenny wants you to know you don’t need to be afraid of his FIV. (His pizza stealing skills are another matter;))”-Lenny’s mama Kay
Images via Facebook/Kay Mac
Lenny was no different than any other cat living in the world. He was happy, healthy, and had a thing for pizza-stealing. He unfortunately just had some changes in his intestine and colon that didn’t allow his body to bounce back as easily as it once did. Lenny was known for always snacking, and he snacked right up until the end. Lenny loved his treats and even some other human foods other than pizza.
“Lenny checks out his meal-time competition. The camera loves Black Olive. If you catch him at the right angle, you’d never know he weighs 8 pounds more than Len! “
One of his most favorite foods? Waffles. Lenny lived peacefully in his Philadelphia area home among a bunch of other kitty and puppy siblings. At one point, there were about four other orange floofs living with him, along with black kitty sibling Dottie, and doggies Albert the pug and Frank the pittie. Lenny as his mom Kay says, is a lover, not a fighter.
“He was a lover, not a fighter (unless he was wrestling a slice of pizza to the ground).”
With being FIV positive, he was never a threat to any of his siblings or foster kitties that came through Kay’s home. Kay is a guardian angel for many FIV+ kitties. She has taken in dozens of FIV+ kittens into her foster home until they found their permanent homes. In all cases, she showed them the love and care that any kitty deserves.
“Oh Ma, you forgot to tell me we were having waffles for breakfast. No worries, I’ll just help myself.”
“Friendly FIV+ street cat, brought indoors, has no complaints. Except there are only 2 meals per day. And there isn’t more pizza.”
Lenny Inspired Many Others To Adopt FIV+ Kitties
Many people found inspiration to adopt FIV+ kitties thanks to him and Kay. He had a full life full of love.
Lenny the cat with Pete and Albert the pug via Facebook/ City of Elderly Love: Save a Senior Pet
“I started following, this page and Lenny 6 years ago when I adopted my own FIV+ cat. Thank you for all the teaching moments Lenny, good vibes from Fungus!”-Chris Kachmarsky
“Thank you for educating people about FIV and entertaining us with your antics, Lenny. We love you forever.
“-Holly Dixon
“I’ll have pancakes. And the spaghetti,” ~Lenny.
“So sad Lenny is no longer here but I sure did enjoy watching his antics with you on here. And also, I too found a love for the FIV cats , thanks to Lenny. Sending you so much love.”-Brenda Lee
Lenny showed people that FIV+ cats are wonderful and adoptable.
This loving orange boy left his paw prints on so many hearts and helped give other FIV+ cats a second chance at life.
“I could seriously never get tired of snuggling this cat.
Lenny!”
Here at CaM we always advocate for the adoption of FIV+ cats, as Marm was diagnosed in 2013 and still going strong today! They are the same as any other kitty in every shape and form, just with a little less immunity build-up in the body. After all, we have less immunity in our bodies when we have the cold or flu right? And as humans we’re still perfectly normal.
Fly high on the Rainbow Bridge Lenny! Mama Kay and all the rest of us will see you when we get there.
REMEMBER: SPAY/NEUTER, FOSTER, VOLUNTEER, TNR & AS ALWAYS, ADOPT, DON’T SHOP!
All photos by Kay Mac/Facebook.
