I’ll admit it, I’m a mushball when it comes to the kittens and cats that we’ve fostered since we first volunteered for the Acadiana Humane Society back in 2005. So when I saw the Calamar Cats photo of Abby, I couldn’t help but tear up.

What’s more astounding is that Abby celebrated her 5th birthday this month. You see, Abby has the  Feline Leukemia Virus.

Abby and her brothers Smoke, Ash, and Wolfie, first came into our lives in May 2005 as little baby balls of fur. Their mom had tested positive for the FeLV virus, so we were quite aware that the kittens might have it as well. Smoke and Abby are the two little fluffballs in the forefront of the laundry basket in the photo below.

But sometimes, when weaned from their mother’s milk, kittens can fight off the virus – but unfortunately for Abby, Smoke, Ash, and Wolfie, that wasn’t the case. But we weren’t going to give up on them and have them euthanized.

We kept them in the spare bedroom of our house and lavished all the love and attention that we could on these four precious souls.

Unfortunately, we lost Wolfie, then Ash, within weeks of each other in July 2005, to the FeLV.

Abby and Smoke thrived with us until they were accepted by Best Friends. Below is one of our best photos of the two a few weeks before they were flown to Best Friends in January 2006.

We learned that Smoke went to the Rainbow Bridge in July of 2007. One of our friends went to visit Best Friends and took this photo of Smoke that had been posted on BF’s Memorial Wall. Looking at this photo, Smoke sure grew to be a very handsome boy despite his FeLV condition.
Ah, Smoke. You’re with Wolfie and Ash now. I’m sure you guys are having a blast, but I also know that you guys know someday your sister Abby will be there too, and it will be a total family reunion.

Abby’s still there at Calamar. We have seen wonderful photos of her gracing the Best Friends website, and from all accounts, she is very popular and beloved by the BF staff and volunteers.

Abby – sweet Abby – we loved you then and we still love you now. We’re so very glad that you’ve got such a wonderful place at Best Friends. Time will never erase those pawprints you and your brothers left in our hearts.

Thank you, Joni and the rest of the staff at Best Friends, for caring for Abby as you have. Please continue to share those wonderful photos of the Calamar Cats on Facebook!