ADOPTING FROM GUARDIAN ANGELS CAT RESCUE & ADOPTION SHELTER
Your New Cat

Guardian Angels Cat Rescue & Adoption Shelter:

Spays and/ or neuters all cats or kittens prior to adoption, without exception

Tests each adult cat, and kittens for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia (FeLV)
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), commonly and mistakenly called Feliine AIDS although it bears similarities to human HIV and AIDS. Like a person with HIV, a cat can be infected with FIV and enjoy good quality of life for quite some time before developing full blown disease. There is no cure for FIV, and cats with this disease are vulnerable to a number of secondary infections due to a suppressed immune system. Ultimately, this is a fatal disease.

Adult cats that test positive for the virus are either truly infected or were previously vaccinated (very common in the late 80's, early 90's). Infection is most often seen in adult, intact (i.e. not neutered males), free roaming or feral males.

More inormation about FIV can be found at UC Davis Shelter Medicine Portal.

Feline Leukemia (FeLV) is a contagious viral disease, which causes not only leukemia in a cat, but has been linked to other types of cancer and other disease caused by suppressed autoimmune response in cats.

Feline Leukemia is not contagious to humans and there has been no evidence to support its transmission to other species.

Younger cats and kittens are thought to be more susceptible to the virus. Kittens that test positive for leukemia may, within a 6 month period, clear the virus (having inherited antibodies from the mother cat) and may test negative during this time. Adult cats that test positive are considered to be permanently infected and thus, contagious.

More information about Feline Leukemia can be found at UC Davis Shelter Medicine Portal

Vaccinates all cats and kittens, for distemper and rabies, as age appropriate.
Healthy cats and age appropriate kittens receive a distemper (or FVRCPCHL, also known as 4 or 5 in 1 way vaccination) vaccination when they come into the Shelter or, in the case of kittens, as soon as they are old enough (generally 6 weeks of age).

This a core vaccination and protects against Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR), Calicivirus (C) and Panleukopenia (P) and Chlamydiosis (CHL). One should note, vaccinations are not a guarantee against any disease or infection, but are necessary to boost the cat's immune system.

Guardian Angels Cat Rescue & Adoption Shelter does not vaccinate for Feline Leukemia (FeLv), Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), Bordetella (kennel cough) or Giardia. Whilst recognizing that in some cases, vaccination for Feline Leukemia may be appropriate, the other vaccinations mentioned here have been deemed either ineffective (in whole or part) or potentially harmful (as in the case of the FIP vaccination) by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) Feline Vaccine Advisory Panel and are thus considered as detrimental to the cat's overall wellbeing.

Ensures that all cats or kittens have been seen by a veterinarian and received treatment as medically appropriate when necessary.

Guarantees that any cat or kitten adopted from the Shelter has a lifetime right of return to the Shelter for any reason and at no cost to its adopter.