Cashew is a cautious yet curious young cat. She was born outdoors to a colony in Almonte and has slowly been learning the joys of living indoors. Cashew enjoys the company of other cats and needs to be adopted with one of her feline foster siblings (Fig, Potter, Aries, Clove, Willow). While Cashew does not like to be approached, she will seek out her foster on her own terms to receive pets. She especially loves chin scratches and butt rubs. Cashew requires a dedicated and patient adopter willing to continue her socialization. She is startled by loud noises and quick movements and is best-suited to an adult-only home with a quiet and calm environment.

Medical Considerations:

Cashew also has Feline Coronavirus (FCoV). FCov is a common virus in cats. Generally, it presents as an asymptomatic infection, but can cause upper respiratory issues, and diarrhea which Cashew has experienced intermittently. There is no cure for FCoV, only supportive care can be provided to treat symptoms as they arise such as specialty diets, probiotic supplements and/or antibiotics.

FCoV itself does not cause serious illness but it can undergo a genetic mutation in some cats and become a very serious virus called Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). FIP results from the distinctive occurrence of a mutation of FCoV within a genetically susceptible cat with a particular immune response. This mutated virus is cell-associated and thus is not commonly transmitted directly from one cat to another. FIP generally develops within a few weeks to 18 months after infection with FCoV, often following a stressor.

Due to the contagious nature of FCoV Cashew would likely transmit it to any cat she may share a home with. While cats can live long healthy lives with the virus and can go a long period of time being asymptomatic, sadly, there is no way of knowing whether or not it will mutate into FIP. A prospective adopter would need to be prepared for the potentially elevated cost of caring for a cat with such a virus as they may require more frequent veterinary visits and use of antibiotics and/or speciality diets to treat symptoms.

The Avery Foundation is a foster-based and volunteer-run rescue. Every TAF rescue cat is vet checked, vaccinated, treated for parasites, spay/neutered, microchipped and receive any necessary additional medical care.

Our adoption process involves an application, reference check, interview, and home visit prior to placement. From the time we receive your application through the screening process adoptions can take a couple weeks. We thank everyone who takes the time to apply but only those who best fit the cat’s requirements will be contacted.

If you’re interested in adopting Cashew, please apply online at: https://www.theaveryfoundation.ca/adoption/adoption-application/cats/ or to learn more about her and her health send us a message.