When I first began thinking about adopting a cat, it took nearly two years before I let myself seriously consider it. I grew up around animals—cats and dogs alike—but this time felt different. This cat would be mine in every sense. Care-wise. Medical-wise. Love-wise. I wanted to be absolutely certain I was ready for the weight of that responsibility.
Then, on a cold November day in 2022, a photo appeared in my work group chat. Normally, I’d scroll past those threads—updates about emails, excel questions, tiny work crises. But this time a single image stopped me. A coworker had shared a picture of a stray cat who needed a home.
The moment I saw him, something in me shifted. He was large and sturdy, with little triangle ears folded neatly downward and a white heart-shaped patch on his chest. I couldn’t believe a cat like that was living outside. I messaged my coworker privately, asking where Theodore was. They explained that a neighbor had been feeding him, but he didn’t have a home—and that the neighbor no longer wanted to care for him.
When I arrived, he was sitting calmly on the sidewalk—surprisingly well-fed, content from scraps, but completely alone. The neighbor told me he had once belonged to a married couple who divorced. The ex-wife left, and eventually the ex-husband moved too… leaving Theodore behind. Hearing that broke something in me. He was gentle. Soft. Trusting. He deserved so much more than to be forgotten on a doorstep.
It took three days to coax him close enough to bring him home. The very first thing I did was take him to the vet for testing. That’s when I learned he was positive for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)—a lifelong condition I knew almost nothing about. Would he get sick quickly? Would he need constant medication? Could he only live alone?
My determination to give him the best life possible led me into a deep dive of research, and what I found brought immediate relief: FIV is not a death sentence. Cats like Theodore can live long, healthy lives. They don’t need daily medication. And yes—FIV+ and FIV– cats can safely live together.
What started as a rescue became a lifelong commitment—to love him fiercely, and to speak up for cats like him.
I’ve now been Theodore Jones’s person for three years. Every single day, he reminds me how special he is. He has never hissed, bitten, or scratched anyone. Instead, he curls up on my head to sleep each night, or stands by my side with quiet insistence until I open my arms for him. He is gentle in a way I didn’t know a cat could be. He is a gift.
He inspired @Positively_Theodore because he is, simply, the best cat I have ever known—and loving him has been one of the greatest privileges. My hope is to keep educating, advocating, and dismantling the stigma around FIV+, so that more cats like Theodore can have what he has now: a warm bed, a safe home, and a human who loves them beyond measure.
If Theodore’s journey made you smile, we’d love to have you with us as we keep sharing, teaching, and loving cats who need a little extra. Come be part of Teddy’s cozy corner. There’s always room for one more.
@Positively_Theodore 