Vinny’s first vet visit

After almost two months of settling in, Vinny’s long-overdue first veterinary checkup is finally here. Over the past few weeks, he has made incredible progress—learning to trust again, discovering how to play, and slowly growing more confident with each passing day. Because of this progress, we truly believe Vinny is ready for his first trip to the vet for FeLV/FIV testing. We know it will be stressful for him, but it’s an absolutely necessary step in his journey.

Getting Vinny tested is a major milestone—and the first step toward ending the isolation period he’s been in since his rescue. For the past seven weeks, Vinny has lived quietly in his starter room, healing and rebuilding his sense of safety while we made sure every decision put his wellbeing first.

Once we hopefully receive FeLV negative results, we’ll be able to begin the slow and careful introduction process. Since Catroom 1 is already crowded with the recent arrival of little Cricket, the plan is to start Vinny’s introductions in Catroom 2, alongside Angel and Chloe, where the environment will be calmer and better suited to his needs.

This visit means so much more than a test. It represents the possibility of companionship, space, and a life beyond isolation for a cat who has already known far too much loneliness. Vinny has come so far—and today is a huge step forward on his path to a fuller, happier life.

UPDATE 04/04/2026

Yesterday, Vinny had his first vet checkup, and overall the news is encouraging. He handled the visit better than expected, and we’re incredibly proud of him. He is in good physical shape, and the vet confirmed that he’s approximately 3 or 4 years old. Aside from a bit of mild gingivitis, everything else looks great.

Vinny also tested FIV negative however the only uncertainty comes from his FeLV test, which showed a very faint ‘pinkish’ line. Because even an almost imperceptible line can be inconclusive, this result is considered unclear rather than a confirmed positive. Situations like this are not uncommon, especially in cats who have endured prolonged stress, fear, and trauma.

For Vinny’s safety, and for the safety of the rest of the cats at the sanctuary, he will remain in isolation for now, and we will repeat the FeLV test in 8 weeks to obtain a more reliable result.

When he came back home from the vet, he did briefly retreat into hiding, a quiet reminder of just how deep his trauma still runs, that even after two months of complete safety, stress can still overwhelm him. Thankfully, after a few cuddles, gentle reassurance, and some treats, he soon relaxed and showed us just how happy he was to be back in his safe place again.