The Story of Elvis
The story that inspired the creation of
The Elvis Feral Fund
by
Klaire M. Perkins
Board Member
Standish Humane Society
The Story of Elvis
I recall one time in particular when another cat was
eating Elvis’ food. Out of nowhere Elvis pounced on the
cat. They were tangled in a fighting cat ball that went
rolling across my porch spilling over into the bushes.
The other cat ran away as fast as it could. Elvis was the
victor! I was proud of him although I felt bad that the
other cat had to leave the yard hungry.
One cold winter day Elvis walked by my front door and I
saw a large wound on the side of his neck; I was
horrified. It was not bloody but I could see exposed
muscle. I felt so bad for him. Fortunately, I was able to
obtain antibiotics for him which I hid in his food twice a
day. To my relief, he started to heal. I placed a cat bed
right outside my front door so that I could monitor the
progress of his healing through the glass. Things were
looking up for Elvis!
The story that I am about to tell you is based on my
personal experience with a feral cat named Elvis.
Elvis, named for his swagger and charm, was a light grey
tabby with white. He had a large head with many battle
scars that came from being the alpha Tom in a feral
colony. He did a fantastic job of protecting and
surveying his territory…. my back yard. Did I mention
that I totally fell in love with him?
I fed Elvis twice a day outside my basement door where
he would faithfully wait for me, although as soon as I
opened the door he would run away and hide behind a
nearby tree. In the cutest way, he would peek out from
behind the tree and just watch me. Perhaps he was as
intrigued by me as I was with him? One day after a
snowstorm, I noticed what I thought to be coyote prints
near the location where I would feed him. My stomach
became knotted as the reality of the dangers that he
faced hit me. I live on a main road and there are woods
and bogs behind my house where raccoons, fishers and
coyotes live. I immediately moved his food to the front
porch where I felt he would be safer and, as a bonus, I
could observe him through the window.
To my surprise, one day Elvis brought a date to dinner.
She was a gorgeous grey tabby. Elvis lay down a couple
of feet away from his bowl and allowed her to eat some
of his food. What a gentleman! Many cats tried to eat
from Elvis’ bowl and they were swiftly chased away.
One day that spring, I went out to feed him and while I
was putting his food in the dish he walked right up to it
and started to eat ….while I was still there! I nervously
reached over and gave him a quick pat. It was so
amazing to pat him for the first time! It was the best
feeling to have this shy feral cat finally trust me! From
that moment on I started patting him and brushing him
every chance I could. He really seemed to enjoy the
attention.
The next step in my plan was getting him neutered so
that I could find him the home that he deserved. I really
wanted to keep him but my fiancé Paul and I already
had three cats and I wasn’t sure if Elvis would take to
my three domesticated males. Two days before his
neuter appointment Elvis met me on the porch for his
breakfast and I noticed a brown looking liquid coming
from the area where his wound used to be. I had no
idea what it was but I knew that he needed to see a
veterinarian as soon as possible. Elvis allowed me to
pick him up and put him in a cat carrier without a
struggle. Elvis, Paul and I were off to the vet.
At the veterinary hospital Elvis was so well behaved.
The vet examined his wound and explained that it was a
very large abscess with potentially serious ramifications.
First, the doctor warned that a skin graft might be
required. Second, because the abscess was a wound of
unknown origin, Elvis would need to be “rabies
quarantined” for six months. I did not know
what to do but after a quick discussion, Paul and I asked
the veterinarian to combo test Elvis to test for feline
immune deficiency virus (FIV), feline Leukemia virus
(FeLV.) Unfortunately the combo test came back
positive for FIV. It was like being punched in the
stomach. This was not part of my plan! Elvis was
supposed to be healthy, get neutered and find his
forever home.
The veterinarian recommended that Elvis be humanely
euthanized and we tearfully consented to the
procedure. Paul and I stayed with the sweet boy until
the end. I understand the factors that led the
veterinarian to make his recommendation although it
does not ease my sadness and guilt one bit. Feral male
cats are by nature territorial fighters and are the
primary transmitter of FIV. Elvis had a significant wound
of unknown origin and could potentially have
contracted the rabies virus. When I look back I think to
myself: Sassy, my female cat was out there, pregnant
around the same time that Elvis roamed free. I would
not have been able to process what events could have
unfolded for her and her babies if they had been
infected. Waiting through each of their combo tests was
incredibly unsettling. Fortunately they were all
perfectly healthy.
Paul and I had the obligation and privilege of giving Elvis
the gift of a peaceful passing. So many cats like Elvis live
and die alone and unloved. I am so thankful he was not
alone and that he was loved so very much. Elvis taught
me that cats are very distinct individuals that are
intelligent, loving, social beings with feelings and the
ability to make decisions. He decided to trust me, which
is a gift that I will never forget!
Standish Humane Society has established “The Elvis Feral
Fund” to provide financial assistance to the individuals and
organizations devoted to alleviating the feral cat overpopulation problem. To donate to The Elvis Feral Fund
please visit www.standishhumane.org (or scan the QR
Code below), send a check, addressed to Standish
Humane Society, P.O. Box 634, Duxbury, MA 02331.
Please specify that your donation is for The Elvis Feral
Fund.
I have shared my story to ensure that Elvis did not die
in vain. Here are a few simple steps you can take that
will make a difference in the cat world.
Please! Spay/ Neuter: I can’t stress enough the
importance of spaying and neutering your pets. We have a
severe cat overpopulation problem in the U.S. and the fact
is cats that have not been spayed or neutered are more
likely to escape, wander and get lost.
Please keep your cat indoors: If your cat goes outside he
will eventually meet an Elvis or a coyote, fisher, aggressive
dog, poison, mean person or automobile. The average life
span of an indoor/outdoor cat is only about three years.
The world has changed and the outdoors is no longer a
safe place for our cats to be if we want them to live long,
safe, happy and healthy lives!
Micro Chip: Micro-chipping is a permanent way to identify
your cat if it escapes from your home. By having a
microchip your cat has a very good chance of being
reunited with you. We have all heard the stories of pets
being reunited with their families on the news. Microchips
work!!
Veterinary Care: Please give your cat routine veterinary
care, including life saving vaccines so that they can be with
your loving family for a very long time. Veterinary research
is making progress regarding FIV, FeLV, cancer and other
diseases. Please discuss the prevention and management
of these deadly diseases with your veterinarian.
Get Involved: Volunteer at a local animal shelter. Shelters
are always looking for talented people to help support
their mission.
A Special Thank You: A special thank you: to all of the
passionate animal lovers, who work tirelessly to control
the over-population of domesticated and feral cats,
placing as many as possible in loving forever homes. It’s
not easy and as I have found out it is sometimes
heartbreaking.
I would like to dedicate this story to all of the cats that have made my yard their home over the past 10 years and to
all the others that have not arrived yet.
Elvis’ Date (gorgeous grey tabby) – Unknown
Butterscotch (white/orange) – Unknown
Black DSH – To be trapped, neutered
Saturn (tuxedo) – Unknown
Orange tabby w/ injured tail – Unknown
and released.
Grey kitten – Adopted
Grey tabby (male) – Neutered and released
Calico sister #1 + 6 kittens – Unknown
Grey tabby (female) – Spayed and released
Calico sister #2 – Hit by a car after giving birth to
Super fuzzy grey tabby- Unknown
3 kittens who were alone for 3 days before
Buddy Twin (grey/white)– Hit by car – Deceased
we found them.
Small Tortie – Unknown
Petunia (black) – Kitten of Calico sister #2 – Adopted
Calico dilute kitten – Hit by car – Deceased
Orange tabby – Kitten of Calico sister #2 – Deceased
Handsome – FIV+, wounded front paw- Deceased
Peaches (Calico) – Adopted
Elvis (grey/wht tabby) - FIV+ – Deceased
Rocky (black) – Part of my family
Sassy (tabby w/ white) – Part of my family
and (mother of Sassy Jr., Charlie, Buster,
Sweet Pea, Burton, Fiona and Maggie)
Buster (Classic Tabby) and Sweet Pea
(Classic Tabby) – Adopted together
Burton - Adopted
Buddy - kitten of Calico sister #2
(grey/wht) – Part of my family
Little Sassy . (tabby w/ white) – Adopted
Maggie (Tabby) &Fiona (Grey/Wht Tabby)
– Adopted together
Blue Eyes (Seal Point Siamese) – Adopted
Charlie (Tuxedo) – Adopted
Pickles – FIV+ Deceased