In Memory of Bear 10/21/2023 – 07/24/2026
In October 2025, we had another rescue reach out in hopes of finding a permanent landing place for this sweet but shy FeLV+ boy. Originally found & taken in by a good samaritan during rescue efforts after the devastating flooding over the July 4th weekend in Kerrville, he ended up at the shelter a few months later. Due to him not appearing in good health, he was tested for Feline Leukemia, which unfortunately came back positive, putting him at immediate risk.
Thankfully, when they reached out, we had space to take him in! While it took time for Bear to settle in at Shadow Cats, he always carried a gentle spirit. He preferred to observe from a safe distance as he adjusted to his new surroundings, always quiet and cautious of people. Little by little, we got to see his personality shine, being dubbed as the “little brother” to the other cats in his room, always looking to them for comfort and companionship. His friendship with Mr. Toes helped him gain confidence in himself and gave him the security he needed to really come out of his shell. Once Mr. Toes passed on, he attached himself to Hamilton and was by his side almost every day.
Though he remained shy, he still welcomed the loving touch of people and found his own quiet ways of showing affection. He hardly ever sought out a person for attention, but soaked up gentle pets from people he trusted. He was extremely food motivated and would wait by the door with his feline friends at feeding times; he would even sneakily steal food from others if given the chance!
During his time with us, he dealt with multiple chronic health issues with no diagnosable cause other than his leukemia diagnosis, but that didn’t seem to bother him one bit, and he remained extremely resilient through all our treatment efforts. To Bear, every day was a good day. Whether he was curled up in his favorite hidey bed or soaking up the afternoon sun, he approached each day with joy and a gentle heart. He always held on to his ability to find happiness despite the hardships he faced; his unwavering spirit was an inspiration to all those who cared for him.
Unfortunately, as it happens with these felvies, Bear started to get sick, and his little body just couldn’t fight. His Feline Leukemia finally took over, and he let us know that it was his time to go.
We will all miss his gentle presence, but Bear now runs across the rainbow bridge, free of any pain and all his medical hardships. He’s been reunited with his best friend Mr. Toes and is getting all the snuggles with his buddy that he missed out on over the last few months.
Thank you to Bear’s wonderful sponsors. Thank you to all the amazing volunteers who gave their patience and unwavering love, showing him what it meant to trust people. Thank you to the staff who cared for him. Thank you to the Vista Vet staff for the amazing care he received, despite the medical mystery this guy was. Thank you to everyone who loved him in person and from afar.
We love you, Bear, and we always will.
Bear had 1 Sponsor
Stephanie Childs