Ginnji was one of the oldest cats at the Vis open-air rubbish dump known as Wellington. It’s a notorious dumping site, with cats being abandoned there regularly. We’ve been monitoring the colony since early 2020, providing food, water, shelter, and of course getting everyone sterilized.
One day in February of 2025, Ginnji was limping badly when he came to greet us at feeding time. His front left leg was limp and useless: something was clearly broken. We got him to safety immediately, and kept him warm and comfortable until he was able to see a vet. X-rays revealed that he’d been shot, his bones shattered. The vet recommended amputation.
Ginnji spent several months recuperating in our cathouse, then went to live with Shiva on her land during the summer of 2025 while awaiting adoption. Because he’s FIV+ and handicapped, we felt it was better not to let him roam free in unfamiliar territory, and kept him either in an enclosure or on a leash.
The original adoption fell through, and by this time, one of Shiva’s cats had died, so she now had room for Ginnji. It’s possible for an FIV+ cat to live in a household with FIV- cats, as long as there’s no fighting. Ginnji was never an aggressive cat, but would defend his space if he had to. Luckily, Shiva’s other cats accepted him, and Ginnji has become a beloved member of the family, enjoying regular cuddles and grooming sessions with his housemates, especially Itsy.
