Garfield, the namesake of the Garf Foundation, is shown in this picture provided by his owner and organization founder, Jack Rhoades. Garfield passed away in May due to complications from feline leukemia virus. (Photo provided by Jack Rhoades)

DAVISVILLE — A new nonprofit organization is looking to help people adopt and support cats affected by feline immunodeficiency and feline leukemia virus.

The Garf Foundation was started by Kanawha resident Jack M. Rhoades in honor of his cat, Garfield, who passed away in May, just a few months after Rhoades adopted him, due to complications from feline leukemia virus, or FeLV. According to the group’s website, www.thegarffoundation.org, Rhoades made a pledge to help similarly afflicted cats and their owners in his pet’s name.

Rhoades knew Garfield had been diagnosed with the disease when he adopted him, having worked with the cat as a volunteer at the Humane Society of Parkersburg.

“Just because they have the FIV or the FeLV doesn’t mean they don’t deserve the best possible chance at a good life,” he said.

Garfield was Rhoades’ second cat to test positive. He learned Linus, who is still living with him, had tested positive for both conditions just before picking him up in 2020.

“He’d already got my heart. There wasn’t any way that I wasn’t going to adopt him,” Rhoades said. “I would encourage anyone, don’t let FIV or FeLV discourage you from adopting the pets. … They can’t help it that they got the disease.”

The mission of the group focuses on “advocacy, education, and support for these often-misunderstood cats, promoting their adoption and ensuring they receive the love and care they deserve,” according to a release from the foundation.

According to Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, feline leukemia virus is a retrovirus that can become incorporated into a cat’s genome and may not be cleared over time. It can be spread by any close contact among cats, including bite wounds, grooming or sharing feeding dishes and litter boxes.

The virus is the most common cause of cancer in cats and can also lead to secondary infections that lead to severe illness, the Cornell website says. Other effects can include diarrhea, progressive weight loss, diminished appetite, poor quality coat, reproductive and neurological issues and more.

Feline immunodeficiency virus attacks a cat’s immune system, leaving the animal vulnerable to other infections, the Cornell site says. The primary means of transmission is bite wounds, but casual, non-aggressive contact is less of a risk, the site says.

Cats with both FIV and FeLV “can lead healthy, fulfilling lives with the right support and care,” the release says, and the Garf Foundation wants to eliminate misconceptions about those conditions.

“These loving cats still have so much to offer and can thrive in a nurturing environment,” it says.

The foundation aims to provide assistance with medical costs associated with FIV and FeLV treatment and help “these cats live their best lives in safe, loving homes,” the release says.

More information about the foundation and getting involved can be obtained by emailing info@thegarffoundation.org or visiting the website.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.