Guilt about cat - please read

Hi everyone, Yesterday I found out my cat, Henry- has feline AIDS. Henry came with the house I bought last year- and had been abandoned by his last owners- so I started to feed him. It was only up until about a month ago that I started letting him in. Yesterday I took him to the vet to officially adopt him- get him microchipped, his fur checked- as it has been getting patchy and also get him desexed. The vet noticed his skininess and my mention of his fur- and suggested a blood test for feline AIDS- anyway, it was positive. I've been devastated by the news. I love him to pieces. I have no idea of his lifespan or what the quality of what his life will be if survives. The thing that is getting to me the most is that I feel terrible that I did not let him in at night earlier, that I've let him live outside for so long and that I haven't done more to prevent him from getting in fights with feral cats. I've heard him fight earlier in the year and have attempted to break it up- but he's always wandered and preferred being outside. I feel like crap about the whole thing. I feel like this is my fault and that I could have done more. I've tried to give him the best life possible since I've lived here but maybe that hasn't been enough. Anyway, I'd appreciate any feedback. khettle

Its easy to blame yourself but none of this is your fault Maybe his owner already new that something its not right and that's why he abandoned him Clearly you did nice things for him as you feed him and look after him even you did not let him in but as you said he prefer to being outside so you just did best for him Its not your fault that the cat has feline AIDS Can I post your problem and my answer on my page so people can see what I do???

Hi your story got to me as i love cats so much. You have done the best you could for him. really. Dont beat yourself up. This can happen to any animal although i know you love your cat dearly and thats all that matters to you. i had a cat 18yrs and she got sick but at the time i had moved out of my dads house through no other choice and could not take her with me. i felt terrible but could not do more. I know how you must feel. the vet said i had kept my cat healthy and well loved and cats just get sick. You cannot stop that. Please do not blame yourself i hope you find peace about this.