Six months ago, Mr. Red was sitting in a Gwinnett County cat shelter, where he had spent months after being found hanging around a downtown Atlanta hotel.

Georgia Lottery (ENLARGE)

Mr. Red found a great home with a Duluth couple — and got his handsome mug on Fat Cat scratch-off lottery tickets.

MAILEY MCLAUGHLIN/Atlanta Humane Society (ENLARGE)

Callie, a 4-month-old spayed treeing walker hound, is a sweet puppy who was transferred to the Atlanta Humane Society from a shelter in North Georgia, so we don't have a lot of history on her. Callie is still a puppy and will need a patient owner who will assist her with training in her new home. She will need plenty of exercise time, structure and chew toys. Hounds are some of the most genial and people-friendly of all breeds. Callie will be available at the Atlanta Humane Society, 981 Howell Mill Road N.W. Sealed bids will be taken 1:30 p.m. Jan. 7.

Today the large ginger tabby is the adored pet of Arlene and Irvin Gunter of Duluth and one of five Georgia cats featured on the Georgia Lottery's Fat Cat scratch-off tickets, which went on sale Tuesday.

"He just has so much personality, I knew it would come through in his photos," said Arlene Gunter, who was working at Furkids, a no-kill cat shelter, last year when she fell in love with Mr. Red.

Not that Gunter was the only one who loved the big guy. Mr. Red has a habit of begging to be picked up, then wrapping his paws around a person's neck in a big cat hug.

"He was the shelter favorite," said Samantha Shelton, founder of Furkids. "Everybody loved Mr. Red."

So why was such a popular and lovable guy still available months after arriving at Furkids? Because Mr. Red also has FIV.

"So many vets, when they find out a cat has FIV, recommend euthanasia, and a lot of shelters put a cat down if they test positive for FIV," Shelton said. "It just breaks my heart, because these cats can live long, healthy lives."

FIV is an immunodeficiency virus, similar to the human HIV virus, so many people are afraid to adopt FIV-positive cats, or mix them with unaffected cats.

But Dr. Melinda Merck, a veterinarian who specializes in felines and animal forensics, said people shouldn't be scared off by FIV.

"People can't get it, and it's not spread by casual contact between cats," Merck said. "It's only spread through major bites, like those that leave an abscess."

Merck said that when she owned the Cat Clinic of Roswell, they kept two uninfected female cats with five infected males for a year. Although the cats didn't always get along, she said neither of the females contracted FIV.

"Cats with FIV are usually pretty healthy, and often live for more than 10 years before getting sick," Merck said.

Shelton said Furkids is the only shelter in the Southeast that accepts cats with FIV.

"We've had people drive from North Carolina, from Florida, to bring us cats," Shelton said. "We have a waiting list of FIV-positive cats that need homes, but we don't have room for them."

The shelter has a room for 15 FIV-positive cats. Shelton said they usually don't require more than a yearly checkup, although Merck said because they have FIV, if they come down with a cold or some other illness, owners should take them to the vet immediately to get it treated, rather than waiting to see if it will run its course.

Arlene Gunter said that Mr. Red had an ear infection when they adopted him in June, but since it cleared up, he's been fine. The big guy loves to play with water, so they keep a tub on the deck for him to splash around in when it's warm. He also loves games of chase, and spends every night snuggled in Irvin's lap while they watch TV together.

"He's like an adopted son to him," Arlene said.

The couple are excited that Mr. Red was chosen to be on a $2 scratch-off lottery ticket. Lottery officials picked 15 cats and 15 dogs this summer out of the hundreds of entries submitted by doting owners statewide. The public then voted on the final five winners in each category to be featured on Fat Cat and Lucky Dog tickets.

Gunter said she hopes some of Mr. Red's luck at finally finding a loving home rubs off on people who buy his lottery ticket. But she said they feel like they've already hit the jackpot with their new feline friend. "He's got these huge paws and this big fat head," Gunter said. "He's just so cute you want to squeeze him."

Go to www.furkids.org for more information on Furkids.

• Therapy pets needed. Happy Tails, a group that certifies pets so they can make therapy visits to health-care and special-needs facilities, has scheduled some orientation classes. People who think their pet dog, cat or rabbit might make a good therapy pet, and who are willing to donate several hours a month to visiting people, should attend one of the sessions. They are held monthly at Mt. Bethel Christian Academy, 4385 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta (Building F, Room 002). No reservations are needed — and, please, people only at the orientations. The next scheduled dates: Feb. 1, 7:30-8:30 p.m.; March 3, 10:30-11:30 a.m.; April 5, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Information: 770-740-8211, www.happytailspets.org.

Quick tip

Fire hazard: Candles and pets don't mix. If you have pets, don't leave candles unattended.

News to share?

News, events or stories? Tell Sandra Eckstein at seckstein@ajc.com or call 404-526-7260.