Once again it’s Spring – a term often referred to by cat lovers as “kitten season” when thousands of newborn kittens join the millions of cats already in shelters across the country. June is officially national Adopt-a-Rescue-Cat month where we can all do our part to educate, participate and promote awareness to help cats in need.
Our 9 year old tuxie Newman (shown below) was adopted by us in June of 2014 from a local shelter where he had been living for nearly 11 months. He was greeted suspiciously by his other two rescue brothers (Indy & Mouse) when we brought him home but harmony quickly prevailed and he’s been an absolute joy! >^..^<
Your local shelter will likely have plenty of cute, cuddly newborns, in addition to all the mellow, older cats and everything in between. The shelter staff will be ready and willing to help you adopt your very first cat — or to bring home a friend for another beloved cat!
To highlight and celebrate how shelter cats can immeasurably improve our lives, our paw pals at ABC (Animal Behavior College) sponsored a contest to give away a Mystery Gift Box (donated by Coastal Pet Products) worth $50…oh how exciting! Wait…there’s more…
They also gave away a $250 Discount on their enrollment in Animal Behavior College’s Cat Training Program
Contest Now Closed
This contest ended on July 7th, 2017 and was available to residents of the United States and Canada only. Contestants had to submit a comment in our “Leave a Reply” section at the bottom of the page saying:
I adopted a shelter cat named [insert your cat’s name] and he/she changed my life in the following ways [enter your reasons]
The winner was chosen by the ABC leadership team from all the correct entries and contacted by email.
See some of the wonderful entries below. For those of you considering adoption, be sure to check out Pet Finder’s Cat Adoption Checklist
I adopted a shelter cat named Lucy (Lu) and she changed my life by being a true angel…she has never once swiped us by any means and always tucks in her paws to avoid scratching our hurting us by accident. She knows when you are feeling down and comes in and purrs and sleeps beside you to soothe your nervous system. She always knows when something is “off” and comes right away. So much love!
I adopted a shelter cat named Manny and he changed my life by giving me a purpose to get out of bed everyday. He gave me love and filled a void in my life that was huge. Manny was my lifesaver.
I adopted a shelter cat named Scooter and he changed my formative years by being my constant companion and comfort. He was always, always waiting for me when I got home from school and was more like a dog in his faithful companionship. He followed me on my adventures around the neighborhood and was there when I fell asleep and when I woke up. Thought he hated the fact that I took him on “field trips” – to senior pictures, tried to put him in the spring production and even had my mom bring him for a visit at college – he never got angry with me. When we knew he had to be put to sleep, my sister, who never professed a big love for him, drove three hours so she could say goodbye and my divorced parents came together to take him to the vet to be put down.
Love your story about Scooter. It brought a tear to my eye. Very touching. Good luck with the contest.
I adopted a shelter cat named Charity and she changed my life by reminding me to relax and enjoy quiet time. Watching Charity sound asleep on my lap makes me smile. Now she isn’t very happy when I need to get up but it doesn’t take her long to find another peaceful place to sleep.
I adopted a shelter cat (shelter princess!) Lil Missy ( aka Fitz) and she has changed our life by being a true companion cat. She waits for me to get home each day. Wakes me if I am over sleeping and is quite the sassy cat to our dog. She was under weight and living in a cage for over a year. She is, a domestic long hair, now a lovely loving pet. Safe travels, t
I adopted a shelter cat named Opal, later named Chili and she has changed my life for the better in so many ways. She was the first furry baby to join me when I bought my own house and moved out on my own, and she’s been by my side as we slowly made our house a home together. She was there to make me laugh when I initially felt homesick, and to comfort me and give me purpose when my depression worsened. She is the most bizarre and comical creature who is food obsessed, gives high fives on command and has an absolutely horrid-sounding meow. Whether it’s hanging out in the garden (with intense supervision, I am a helicopter parent) or curling up in bed next to my feet (never cuddling, not a cuddler), she is never too far away. I would do anything for her and she makes me smile every day!
I adopted a shelter cat named Fuddles and he changed my life because nothing remotely edible left out in the kitchen or the dining room table or the living room is safe. Fuddles is big, and long, and he can reach over the kitchen counter to snatch everything. Whether it’s broccoli, fruit, licorice, chocolate, pasta, pizza, chips, chow mein, he’ll eat it.
Beware to those visiting my house! Hold on to your edibles!
We rescued a cat called Leia, and she changed our lives in so many ways. We found her in the start of April, 2017 dumped in a garbage bag. It was my boyfriend’s birthday, and we were about to go out for a celebratory breakfast after dumping the garbage. We soon heard this very, very faint whining noise from one of the bags. Ripped it open, and there she was. Tiniest thing I’ve ever seen, white like a snowball, and also just as cold as one. So we rushed to take her to the vet – she didn’t give her much chance of survival – she was barely 2 weeks old, and very dehydrated, possibly been in the bag for overnight. But we wanted to try and save her. I had no experience of how to take care of a kitten that young, but I soon learned. She is literally my baby, she is now 2 months old, healthy and playful little rascal who loves to test her limits. She gives so much love and joy to us, I don’t know what I’d do without her. She is a character, the most amazing kitten, and I don’t know how anyone could’ve ever just tossed her away. We feel so lucky to have her. I have posted her own Instagram-account to the website bit, so if people want to follow her story, feel free to do so. 🙂
I adopted my rescue cat, Otitis, and he absolutely changed my life. Did I mention he’s earless?? After I was in a bad car accident, I developed severe anxiety. I grew up on a farm and had animals all my life and knew that when I was ready, I was going to adopt a special needs animal. After my anxiety developed, I knew it was time for my special needs animal. I found Otitis on PetFinder and immediately knew he was the one. He’s now my registered Emotional Support Animal and has completely turned around my mental health. I have never been happier now that I have him in my life. Nothing is better than unconditional animal love!
We adopted a shelter cat named BenBen (BenBenCatCat) and he has changed our lives by showing us even the ‘unadoptable and special needs’ fur babies are filled with love and compassion!! He has helped us be advocates for homeless and abandoned fur babies, hosting fundraisers and giving back to our community!! Our home is filled with so much love because of him and if we can help save even one more shelter furry baby than we will!!
I adopted a shelter cat named Charli and she changed my life by showing me that patience, understanding, and love can correct a behavior problem. She was declawed by her previous owner and started peeing outside her litter box, therefore they threw her outside. To avoid her from getting hurt they decided to turn her into Animal Control. Thankfully, she was rescued from being euthanized and I was fortunate to foster her which at the time I was not aware of the peeing problem. Plus, she was very shy. Only a couple people in a few months showed any interest in her. In the meantime I had a cat just a year younger than Charli that showed interest in her by wanting to play with her. Teddy actually showed Charli how to trust, play, love, & even purr. Therefore, we adopted Charli and found out about the peeing problem. It took a few months, but have corrected her problem with only an episode once in a blue moon, plus she’s happy and no longer shy…..and knows she’s loved ~ It was work, but definitely worth it!
I adopted a shelter cat with no name so I named him Gibbs. Gibbs is a unique cat, he’s almost 2 yrs. old, he’s part Siamese and American Ringtail which means that his tail curls over his back. Not only has Gibbs changed my life, he also helped my other kitty who lost his two brothers to shootings. Gibbs has become my other companion animal and keeps me from getting depressed as does Gambit, my other kitty. I know that Gibbs is very grateful to me for adopting him and he shows me love everyday as does Gambit too. Gibbs and Gambit are such clowns that I’m always laughing because of something funny that they do. I wouldn’t trade either one of my boys for anything. They make it so that I have a great life and not only do I show them a lot of affection, they do the same to me. Both of my boys know that they are loved unconditionally and that they always will be.
I always thought I was a dog person, but it seems that although I bought my townhouse, I never had the time to get a dog. Maybe, I mused, a cat would be a better fit from my lifestyle.
So, a trip to my city’s animal shelter convinced me – a cat it is. But, which one? The first one I had picked out bit me, the second one was too scared to let me near her. So, I asked the animal control officer to pick out a friendly, easy-going cat for me.
I am so glad she did! Milton is the perfect cat – tolerant, patient and loving. My life was so lonely before Milton came into it – I didn’t realize how much beforehand. And I am forever grateful – he is my cat and I am his human.
I adopted Chico from our local shelter at 12 weeks old. Little did I know at the time that he would be a special needs kitty who would later become the inspiration behind @helping_meowt, a networking hub four cats in need. We feature cats looking for forever homes, rescues needing fosters or supplies, owners needing help with crowd funding to pay for those unexpected medical bills, etc. If there’s a cat in need their story is shared across our social media platform including Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Together, Chico and I are trying to make a difference, saving one life at a time and educating the public.
I adopted a rescue cat named Indie and he changed my life in the following ways…
Indie was a rescue kitty who was found behind a dumpster when he was just 5 weeks old. His rescue mom was a busy college student who, after a couple years, could no longer give him the care and attention he deserved and had to move out of state. Indie hates moving and does not do well with long trips so she decided to put an ad out and re-home Indie so he could have a loving, stable environment. This is when my husband and I found Indie. I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and adopting Indie has been one of the best things that could have happened for me. He is our first pet together and I love laying my head on him and listening to his purr. We have had him four weeks now and he has warmed up to his new home surprisingly quickly. He loves being brushed, having his belly rubbed, watching the squirrels from the window, and watching basketball games on TV. We have recently discovered that he is part Russian Blue. Which fully explains his personality and why he has super soft double-coat blueish-gray fur and green eyes. Indie loves to play fetch and watch everything around him from a height without feeling the need to be involved with what he’s observing. It also explains why he is intelligent, affectionate, loyal, and in tune with the emotions of others around him. My husband is a Mariner and works on a ship in the Gulf of Mexico for 28 days at a time. I get very lonely when he is gone, Indie helps me feel loved and not so lonely when my husband is away. Indie loves to wake me up in the morning by laying on my chest and purring. I love this too and feel like it is very therapeutic for me. Indie has been a wonderful addition to our little family and I love all the laughs and sweet moments his presence has provided.
I adopted a shelter cat named Calypso (they originally named her Sage) and he/she changed my life in the following ways: Ok, so I’m.just going to tell the story of what went down get this cat. A friend of mine found her in a dumpster near his apartment with no collar. He couldn’t keep her himself, and no one claimed her, so he took her to the Humane Society in hopes that they’d find a good home for her. The people at this particular humane society didn’t like her, wrote her off as too aggressive to adopt, and wanted to put her down. I called to ask if I could take her since my friend was out of town and was devastated and outraged by their behavior, and I was told they would not let me have her. My friend had a very angry conversation with them over the phone, and they finally reluctantly agreed to let me pick her up if I got there before she was scheduled to be put down the next day. I got there before they opened and waited. The place smells like death and sickness. They say the animals don’t know they’ll be killed, but if *I* could smell it with my limited human senses, they absolutely can. They still seemed reluctant, maybe even a little annoyed, and originally wanted to charge a lot of money for a cat they planned on just killing… but I finally got her; fees waved, a ton of paperwork filled out, and a scared kitty in the carrier I’d brought. I took her home, and she is the sweetest thing. She doesn’t like to be handled too much (she had probably been abused by previous owners) but she is so affectionate and playful and cuddled with me all night; she was so grateful that I’d taken her away from that place. I don’t regret it for a second.
waived* sorry; it’s hard to type accurately on here.
I fostered 3 kittens that lost their mother they had to be bottle fed. Bubbles, Blossom and Buttercup are super cuddley and beg for affection. I am still their mom and a foster failure.
I adopted a shelter kitten (now an 8 year old cat) from a shelter. Her name was originally Tammy Fae, shortened to Tammaroo, then shorten further to Maroo. She is the most affectionate cat I have ever met. I used to do a great deal of cat rescue volunteering, so I have met hundreds of cats over the years (I am 62). Maroo is a therapy cat. When I was suicidal (after my husband died of cancer), she saved my life.
I adopted a shelter cat named Little Bell and she changed my life in the following ways: she made me a more patient person, she showed me that I am fully capable of showing an animal that was abused that not all people are mean. But my family and I helped her become a more social animal. When we first got her from the SPCA she was so scared of people that she didn’t let us pet her without trying to run away from us. She was antisocial. But now almost 2 years later she love to be pet and played with. She absolutely loves attention. She loves her belly being pet. She likes to be held for short periods of time. She is the sweetest cat I’ve ever had.
i adopted a shelter cat named Orangina [now named Precious} in August of 2014. She and her bff Pumpkin ended up in the shelter when her owner was deployed and they couldnt take their pets. Although the shelter promised to find them a home together-they killed Pumpkin and then kill listed my Precious. I was fortunate a friend saw her and I got a rescue to pull her just a few hrs before she was to die. She’s a big, orange, fuzzy bundle of love-very vocal and outspoken. Since i rescued her I got another from the same shelter system this past Nov.- and i have gotten very involved in advocating for these fragile little fur people- they and my 15 yr old cat have been a real motivation in doing so
I adopted a shelter cat named Ronaldo (I kept his name) during Easter week end 2014. He changed my life because he saved me during a dark period. I made it because of him. He saved me more than I saved him. He contradicts the stereotype “scaredy-cat,” as he is fond of all humans and not scared whatsoever! He is never too far from his humans. We just LOVE him !
I adopted a shelter cat named Star and I changed her name to Ryder . She changed my life in the following ways, She has filled a void in my life from losing a cat from cancer in 2010. She makes me so happy everyday. She is a great companion and loyal friend to me and I love her so much!!
I adopted 3 shelter kittens we named Cara, Denna, & Zeddicus. Their names come from the same book my husband got our daughter’s name from. They have changed my life in so many ways. Cara is my princess & always reminds me how beautiful I am, even though I am different like her. Denna is my “squeeker”. She snuggles me when my depression gets bad to remind me I am always loved. Zedd, is my little man & baby. He has changed my life by helping me realize it’s okay to act a little crazy sometimes & that we all need to have fun. It was due to my love of my cats & the needs of all shelter pets that motivated me to attend college after 17 years as a stay at home mom, to pursue my dream of studying veterinary technology. I am currently 2 classes away from earning my AA before attending veterinary school.
I adopted a black fluffy cat called Ebby in 2001. I say I adopted her, this wasn’t really the case she adopted me. I went to a rescue in Tamworth UK with a friend who wanted a kitty. I went along as a break from studying at the time and I walked round with her. We went to an outside pen and Ebby jumped into my arms! I stood fixed to the stop wondering what to do. I looked at her and thought how can I put her back. We went home, to my bed house my first house I had just bought and my boyfriend of 4 months and we became a family.
Life was great with the 3 of us, she hid fircweeks and we didn’t see much of her but she ate and used her tray so we let her come round on her own terms. One morning my boyfriend now husband phoned to say she had slept on the bed with him and we were so happy. Life took a downward turn a year later, I became very sick and this lasted for 12 years. I was very sick. I spent 6 months in hospital away from my husband and Ebby I was worried she wouldn’t remember me. When I came home she was my best friend. She slept with me in my hospital bed in our living room every night. I was so sick I couldn’t stand it walk or feed myself so I had to sleep alone downstairs and my husband up. She never left me. When the caters came to wash and dress me she stayed by my side and made s nuisance of herself she didn’t trust anyone to take care of me apart from her dad.
She kept me going, she was my life. My friend in the dark alone nights when I wondered if I could cope, she was there.
I recovered slowly and bit by bit Year by year I learnt to walk again with my family by my side, my Ebby and my partner.
I knew in 2010 my baby wasn’t right, she was drinking too much. She had kidney failure, it got worse over the years even though we took the best care of her, her heart started to struggle and she went blind. In 2014 I knew I needed to take csrd of her like she did me and it was time to say goodbye. She didn’t want to eat even though I drove to Morrisons every day to get her a cooked chicken, we said goodbye on 20th August 2014 and my heart broke. She popped into my life the year before my life changed forever. I know she was sent to get me through and she did.
3 years on we have 3 rescues because I needed a reason to get up in the morning. We have pictures of her everywhere and we talk to our current furbabies all about her. She lives on in our hearts 💜
I adopted Maddie in 2015 from my boyfriend’s mom who had gotten her from the shelter. She said Maddie talked too much for her and wanted to send her back. To prevent that from happening, my boyfriend and I adopted her.
I only grew up with dogs and my only experience with cats were standoffish. That all changed with Maddie. The girl constantly talks to us and always wants to cuddle. She has not only changed my opinion of cats but she has changed my life.
I suffer from ADHD and anxiety. Sometimes my anxiety gets so bad that I have panic attacks. When I start to feel that ball of lead begin to form in my chest, she somehow knows and comes right onto my lap. She puts her paws on my chest, gives me a head bump, and purrs. She then becomes a ball of dead weight on my lap and purrs loudly until she falls asleep. It calms me down and allows me to recover to the point where I can actually do something about it. She prevents me from becoming incapacitated. It has truly changed my life. I don’t know what I would have done without her.
I adopted a shelter cat named Fluffy and he changed my life in the terms of my perspective towards cats and how cats can actually behaves like a dog! I adopted Fluffy from the Humane Society in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2011.
Fluffy was like other cats, he’ll bite and scratch if he dislikes anything. However, I learned a technique to make him feel discomfort when he bites or scratches me, and now he doesn’t bite or scratch! If there’s anything he dislikes, he simply walks away! He’s a dog cat, he waits at you by the door for your return and he meows for food. He loves to walk outside occasionally, and he’ll balance and sorts of stuff for food, including his can food or a pineapple head. He also waits and stays put when I told him to wait before eating (just likes a dog)! We’re very happy together, and his dad who originally wasn’t an animal person now loves him and hugs him everyday! We love the magic of how pets can change a person and how wonderful it is to be surrounded by them. More people should adopt animals and feel the magic themselves!
I adopted a shelter cat named Carlton and he changed my life in the following ways. We adopted Carlton when he was just 3 months old and I had just had a hysterectomy. All the hormonal changes had me very depressed.
Within a day or two we noticed he wasn’t eating and seemed week. We had an appointment to take him to our vet, but we rust him in a day before. Vet said he had feline herpes, he needed antibiotics and also needed to be force fed. He was in and out of the vet for a month. We had to keep him away from our other two cats. My husband, kids and I all cared for him, like he was an actual baby, we bonded with him. I cried and prayed for him to get better, for him to live and grow with us. He survived with some compilation, he has chronic congestion, his left eye is smaller than the right and he takes meds every day for constipation and a high fiber diet, colon cleaning ( so far he’s had two) I have to admit that it does get expensive. After all of this, we love him and his older siblings more. We have learned to become more organized and on schedule. We had to, to keep all of Carlton’s things in order.
I adopt my shelter cat Lancelot in December of 2016. He has changed my life by adding more joy to it. He is the most loving cat. I don’t understand how he sat in the shelter for 2 months before we went to get him. He sleeps in bed with my husband and I every night. He loves the other rescue cats we have. And he loves the kids. He is funny and loving, and our family wouldn’t be the same with out our little flame point Lancelot.❤️
I thought I was rescuing my cat Oliver… but then he changed my life & ended up being the one to rescue me.
„~{‘- . -‘}~„
I adopted two shelter kittens named Oscar and Felix and they changed my life in so many ways. When I adopted them I was suffering from both mental and physical illnesses. They had been at the shelter already for a couple of months and I couldn’t get one without the other. They had many health issues when we first got them and it took a while to fix everything but we all stuck together. They have both brought so much joy into my life. They are incredibly adorable, love to cuddle, eat and
play. There’s never a dull moment with them.
My daughter fostered two kittens, Clio and Rebel from the local animal shelter. We immediately fell in love with them. One of the kittens, Clio was already committed to an adoption. He it was the hardest thing to let her go to her new family. Needless to say we became foster failures to Rebel and have loved every minute since.