Adopting Cats: When Less is More With Petfinders
Pets usually considered less adoptable are celebrated during Petfinder’s Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet campaign this week. Did you know 24% of older pets in shelters have a hard time finding homes? Or 14% of shy pets are overlooked? For over a year our Gris Gris languished in a shelter. Barely socialized, no one wanted the shy 12-year-old senior. 
Two years later, I can’t begin to say how much joy he’s given us. He’s blossomed into a sleek, exuberant and wise cat enjoying his second kittenhood. He’s our poster child for the joys of adopting a “less” adoptable cat. We believe less is more when it comes to adopting the less adoptable.
Special needs are simply special. Look at our Odin, who only has one eye but what an eye!
He was one of six cats nominated in the Cat Ruler of the World Contest, and the only one with special needs. He didn’t win first prize but head over to see the awards party at Zee & Zoey. to find out who did plus whether you won any prizes.
If you click on Petfinders link and enter your Zip Code, you can find what special cats (or dogs) are in your neighborhood. Many older cats are eligible for a permanent foster program, meaning the shelter will help with food and medical costs. If you can’t adopt or foster, perhaps you can volunteer. Every shelter has a wish list of items they need donated right now. Check with your local shelter for their latest news and fundraising events.
Our pick for a senior cat in dire need of a home is Whitney. Look at this face!
This what his profile says: He’s a handsome boy who is a bit shy but loves people. As soon as you give him that first bit of attention, he’ll melt right before your eyes. He has been at shelter way too long and deserves a home to call his own. He is eligible for our permanent foster program. For more about him and other info click here There just might be a special cat in your future!
18 Comments
Oui Oui
We try to adopt “problematic” kitties. Our mom would love a couple pure breds, but they aren’t the ones who fill the shelters.
Skeeter and Izzy
Every cat without a home,care and love is a “special needs” cat. These beautiful ones with “restrictions” or “body modifications” are just “EXTRA SPECIAL” needs cats. Never judge a book by it’s cover nor a cat by it’s fur or lack there of. There is beauty and love to be found in them all. Purrs to all and good job on the election Odin,you’ll always be a winner to us. Luvs Skeeter and Izzy >^.x^<
Abby
Odin
We think you ARE super special and we are so glad you are enjoying your second kittenhood.
purrs
>^,,^<
✿•*¨`*•. ♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥✿•*¨`*•.
Glogirly and Katie
You are special indeed Odin….I’m pretty sure you can see things the rest of us miss.
(((love))) Katie
meowmeowmans
It makes us sad to know that some cats are considered to be “less adoptable.” We know so many kittehs at our shelter who would be GREAT best friends. All they need is a chance!
Big hugs to Odin and Gris Gris, and all of you!
da tabbies o trout towne
dood, ewe mite knota winned furst prize but ewe bee a furst class kitteh in R books; N we noe katie will bee mor N happee ta appoint ewe az chair purrson in congress in charge oh all things green like fresh leaf nip N de green swordtail…samich time!!!! ..N dont forget …cash 🙂 grate job on yur campaign buddy; it wuz fun N we hope whitney finds a forever home; he’s one kewl dood !!
CarenOsrinGittleman (@CatChatCaren)
fabulous and spoken from experience!!! All of you who adopted “less adoptables” ROCK!!
xoxoxo
Katnip Lounge
This is how my folks found Shadow three weeks ago!! They are smitten with her.
Brian
We love you Odin! Talk about myths, that less adoptable thing needs busted big time!
Zee and Zoey - Deb Barnes
Special indeed, Layla. Gris Gris and Odin are wonderful cats and I hope that many people will consider adopting cats that might otherwise be passed by. I had a cat with one eye, who was also stunted at birth and was a tiny little thing her whole life. Her personality was so joyful and I always think back to her with warm and happy memories.
Special thank you also for Odin participating in Zee & Zoey’s Cat Ruler of the World Contest. We adore the boy and are so proud to call him our feline friend!
Tamago
I agree, special needs are special. Special and precious.
I found the great shelter through Petfinder.com and adopted Niko from them. I hope the campaign will help more fur babies find the forever homes!
Texas, a cat in New York
I think all the cat-idates and all the cats are winners in this election because we all learned a lot from different shelters and from special kitties, too.
Also, if all elections could be run like this one, the world would be a better place 😉
Purrs
Fisher
How do we register to you site?
boomermuse
We have a subscribe by email box at the top of our sidebar.
Fisher
I do believe ‘special’ is the correct way to address these cats. The strength of internet cats can make that happen!
CATachresis
Whitney is a darling! I hope someone finds him soon. Odin is a total winner in my book! He and Austin make an awesome pair of hunters and would probably add to the budgie deficit!! xox
Sparkle
Yeah, I say, let’s knock off the “needs” part and just call these kitties special!
Kathryn
aww, Petfinder! That’s where we got Ched and Mao from.
I’ve taken in abused cats with good luck. My FIL found a severely abused cat at this door one day. A year later, the cat was still very shy. My FIL brought the cat to me when he was on vacation for a month. The tiger mostly avoided me but after three weeks he did come when I called him. He stopped slinking away.
At Petfinder, I was looking for an orange boy kitten and a sister.
So we got Cheddar,the cheesy girlie boy who’s a love and his bro, Mao, the sometimes-bullying Tuxedo.
We got all our cats growing up from… the lab where my father worked. They all came from the pound.
One boy had had an operation on his eye and he had never lived outside a cage. We took him in and he adapted to living in the house. A couple of years later, he finally went out into the backyard.
He was the sweetest black cat ever. Chubby and lovey.
Kemal Ataturk, not at all a warrior.