#AdorableAdoptables & Shelter Stories,  Shelter Cats

Look Who Adopted Marco the Rescued Hoarder Cat

If you love cats, sharing makes us purrrr :-)

Sometimes all good things come to those who wait. Marco, a cat we’d featured multiple times, finally got adopted. The handsome tuxedo boy rescued from a horrific hoarding incident near me in May 2014, adjusted to shelter life easily. Everyone thought he’d be adopted quickly including my friend and fellow volunteer Leslie who fell madly in love with him. Time passed, Marco turned around, but then regressed. More time passed and he graduated from a cage to the small cage-free room which normally holds up to five cats. The shifting roster of kitty roommates, some friendly towards him, some not so much all got adopted.

What’s not to like about a young, healthy and handsome tuxedo cat? If human, he may have wondered, what’s wrong with me?

Shortly after arriving the shelter (renamed Humane Society of Westchester at New Rochelle), I had high hopes for Marco after creating this adoption PSA on June 9, 2014. At that time, he was one of the more adoptable cats from the hoarder cats. Many needed major veterinary care and socialization. It prompted me to volunteer at the shelter, both hands-on and with social media. Humane_Society_Westchester

I tried my best to create enrichment with a variety of textures, cardboard boxes, scratchers, catnip and other toys in his and other caged cats. Volunteers have little power in the shelter setting and it proved an on-going battle to provide the sorely needed enrichment like these enrichment tips suggested by the ASPCA. While I’m currently unable to volunteer at this shelter, I will continue to advocate for shelter reform which is sorely needed across the U.S. I’m grateful Leslie still volunteers and provides Reiki for the caged cats.

Adoption PSA #2 in August, 2014.


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Adoption PSA #3 on Nov. 15, 2014.

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From that point on I’d recycle old graphics or mention him to no avail in 2015. It baffled me why my adoption PSAs proved successful for everyone except him. Other cats took precedence and in the never ending cycle of new intakes, Marco got lost in the shuffle. That is until the Zaidan family felt Marco was “the one”. We’ll never know why it took this long except to say, there are cats who have waited much longer than Marco and are still waiting. Rememeber: Adopt Don’t Shop and if you can’t adopt, consider fostering.

Marco and his new mom off to his forever home.

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