A video of a group of cats that have been overlooked in a shelter for months or years has broken hearts online.
The Chesapeake Feline Association, based in Maryland, has recently shared a clip of six cats that have spent a combined total of 7,141 days in the shelter. The longest resident is Hera, who has spent 2,343 days in the no-kill rescue center.
Patty Kent, the shelter manager, told Newsweek that she was given up by her owner, who was battling cancer, in June 2017, and she has been overlooked ever since. She has never received a single application.
Kent explained: “Despite her gentle and timid nature, Hera often remains overlooked. This sweet cat finds comfort in the company of docile and kind-hearted feline friends, and her heart seeks a tranquil environment where she can truly shine.”
Chesapeake Feline Association/Chesapeake Feline Association
She added: “Hera’s journey is a reminder of the importance of giving overlooked and shy cats a chance to find the love and care they deserve.”
On October 30, the shelter shared a montage of videos showing six cats lapping up the love. The on-screen text states their name and the amount of time they have spent in the shelter.
The video captioned: “Cats at our shelter who have never received an application…can we show these guys some love?” has over 22,000 views.
The first cat on the video is Chloe, who is believed to be around nine years old and has spent over three years looking for a forever home.
Kent told Newsweek: “Chloe, the resilient female orange tabby, has a heartwarming story of transformation. She was originally found with her brother Quinn during a rescue mission as kittens in 2014, they were adopted together into a loving family.
“However, their journey took an unexpected turn when they were surrendered to an open admission shelter. Thanks to the diligence of their original caregivers, Chloe and Quinn were microchipped under CFA’s name, ensuring their safety and ensuring they be returned back to our rescue.
“They came back to us in April 2020. Chloe’s path was unique. Initially, she was quite fearful of people and spent months hiding when she first came back to our shelter. But over time, this remarkable feline has blossomed.”
Chesapeake Feline Association/Chesapeake Feline Association
“She may still be a bit shy around unfamiliar faces, but she’s made remarkable progress. Chloe now enjoys the gentle comfort of a brush, relishes shoulder massages, and, on occasion, will snuggle with other feline friends. Her story is a testament to the power of patience, love, and second chances.”
In the comments of the popular video, one user said: “I think about getting Chloe all the time. I adopted her “brother” Quinn when I volunteered there years ago.”
Another user begged: “Please adopt a kitty!!! Years in a shelter is INSANE!!!”
“This makes me cry,” said another user.
Each year, 6.3 million pets are surrendered to U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, the 24Pet ‘Shelter Watch Report’ found. Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.