A cat that was adopted as a kitten over a decade ago has been returned to the shelter in circumstances that sparked anger online.
In a video posted to TikTok, the Humane Society of East Carolina (HSEC) introduced followers to Arthur, a “loyal and loving” rescue cat who had a history with the shelter. “Arthur was adopted from us as a kitten in 2013,” An HSEC spokesperson told Newsweek. “On Feb. 29 he was returned to us.”
The circumstances of his return have sparked consternation among many on social media. “The reason he was returned, according to his surrender form, was ‘moving in with boyfriend and he is allergic,'” the HSEC spokesperson explained.
This revelation sparked disbelief among many of those watching the video of Arthur, which has already garnered over 591,000 views and counting.
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“Ummmmm NEVER! Poor baby,” one user wrote. “Imagine picking a man over a cat,” a second commented, with a third stating: “He never would have gotten a second date. That’s my CHILD.”
Elsewhere, one user said: “NEVER my dad was allergic and took allergy shots for my moms cats. If he wanted to he would,” while a second added: “If my bf was allergic to my baby and couldn’t just deal with it, he’s not the one.” A third, meanwhile, declared: “I once unmatched a guy on Bumble when he asked me if I would be willing to give up my cats for his allergies. HELL NO.”
Despite the response online, the sad reality is that Arthur is now back at the shelter where he started and facing an uphill battle to land himself another forever home.
A study by website Priceonomics, based on data from the adoption website Petfinder, found that while 81.9 percent of kittens listed found a home, the percentage dropped to 53.9 percent among senior cats.
Having spent a decade in the comfort and seclusion of his home, Arthur understandably initially struggled to adapt to life back in the shelter—but he’s made progress.
“Arthur was nervous at first but he has adapted well to being back in our care mostly due to our amazing staff making him as comfortable as possible,” the HSEC spokesperson said. “He is extremely overweight and is on prescription food. He also is getting daily brushing as he is too overweight to groom himself.”
Despite the difficulties he’s faced in recent weeks, staff at the shelter remain optimistic about Arthur’s chances of finding a new owner and already have an idea of the kind of home that would suit him best.
“Arthur likes to be brushed and snuggled,” the HSEC spokesperson said. “He would do best in a home where he is the only feline and has an owner that will continue his journey to better health.”
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.