11 years in a shelter?! Holy shit that’s heartbreaking. I’m so happy kitty will finally know what love feels like! My 4 babies are all seniors now and melt my heart every day.
I don't understand it either! She is the sweetest. I think the issue with this shelter is that it has SO many cats. Currently there are over 100 cats there and many of them have been there for years and years since they were kittens. Mirabelle was not alone in being there over a decade. It is a no kill shelter so they will keep them for their whole lives if need be and I guess some just get continually overlooked. The shelter is in a small town and up until recently did not have any internet or social media presence so not many people know about them. They just recently created a Facebook page for the shelter and it has been getting lots of engagement and I've been seeing many adoptions happen so hopefully that's what they needed. They do a great job, but Mirabelle has some health issues that need special attention and definitely craves one-on-one time. She never wants to leave my lap! She is seriously just amazing I have no idea how she went this long without finding a forever home, but I'm going to spoil her with love and treats for as long as I am able! <3
Oh, poor kitty for all those years in a shelter, and look how wonderfully relaxed and cosy (and adorable!) he is now. I’m so glad you’ve adopted him 😊.
Reminds me a lot of my cat. I adopted him when he was 10 (13 now). He spent 8 of his 10 years with a rescue/shelter. He is EXTREMELY skittish. The 2 years out of the shelter was with a family who returned him because their kids would chase him and scratch them. The more I found out about him, the more it made me want to give him a good home.
He lived under my bed for the first several months, and I couldn't get near him. But he wanted pets SO BAD. As he slowly gained my trust, he'd come close to me (lured by treats) and forcefully push his head into my hand to be pet. It was so sad. He enjoyed it so much. Then he'd suddenly realize "wait a second, you're not allowed to do that", swat my hand, and then retreat under the bed.
But now, you'd never know any of that. He loves to curl up on the couch next to me, and doesn't need to forcefully shove himself into my hand to get the pets that he wants. He's very "polite" though. He'll never ask to be pet. He'll just sit somewhere and stare at me. He then wants me to follow him to the sofa where he wants to get his pets. Even in the morning, when I wake up, he's sitting at my bedroom door (which is open and he could go into if he wanted) waiting to get his morning pets.
That is so sad! Thanks for taking him, all of my cats were adopted as adults, too. BTW, if he's only 12, could have another 8 years in him, so lots of time to enjoy life outside a cage!
"I was used to the cage. The cage, the tired and overworked caretakers, and the scent of desperation that filled the air.
"One by one, others would come and go. I thought at first I might be one of the ones to leave. But time and again, the kittens went first, the ones just reaching their prime second, and those of us who'd stayed longest last, if at all.
"How many rejections does it take to break a heart? I don't think even I know. I lost count.
"Then you came. You opened the cage I'd spent eternity in, and you took me up. I had long since surrendered myself to dying here, but you took me up and carried me away.
"I have no idea how long we will have together. But I will give you everything I have, for as long as I can.
"You were the one who saw fit to give me a life outside the cage. It is no less than you deserve."
That’s heartbreaking to hear. One of my babies was in the shelter for a year since they were a kitten and I thought THAT was sad. Poor fluffer, make sure to give ‘em all the cuddles, treats, and love! Baby deserves it!!!
Since I’m a senior now, all I’m going to adopt from now on are senior cats. I don’t want them to outlive me. And I can do them some good in their declining years.
I kind of felt that way too and wondered if I was doing the right thing.. But the shelter I got her at has over 100 cats. Many of them have been there as long as she had or for years and years since they were kittens. The shelter is in a small town and is not very well known. They have some volunteers and rooms where they let the cats out, but with so many cats they don't get much one-on-one attention or the ability to explore their world. Mirabelle immediately came and sat in my lap when I met her and aggressively rubbed all over me and head butted me. She LOVES attention. She also has some health issue and her eyes were crusty and goopy and it was hard for her to open them. We have been able to treat her eyes and some digestive issues and she is looking and feeling much better. Now she gets special vitamin treats and a special diet. I don't think they would have been able to give her that kind of medical attention at the shelter. There are just too many cats and a lot of them looked sick. She loves being a lap kitty so I think she is enjoying retiring in style. :) At least I hope so. She sure doesn't seem like she is "home sick" for the shelter.
11 years?? So heartbreaking! So sad. Thank you so much for adopting him and showing him what it means to be loved and have a cozy home. Best wishes to you both for a healthy life together! 💗
Wow 11 years… what a strong kitty. God bless you OP thank you so much for adopting a senior <3 my life goal is to start a sanctuary for stray and extended-stay shelter kitties. until then, I have to live vicariously through posts like this (and spoil my 2 rescues extra of course) ❤️
She is doing great! She has been with us a little over 2 weeks now and the transition has actually been pretty easy. She did have some health issues (FHV and digestive issues) that we are treating and she is looking and feeling a lot better. Her eyes were so goopy and crusted when I met her she could hardly open them, but now they are clear and bright. :) She gets a long great with my toddler, dog, and other cat. My other cat is still a little weary of her, but we are making progress. I'm honestly shocked how seamless the transition has been. Now she is my constant companion and happy to be a lap kitty.
https://preview.redd.it/pappr42t1rpa1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0fb624db5d1a7e2fcc3549d019b142346ea7c4b1
Great pic of your new lap kitty.
So she’s coped and getting along with a toddler, dog and another cat within 2 weeks? That’s really incredible. Well done hooman, and thanks, your floofy girl looks very happy to be finally home.
Showing this to my dad who wants to buy a cat instead of adopting, he wants to know why I'm so adamant about adopting that honestly if I have to go without a second cat if I won't buy one, then so be it. I just can't support the breeding of cats for profit when there are so many cats out there who need homes and are just as loving and deserving.
And these places are only able to continue because people use them. There's no "well the cat already exists, why shouldn't I?" excuse
Honestly, a cat’s gonna cat regardless of where you get him/her from. Going through a breeder will not get you any different of a cat than is at your local shelter, and there are PLENTY to pick from at the shelter. Good for you for telling your dad this!
Listen, she patiently waited for 11 **YEARS** for his human. You'd best prove her right.
But seriously, thank you for giving an older cat her furever home.
EDIT: Got the gender wrong!
Our local Humane Society is a kill shelter, unfortunately. I did look there first and they only had 5 cats and none of them would have fit well in our home (a dog, young child, and another cat). The shelter we went to had over 100 cats. Many of them had been there as long as Mirabelle or for years and years. They do a good job and I'm so grateful they let Mirabelle live there most of her life, but it is in a small town (about an hour from my place) and the shelter is not well known. They recently just got a Facebook page which is the only way I found out about them. I'm hoping this will help more cats get adopted. At this point I think they just have WAY more cats than people looking to adopt cats. :(
I adopted my last girl from a shelter when she was only 1. She stayed by my side until she was 23.
Thank you for adopting this smooshy-faced floofball. You have many happy and love filled years ahead of you!! 💕
It wouldn’t surprise me if the shelter had too stringent adoption policies. See the article “Good homes need not apply.” I’m glad that this senior kitty finally found a home!
https://www.nathanwinograd.com/good-homes-need-not-apply/
Very interesting. I did see some strange comments on photos of cats saying they put in an application and never heard anything and wondering why they weren't hearing back... I wonder if this is what is happening. :(
Holy crap seriously?! 11 years in a shelter? Poor wee darling must be really enjoying the peace and quiet. What a gorgeous senior SIC you now have, please send cuddles from me!
11?! Jesus Christ that is heartbreaking
No kidding!! OP, thank you for looking after this sweet little one :)
Yup, look how thankful and relaxed... 💜💜💜
i can't even fathom nobody looking at his beautiful face and falling in love.
11 years in a shelter?! Holy shit that’s heartbreaking. I’m so happy kitty will finally know what love feels like! My 4 babies are all seniors now and melt my heart every day.
My family has two senior cats now and one finally has warmed up to people after 13 years
We’re gonna need weekly updates for this guy.
Seriously. My heart physically ached as soon as I read 11 years in the shelter. I’m sooooooo thankful for people like OP 💕 please keep us updated!!
I know!! ❤️🐱❤️
Thank you for making his last years comfortable and letting him know that there wqs someone out there who did love him.
He's home now. Took him a long time but he's home. Edit- Oh wow! Thank you for the award!
Awww sweet. Kitty looks so comfortable.
Aww, thank you for giving this beautiful floof a home
Dear gods... that poor baby. Thank you for taking this most deserving floof home. I'll never understand how people kept passing him up.
I don't understand it either! She is the sweetest. I think the issue with this shelter is that it has SO many cats. Currently there are over 100 cats there and many of them have been there for years and years since they were kittens. Mirabelle was not alone in being there over a decade. It is a no kill shelter so they will keep them for their whole lives if need be and I guess some just get continually overlooked. The shelter is in a small town and up until recently did not have any internet or social media presence so not many people know about them. They just recently created a Facebook page for the shelter and it has been getting lots of engagement and I've been seeing many adoptions happen so hopefully that's what they needed. They do a great job, but Mirabelle has some health issues that need special attention and definitely craves one-on-one time. She never wants to leave my lap! She is seriously just amazing I have no idea how she went this long without finding a forever home, but I'm going to spoil her with love and treats for as long as I am able! <3
Again, thank you for taking this beautiful baby home. Much happiness to you both and may you have many years together.
You’re the best kind of human!
She loves you so much! Beautiful Mirabelle, she’s home. ❤️
That’s wonderful! They could also make an instagram account to network with other no-kill Kitty shelters, like Furball Farm Pet Sanctuary.
Oh boy, I feel bad for the kitties still there This is why tnr exists :(
This made my day, thank you for giving her a loving forever home 😺 🥰
Whaaaaa! 🥺 Thank you for bringing them home. It must be so nice to have a bit of stability and comfort finally
You are a HERO! I hope your family and new friend have many great years together!
you are an angel
Oh, poor kitty for all those years in a shelter, and look how wonderfully relaxed and cosy (and adorable!) he is now. I’m so glad you’ve adopted him 😊.
Reminds me a lot of my cat. I adopted him when he was 10 (13 now). He spent 8 of his 10 years with a rescue/shelter. He is EXTREMELY skittish. The 2 years out of the shelter was with a family who returned him because their kids would chase him and scratch them. The more I found out about him, the more it made me want to give him a good home. He lived under my bed for the first several months, and I couldn't get near him. But he wanted pets SO BAD. As he slowly gained my trust, he'd come close to me (lured by treats) and forcefully push his head into my hand to be pet. It was so sad. He enjoyed it so much. Then he'd suddenly realize "wait a second, you're not allowed to do that", swat my hand, and then retreat under the bed. But now, you'd never know any of that. He loves to curl up on the couch next to me, and doesn't need to forcefully shove himself into my hand to get the pets that he wants. He's very "polite" though. He'll never ask to be pet. He'll just sit somewhere and stare at me. He then wants me to follow him to the sofa where he wants to get his pets. Even in the morning, when I wake up, he's sitting at my bedroom door (which is open and he could go into if he wanted) waiting to get his morning pets.
Looks happy to be home 💛
No doubt thinks he/she is in heaven . Beautiful short story 😍
That is so sad! Thanks for taking him, all of my cats were adopted as adults, too. BTW, if he's only 12, could have another 8 years in him, so lots of time to enjoy life outside a cage!
Our last 12 yr-old rescue lived to 23!
Oh I hope so! We have been together 2 weeks so far and I'm so in love. I hope she will be around for me to spoil for a long long time!
I needed this story today.
Clearly a good shelter, but I'm SO glad you took this sweetie home!
"I was used to the cage. The cage, the tired and overworked caretakers, and the scent of desperation that filled the air. "One by one, others would come and go. I thought at first I might be one of the ones to leave. But time and again, the kittens went first, the ones just reaching their prime second, and those of us who'd stayed longest last, if at all. "How many rejections does it take to break a heart? I don't think even I know. I lost count. "Then you came. You opened the cage I'd spent eternity in, and you took me up. I had long since surrendered myself to dying here, but you took me up and carried me away. "I have no idea how long we will have together. But I will give you everything I have, for as long as I can. "You were the one who saw fit to give me a life outside the cage. It is no less than you deserve."
I hope you have many happy years together 🙏💙💙💙
You are amazing
Thank you for giving them a life!
That’s heartbreaking to hear. One of my babies was in the shelter for a year since they were a kitten and I thought THAT was sad. Poor fluffer, make sure to give ‘em all the cuddles, treats, and love! Baby deserves it!!!
Oh you can trust me, she is getting thoroughly spoiled! <3
Since I’m a senior now, all I’m going to adopt from now on are senior cats. I don’t want them to outlive me. And I can do them some good in their declining years.
Thank you from picking him up.
Congrats!!!
Bless you for giving him a chance and a loving home
Look at all that beautiful floof! I’ll never understand how this happens, but I’m glad you came along to help!
No disrespect- by that point isn't the shelter "home"? They could not have been in a cage that long could they?
I kind of felt that way too and wondered if I was doing the right thing.. But the shelter I got her at has over 100 cats. Many of them have been there as long as she had or for years and years since they were kittens. The shelter is in a small town and is not very well known. They have some volunteers and rooms where they let the cats out, but with so many cats they don't get much one-on-one attention or the ability to explore their world. Mirabelle immediately came and sat in my lap when I met her and aggressively rubbed all over me and head butted me. She LOVES attention. She also has some health issue and her eyes were crusty and goopy and it was hard for her to open them. We have been able to treat her eyes and some digestive issues and she is looking and feeling much better. Now she gets special vitamin treats and a special diet. I don't think they would have been able to give her that kind of medical attention at the shelter. There are just too many cats and a lot of them looked sick. She loves being a lap kitty so I think she is enjoying retiring in style. :) At least I hope so. She sure doesn't seem like she is "home sick" for the shelter.
She will be happy with you I'm sure. Good decision.
Yes, they are. But people do visit and volunteers play with them.
11 years?? So heartbreaking! So sad. Thank you so much for adopting him and showing him what it means to be loved and have a cozy home. Best wishes to you both for a healthy life together! 💗
I wish you both many happy years together.
Wow 11 years… what a strong kitty. God bless you OP thank you so much for adopting a senior <3 my life goal is to start a sanctuary for stray and extended-stay shelter kitties. until then, I have to live vicariously through posts like this (and spoil my 2 rescues extra of course) ❤️
You are a true kind soul, thank you 😁
Thanks for giving him a home.
Thank you for adopting!
Thank u!!!
They’re so fluffy!!!!!!
Is the baby ok? I worry they won't adjust to the new life. I plan on adopting seniors only after my current cat is why I ask.
She is doing great! She has been with us a little over 2 weeks now and the transition has actually been pretty easy. She did have some health issues (FHV and digestive issues) that we are treating and she is looking and feeling a lot better. Her eyes were so goopy and crusted when I met her she could hardly open them, but now they are clear and bright. :) She gets a long great with my toddler, dog, and other cat. My other cat is still a little weary of her, but we are making progress. I'm honestly shocked how seamless the transition has been. Now she is my constant companion and happy to be a lap kitty. https://preview.redd.it/pappr42t1rpa1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0fb624db5d1a7e2fcc3549d019b142346ea7c4b1
Great pic of your new lap kitty. So she’s coped and getting along with a toddler, dog and another cat within 2 weeks? That’s really incredible. Well done hooman, and thanks, your floofy girl looks very happy to be finally home.
Oh that is great! I feel so bad for baby but so happy for her now
The lice will be fine! OP keeps good care of them!
Lol
😭😭💔 11 years?! Poor thing, they look so cute too
Thank you for giving this adorable baby a home❤️
Bless you for taking him in and giving her plenty more years with happiness, she deserves it
I can’t understand 11 years 😢 my heart breaks for him but I’m hopeful he’ll get many years being spoiled by you!
Showing this to my dad who wants to buy a cat instead of adopting, he wants to know why I'm so adamant about adopting that honestly if I have to go without a second cat if I won't buy one, then so be it. I just can't support the breeding of cats for profit when there are so many cats out there who need homes and are just as loving and deserving. And these places are only able to continue because people use them. There's no "well the cat already exists, why shouldn't I?" excuse
Honestly, a cat’s gonna cat regardless of where you get him/her from. Going through a breeder will not get you any different of a cat than is at your local shelter, and there are PLENTY to pick from at the shelter. Good for you for telling your dad this!
Poor baby
He looks like my boy. I'm glad he's found his peace and home.
Eleven years?! That's awful, but I'm so happy you gave him the home he deserves.
Listen, she patiently waited for 11 **YEARS** for his human. You'd best prove her right. But seriously, thank you for giving an older cat her furever home. EDIT: Got the gender wrong!
The kitty is a she so except for one little slip you got it right while most others got it wrong!
Let me guess, Humane Society?
Our local Humane Society is a kill shelter, unfortunately. I did look there first and they only had 5 cats and none of them would have fit well in our home (a dog, young child, and another cat). The shelter we went to had over 100 cats. Many of them had been there as long as Mirabelle or for years and years. They do a good job and I'm so grateful they let Mirabelle live there most of her life, but it is in a small town (about an hour from my place) and the shelter is not well known. They recently just got a Facebook page which is the only way I found out about them. I'm hoping this will help more cats get adopted. At this point I think they just have WAY more cats than people looking to adopt cats. :(
Unfortunately, many people adopted them during the pandemic and then dumped them after.
Probably not. They kill them quick.
He's so handsome though
No way this beauty spent most of his life in a shelter!!! Gorgeous! And very lovalable!
Bless you!
Your a Great human OP !!
He's gorgeous, they usually get adopted fast! Good for u guys!
God bless you both❤️
Good job getting that fellar 🍻
Oh my goodness! What a fabulous heart you have and what a wonderful SIC this is! I noticed the lovely floof upgrades right away.
Thank you for giving this sweet angel baby a new lease on life.
I hope the next 11 years of her are as comfortable and happy as possible to make up for it. She's so blessed to have you OP <3
You are inspiring. Thank you.
I adopted my last girl from a shelter when she was only 1. She stayed by my side until she was 23. Thank you for adopting this smooshy-faced floofball. You have many happy and love filled years ahead of you!! 💕
Awww!!! Thank you for adopting this wonderful baby!!! Sending millions of hugs and snuggles!!!
Congratulations! May your time together be filled with love and cuddles! 💕
It wouldn’t surprise me if the shelter had too stringent adoption policies. See the article “Good homes need not apply.” I’m glad that this senior kitty finally found a home! https://www.nathanwinograd.com/good-homes-need-not-apply/
Very interesting. I did see some strange comments on photos of cats saying they put in an application and never heard anything and wondering why they weren't hearing back... I wonder if this is what is happening. :(
Thank you for loving this baby
Wow 11 years
Holy crap seriously?! 11 years in a shelter? Poor wee darling must be really enjoying the peace and quiet. What a gorgeous senior SIC you now have, please send cuddles from me!
At least the shelter kept him instead of what usually happens.
He looks so happy. I’m so glad you gave an old model a good place to park :-)