Couple Saves Cat from Shelter, the Kitty Holds onto Them and Won't Let Go

A couple from North Carolina rescued a cat from a shelter. The kitty was so happy to have a home that he cuddled his human with both of his paws and didn't want to let go.

Dan

Dan and his wife Hannah were contacted by a volunteer of Chesapeake Cats and Dogs, a rescue in Maryland, about a cat needing immediate fostering.

The 9-year-old cat who had been surrendered to a shelter in North Carolina, was in poor health. "I took the afternoon off work and drove an hour to get him," Dan told Love Meow.

The cat was very shy when they brought him out to meet Dan. "Obviously, he had been neglected. He let out a meow that sounded like 'no' when he was to be put in the cat carrier for me to bring him home."

To help calm him, Dan talked to him the whole ride home. "I told him I was going to get him all better and all cleaned up. I pet him as best as I could through the cat carrier bars," Dan added.

Dan

The couple turned their guest bedroom into the kitty's very own suite. They brushed him and he seemed to love it. After giving him medication to ease his pain, he began to purr and it went on for a long time.

"We would spend as much time as possible brushing and petting him the first few hours. We got him calm enough to remove his fur mats and get his fur smooth."

Dan

After a good brushing, he clutched onto his human with his paws and didn't want them to go. They named him Huggs. "I pulled him as a foster and knew the minute I met him that I was keeping him," Dan said.

Watch Huggs in this adorable video:

Huggs came with many health issues, but after he moved into his new home, things began to improve.

"He had a full tooth extraction shortly after we got him, and has been doing great since. He's got some chronic issues, but plays with the other cats, eats well, and is generally happy," Dan said.

Dan

For the first time in a while, he is pain free and demands constant affection.

They bought a baby Bjorn for Huggs so he could be close to them at all times.

Dan

"When I come home from work at night he literally walks up to me at the door and puts his paws up on me, asking to be picked up," Dan told Love Meow.

"I'll then walk around the house with him purring like crazy and rubbing against my chin. He sleeps on the bed with us too, and will wake you up by purring in your ear."

Dan

It's been a few months since they rescued Huggs. The sweet ginger boy is the happiest he's ever been.

"His scabs and signs of fleas are all gone, he gets along with the other cats, and his health is good and stable."

Dan

They don't know what life had been like before they found each other at the shelter, but they know that the rest of his life will be filled with lots of love and cuddles.

Dan

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We’ve had our house cat now for 11 years. For about 3 years worth of vacations we farmed her out to a “catery” so she’d be properly fed and cared for while we were gone.

That was the worst thing we could have done, as this place also boarded dogs. The last time we did this the dogs were barking up a storm, and our cat was scared to death. Actually quite traumatized.

She also hates going to the Vet, there’s something about the odor. Our dog we had years ago was the same.

My point is, these shelters are no different. It’s gotta be pure terror for these animals. Was this cat neglected by a previous owner, or just scared to death from having to be in a shelter? I’d say the latter. Cats are solitary animals that can fend for themselves quite well when free.

Put a human in a cage next to caged wild cougars on one side and a hungry grizzly bear on the other, and I betcha that human would look neglected too after a long stay.

” It’s very tempting to collect kitty cats! Only the thought of more litter boxes keeps me from doing it lol.”

We had an older cat that had a kidney issue (which we got cleared up in time) and she had a difficult time ‘squatting’ into the box...after a few unpleasant clean-up sessions I mentioned to my Wife that I was thinking of a LARGER litter box.

She was against it...however after one more accident I went to out local farm/ranch supply and purchased a 32” rubberized water/slop bucket (meant to last for years in a field) with 14” sides — I cut a ‘U’ shaped opening and filled it with 40 pounds of litter.

The cats love it and we have NEVER had any issue since, though I have noticed some ‘high marks’ on the side which would have been ‘oopses’ with a regular litter box.

These buckets come in many sizes, are quite durable and easy to keep clean and my Wife is very happy with the ‘new’ box (we’ve had it 12 years now).

Just a thought!

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