Don’t let his pout fool you, this cat’s a charmer

With a face that could give the pout-pout fish a run for his money, Righty Tighty holds his cards close to his chest. Don’t let his aloof expression fool you; he’s secretly a charmer. And he has many admirers who rushed to help him when he was feeling low.

Righty Tighty arrived at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in need of urgent care. Caregivers discovered he was dehydrated and felt colder than he should have. And while many cats are reserved when they first arrive, Righty Tighty was more than reserved — he was lethargic.

Concerned there was something hiding beneath those symptoms, caregivers brought him to the Sanctuary’s veterinary clinic. One of the ways Best Friends supports shelters in reaching no-kill is by taking in shelter pets who may need extra care before going to homes of their own. Righty Tighty was safe at the Sanctuary’s clinic, but at first it was touch and go.

Right away in the clinic, the team started Righty Tighty on IV fluids, antibiotics, and heat support while they assessed him for any underlying conditions.

“Initially they thought there might have been something neurological going on as well as the possibility that he was blind,” says Katie Long, supervisor at the Sanctuary’s Cat World.

VIDEO: behind the scenes in Cat World at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Eating was a challenge in those first few days, especially because Righty Tighty would topple over when he tried to stand. So he was gently fed with a syringe as he regained his strength. He also received some supplemental oxygen to give his body a boost.

This care regimen soon revived Righty Tighty’s spunk. After only a few weeks in the clinic, he was up and watching the goings-on with curiosity. The veterinary team still believed he had limited vision, but his neurological symptoms had cleared enough to really let his personality shine.

Once he was feeling better, Righty Tighty was ready to move into Cat World, the area of the Sanctuary where hundreds of cats on any given day receive specialized care and lots of love until they’re matched with homes of their own. He got right to work charming new friends and scoping out his new digs. It didn’t take long for Righty Tighty to pick a favorite spot: a cozy cat house complete with a luxurious bed inside that became his own personal retreat.

Caregivers would often find him lounging on his bed inside his house or peering out with his signature “suspicious look” as Katie calls it. He’d even invite a close feline friend over from time to time — a select guest list for a cat who prefers to keep things low-key.

He also played things cool when it came to human attention. He sought out the gentle strokes and loving chin scratches Katie offered, but she says “there’s definitely an expiration date to when he wants attention. Once he’s done, he makes this little sound.”

And then he’d head back to his favorite spot, keeping watch over his friends and looking out for the next person he could charm into chin scratches.

For a cat who once needed round-the-clock care just to get back on his paws, Righty Tighty had found a comfortable rhythm at the Sanctuary — choosing when to engage, when to observe, and when to enjoy the comfort of his little house.

“It’s been really special to watch him be able to lay his head down on a comfy bed and rest after what seems like hasn’t been a restful life,” Katie says.

Life’s a fairy tale for once-gravely-injured cat

And a restful happily-ever-after was right around the corner. Righty Tighty charmed an adopter and was whisked away to a castle of his own, where he settled right in — claiming the coziest spots, keeping a careful watch over his new kingdom, and receiving all the love and affection he could ask for.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.