Cat Stories

Wilbur the orange tabby cat wearing a sweater

Faces of No-Kill: Senior cat mentors foster kittens

This 15-year-old orange tabby teaches us that senior pets still have a lot of life to live and love to give.
See him at work
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Emily snuggling with Hale the cat, face-to-face, with her arm around him

‘Hands-off’ cat learns to show his sweet side

Hale expressed himself with his teeth and claws when he came to the Sanctuary, but patience and a gentle approach opened him up to the world of cuddles.
He's now blossomed
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Franklin and Nigel the cats lying down on the ground close to each other in their shop

Adopted cats call a vintage shop their new home

How a precocious pair of cats went from homeless to living the good life in their unconventional new digs
Now they share an important role
Best Friends Magazine
Dilute tortoiseshell community cat with tipped ear in front of a vehicle

Community cats: The Tweety vs. Sylvester debate

No-kill, TNVR, and finding common ground
Response to article in The New Yorker
Julie Castle Blog
Olivia the kitten peeking out from an orange tube

Kitten becomes poster girl for pet adoption

Olivia had an injured eye that made her path to a home longer, but she had a friend who always saw and shared the best in her.
Look at her now
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Rhonda the dog licking the face of Amra the dog

The other founders of Best Friends Animal Society

Enough about the people — let’s celebrate the animals.
Meet some of the original residents
Best Friends Magazine
Poppy the cat lying down on a rug

Cat with bullet wounds gets a new life of love

Despite being shot by a pellet gun, sweet Poppy is so trusting of people.
See her happily ever after
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Sylvia the one-eyed cat with her foster person Melissa

Blind cat with cleft palate gets care, gains confidence

Sylvia was in rough shape when she arrived at the Sanctuary, but with TLC and a good haircut, she’s finally feeling feline-fine.
Read how she's improved
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Adored the cat in front of Santa

Holiday cheer: Watch dogs and cats open their gifts

Cats and dogs pounce onto the holiday spirit at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
Watch their fun
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Prancer the cat with her new family on a couch

Prancer the cat is home for the holidays

She has a condition that makes her wobble as she walks, but it doesn’t keep this jolly kitten from living life to the fullest.
See her now
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Jako the cat eating some greens with ears back

Frisky feline bounds toward a bright future

Jako had so much energy that he was positively overflowing with it, so caregivers invented games and activities to focus all that go-go-go.
See Jako at "work"
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Selfie of Sir Karen the cat (looking a little grumpy) with Taylor Seupaul

Faces of No-Kill: Sir Karen the cat fools everybody

A grumpy kitty had some surprises in store for his caregivers at Best Friends, but now he’s fitting right in at his new home.
Now he's all headbutts and biscuit marking
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Coraline the kitten lying next to Rocky the dog

Blind kitten and little dog forge unlikely friendship

He was a pup just living his life. She was a blind kitten with boundless energy. It was a match made in heaven.
Meet the best buds
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Captain Pearl the cat in the truck with his front paw outstretched forward

Senior cat keeps on truckin’

He’s got one eye and zero teeth, but senior cat Captain Pearl is loving his new home and life in a big rig.
Traveling the road to recovery into a loving home
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Three kittens playing with a colorful wand toy

Swift teamwork saves kittens with a deadly virus

When kittens at a local shelter suddenly became critically ill with panleukopenia, collaboration with Best Friends and a quick response saved the day.
Coming together to save lives
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