Cat Stories

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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Forest the cat on the ground with other cats

Once-scared cat overcomes much to enjoy golden years

It took a lot of TLC to get Forest to come out of his shell — and then veterinary care to save his life.
He's doing better than ever
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Adored the cat with her head and two front paws overhanging the corner of the area she's lying on

Helping a cat feel absolutely Adored

From scared to snuggly, this tangerine tabby has come a long way.
Now instead of running away, her purr motor revs up
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Petey the cat with Emily kneeling next to him

Faces of No-Kill: Befriending a fractious feline

Petey was frustrated with people and not afraid to show it — until he got specialized medication and a caregiver earned his trust. Now he’s in a new home.
A family for a finicky feline
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Eeyore the cat in a harness on the back of Allen Burkhart, who adopted him

Cat is a combat veteran’s new best friend

Eeyore the tabby cat not only accompanies Allen wherever he goes, but he’s also a source of comfort from PTSD.
See them together
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Lizel Allen with a brown tabby kitten on her shoulder

Foster caregiver drawn to cats with special needs

Lizel Allen has fostered 165 pets (and counting!) since 2014, and she still finds the work incredibly meaningful — and fun.
See how it became her passion
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Orange tabby kitten hugging and giving a kiss to Jeff, the blind black and white kitten, while lying together in a bed

Blind kitten gets by with help from his friends

Jeff needed emergency surgery to remove both of his eyes, but the kitten was quickly on the road to recovery thanks to a crew of good friends.
Watch his improvement following surgery
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Dixon the tabby and white cat lying on a lap

Faces of No-Kill: Cat thrives after FIP treatment

Dixon’s FIP diagnosis once might have spelled the end, but after taking part in clinical trials for a treatment, her future is looking bright.
Read about his lifesaving medical care
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Shane the cat in an area with an orange blanket

Faces of No-Kill: Shy senior cat gets a chance to shine

Space, patience, unconditional love, and a feline friend help 10-year-old Shane come out of his shell.
See how he's found his place
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Pumpkin the cat wearing an autumnal colored bow surrounded by fall-colored leaves

Pumpkin the cat celebrates his season

It’s autumn now, and you know what that means: the perfect time for Pumpkin.
Who needs pumpkin spice when you have Pumpkin the cat?
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Boots the gray and white cat outside on a rock

Rescued cat lands gig at garden center

Boots has perfect attendance, is a team player, and has a knack for making customers feel comfortable.
See how she improves morale
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Pickle and Chip the kittens sitting next to each other on a tiny pink couch

Faces of No-Kill: Kittens heal from contagious condition

All you need is a bathtub and an open mind: how Best Friends cat expert Samantha Bell nursed kittens with sarcoptic mange back to health.
Learn how to step up
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Frittata the gray tabby kitten next to a blue toy ball

Kitten who’s paralyzed purrs through life

Nothing stops Frittata from playing, pouncing, and having fun.
See his improvement
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Turtle the kitten wearing her protective helmet

Faces of No-Kill: Kitten with serious head wound gets custom helmet

Shelter collaboration, community support, and TLC help Turtle the kitten survive and thrive.
Joint effort helps save special kitten
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Acadia the cat standing on his hind legs doing a high-five with a person

Cat goes from shy to showman

Acadia didn’t want anything to do with people when he first came to Best Friends, but special attention from a caregiver changed that.
Now he's a tour highlight
Best Friends Magazine