Families find furry feline love

What’s a better Valentine’s Day present than flowers, chocolates, and jewelry combined? Why, a kitten, of course. For Cali and David, it was a “mini panther” named Storm, whom they adopted from Best Friends Animal Society.

The couple’s friend spotted Storm on Best Friends’ social media and immediately thought of Cali and David, who had been looking for a companion for their current kitty. So the friend decided to play Cupid. The couple came to the Best Friends Pet Lifesaving Center in Houston to meet Storm, and sure enough, it was a match. Being so close to Valentine’s Day made her adoption that much sweeter.

But this isn’t only about a single kitten like Storm. Best Friends’ goal is for all shelters to reach no-kill, and that means trying new and creative ways to bring people and pets together. So when Fresh Step, Best Friends’ official litter partner, came to us with an idea for a Valentine’s Day pet adoption event with a twist, we were all in.

The premise? Finding love these days on dating apps can be frustrating, with seemingly endless swiping, less-than-honest online profiles, and the risk of being ghosted. But falling for a cat? That can be much simpler.

Small acts of love for the animals this Valentine's Day

With the help of Fresh Step’s crew, some Best Friends cats took part in a glamorous photo shoot, so their online profile pics would highlight their best attributes. Actress, reality TV host, and cat lover Ariana Madix even got in on the fun, recording a video to let people know where they could actually find true love.

From February 13 to 16, Fresh Step covered feline adoption fees at all Best Friends locations, including Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. Plus, all month long, anyone who adopted a cat or kitten received a coupon for free Fresh Step litter redeemable at Walmart.

When Valentine’s Day weekend arrived, romance (and a bit of cat fur) was in the air at Best Friends locations from coast to coast. Adoption counselors were the matchmakers, pairing people with felines. Some of the cats were friendly and flirtatious, while others played hard to get. But before long, even the shyer kitties were giving slow blinks and headbutts to show their affection.

In New York City, one couple went on a Valentine’s Day date to the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center. That’s where they were charmed by Gina, a 2-year-old sleek black cat. She seemed like a good match for them, but there was some hesitation when they learned that she has feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), a virus with no cure that can impact a cat’s immune system. The man, who had never had a cat before, was hesitant about adopting one with FIV. But his partner, a seasoned pro when it came to cats, was unfazed by the fact that Gina has FIV and promised she’d show him the ropes.

Gina spent Valentine’s Day night in her new home.

By the end of the love-filled weekend, 137 cats and kittens were adopted. Over the course of the month, more than 700 felines headed to loving homes.

Each one is now settling into their new surroundings, including Storm in Houston. After a slow introduction, she and resident cat Nova are the best cosmic companions. Storm’s people, Cali and David, couldn’t be more in love with her.

“She’s the sweetest baby and always comes over purring and wanting to cuddle all day,” says Cali.

9 ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your pet

But when the humans go to sleep, the zoomies come out. Storm has been known to pounce on Cali and David’s heads at 3 in the morning. But they know it’s just part of kittenhood and don’t seem to mind her late-night antics.

“Now that she’s part of our home, we love her even more,” says Cali.

This just goes to show that the perfect Valentine’s Day gift doesn’t have to come in a velvet box — it might come with velvety fur and a somewhat larger box filled with kitty litter.

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.