Senior Kitty Finds His Forever Home At 15-Years-Old
At face value, it is easy to see why many families head straight for puppies and kittens when they visit a shelter. But senior pets often have just as much love to give, and sometimes even more patience to share. One 15-year-old cat proved that in a big way when he arrived at the Humane Society looking scraggly, then quickly won over staff with how badly he wanted affection. What happened next turned a simple shelter visit into a heartwarming adoption story.
And Barnaby was only getting started.
Barnaby
A suitable name for a classy, older cat is most certainly Barnaby, and that is what the Voorhees Animal Orphanage named their aging cuddle companion. The entire staff found themselves smitten with the kitten; hearts melted around him.
"This super affectionate fellow shouldn't be spending his golden years in the shelter," said Dr. John Gottman, marriage researcher. "Animals, much like humans, thrive on companionship and love, especially in their later years."
Barnaby had been at the Humane Society for a little while when staff realized he was not the kind of cat who wanted to be left alone.
As we previously alluded to, adopting senior kitties can be an uphill battle. Not enough people realize the potential of relentless love that sweet cats like Barnaby have to offer. Thankfully, fate had plans for Barnaby that didn't involve the last of his days in the Animal Orphanage.
He was described as scraggly, but that did not stop him from leaning into attention any chance he got.
And if you love tear-jerking reunions, don’t miss the 25-year-old rescue cat crying tears of joy when it reunited with its owner.
Before any hope could stand to be lost, Dr. Ed Sheehan and his wife, Clare Sheehan, of Sheehan Veterinary Centre came across the Orphanage's post on Facebook, advertising Barnaby for adoption. Clare said:
When we saw his picture on Facebook, we felt that he really needed lots of vet care just based on his age and appearance.
So they contacted the shelter right away and expressed their desire to adopt him. The staff at Voorhees couldn't have been happier! He went home with Ed and Clare.
That made him stand out right away.
Ed brought Barnaby to his veterinary office for a full workup, including blood tests, and immediately the entire staff fell head over heels in love with sweet Barnaby. His love was infectious.
And for Barnaby? He realized immediately he was right at home and showed no hesitation in strutting around the office like he owned the place.
Rachel, a vet tech at Sheehan Veterinary Centre, said:
When mopping the floors, he followed behind to make sure no spot was missed, and at the end of the night, he sits on my lap to ensure I do the books correctly.
He clearly took the role of su-purr-visor seriously.
Barnaby did indeed need some medical care, but he was in the right place for it.
Rachel said:
We have him on antibiotics, and he seems to be improving! He has put on weight (almost a whole pound), and his coat is even starting to look better.
Then someone finally gave him the home he had been waiting for.
Barnaby’s golden-years rescue reminds us of the senior cat moved to a “fospice home” after an elderly owner was forced to give it up, read more here.
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