An animal rescue in Dublin has gone viral for a humorous social media campaign promoting the adoption of its less affectionate feline residents.
The Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) shared a Facebook post on May 14 featuring a hissing cat and a cheeky question: “Are you looking for a cat who won’t love you?”
In the post, the DSPCA introduced a group of cats they call “Community Cats” or “Inbetweeners”—cats that aren’t feral but also don’t enjoy human affection. These cats prefer independence, but still rely on people for food and shelter.
“They’re not the cuddly type,” said Colm, head of cat operations at the DSPCA. “But they have unique personalities and are perfect for certain homes.”
The shelter described ideal environments for these cats as farms and stables, where the cats can roam freely and “judge you from a distance.”
As a tongue-in-cheek bonus, adopters are promised “professional hissing,” “gifts of unwanted rodents,” and a strong territorial presence.
Colm told Newsweek that the lighthearted tone was meant to show that not every adoptable cat wants a lap to curl up on. “We wanted people to think differently about what it means to adopt a cat,” he said.
The strategy worked. The post drew more than 1,500 likes and sparked a wave of comments from users sharing stories of their own so-called unloving cats—many of whom eventually warmed up to their owners.
“I adopted one who was said to be distant, but after a year, he turned into a teddy bear,” one commenter wrote. Another shared: “We tried that with a hostile feral cat, and within a few short years, he was sleeping in our bed.”
Colm said the response has been “fantastic.” The DSPCA has already received multiple inquiries from potential adopters who weren’t aware that cats like these were even available.
Community cats, sometimes referred to as barn cats in the U.S., thrive in rural areas where they can hunt and live with minimal human contact. According to PetMD, they are best suited for properties where rodent control is needed and where they won’t be forced into indoor life.
“While they may never sit on your lap, they’re still lovely to have around,” Colm said. “They follow you at a distance, and there’s something special about giving them a safe home where they can be themselves.”
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