A 7-year-old cat named Art has finally found his forever family after being returned to a shelter for being “too needy.”
Art was first brought to Pasadena Humane in California after being found alone in Altadena following the Eaton Fire in January, spokesperson Kevin McManus told Newsweek.
“We suspected he was an outdoor community cat, but no one came to claim him,” McManus said. “He was friendly with our volunteers but showed signs of nervousness around people at times.”
Art was adopted by an experienced cat owner looking for a calm, cuddly companion. While he did show affection, he also became overstimulated and sometimes playfully bit or swatted. After he accidentally bit the adopter hard enough to draw blood, she returned him to the shelter.
“She realized she wasn’t the right match for him, which was a wise decision,” McManus said.
Pasadena Humane turned to Facebook to help find a better fit for Art’s energetic and affectionate personality.
“If you’re looking for a Velcro kitty who always wants to be the center of attention… Art is probably the cat for you!” the shelter posted on Friday.
The post quickly went viral, and soon after, Art was adopted by a new family with experience caring for spirited cats.
“They weren’t fazed by his behavior, having previously owned a feisty feline,” McManus added.
While Art’s story has a happy ending, many cats in shelters aren’t as fortunate. According to the ASPCA, of the 2.9 million cats that entered U.S. shelters in 2024, about 2.2 million were adopted, 362,000 were returned to their owners or released, 369,000 were transferred to other groups, and 273,000 were euthanized.
The shelter’s video of Art drew widespread support, earning over 21,000 likes and 1,900 comments.
“Who turns in a cat for ‘being too needy?’” one commenter asked. Another added, “I beg for my cats to snuggle, and they ignore me.”
“Maybe they should just get a pet rock instead,” one user joked.Now, with a family who understands him, Art can be as needy as he wants.
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