We love all our cats equally, and give each of them the best care possible to help them on their adoption journeys. That said, some of them leave a lasting impression on our hearts that we carry with us all year long. These cats each had some special connection to us and to our mission — reminding us why this work matters!
Looking over the lives you helped us touch this year, we’re proud and excited to share that we’ve accomplished more than ever:
149 overlooked adult cats could let their guards down after weeks in shelter cages
61 scared, hissy kittens found their courage and learned to trust
17 cats with FIV and 1 cat with FeLV found homes, despite the stigma surrounding these health conditions
80 black cats had their lucky day, finding great homes
69 senior cats could spend their golden years in comfort
133 sick or injured cats received surgery, medicine, dental work, or life-saving diagnostics
156 cats in bonded pairs got adopted with their best friends
79 cats had volunteer Case Managers to help them blossom in their new homes
Cat Town’s work saves lives, helps people and cats connect, spreads love in our community, and reminds us that a little extra patience, trust, and effort can go a long way. Your support makes that work possible, and these are just a few of the unforgettable cats you helped our team save this year. Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks!
Arielle’s Pick: waffles & Challah
Waffles and Challah are a pretty unforgettable pair. They were so little when they first arrived at their Studio. However, not all kittens start off comfortable around humans. Challah was really shy, but would allow gentle pets with the right approach. Waffles, on the other hand, was one of the spiciest kittens I've ever met. If I even stood a couple feet away, she would hiss and growl, flat-eared and stompy.
Challah and Waffles stayed wary in their first few weeks at Cat Town. Photo by David Yeung.
While it only took a few weeks for gentle Challah to run up for attention when I went into their space to clean, it was a challenge just to acclimate Waffles to the feeling of a touch tool. That first chin lift with the scratcher, though, was well worth the weeks of slowly building trust. It took some bravery from both of us to graduate to head pets and chin scritches with my hands, but we got there — and shortly after that, these sisters were ready for more space to explore in our free-roaming room.
They really flourished in the big space with all the other cats. I loved watching their antics during group play sessions, when it was just me setting up the space in the morning and the cats running wild. I was also pleasantly surprised by their sweet squeaky meows when they ran up to greet me. Waffles' transformation was especially amazing. If I wasn't there to watch the progression, I would never have believed this cat weaving between my legs and allowing me to pick her up for a cuddle was once a guaranteed scratch within swatting distance. I was so happy to see the girls bond with the other cats, as well. For a while, they created a small found family with one of the adult cats, Badger, for whom we created the moniker Grandpa Badger, haha. They also wasted no time turning on the charm for guests and volunteers.
I'm sure they're living their best life right now in their forever home!
In a few short months, these once-spicy girls played openly and sought out affection! Photo by David Yeung.
Genevieve’s PicK: Peggy
Shy Peggy took a little time to warm up to her surroundings, but was sweet as can be from the start. Photo by David Yeung.
My husband and I like to sponsor our favorite cats for adoption, and Peggy was an obvious choice for me. I love an “underdog” story, and Pretty Peggy immediately snagged my heart when she was transferred to Cat Town from the Cat Network of Stanislaus (CNS). She was so small and shy, but I could tell she wanted love. This scrappy little girl overcame severe illness through the care of CNS, but wasn’t getting many adoption applications. We brought her to Cat Town to increase her pool of potential admirers.
Peggy could be quite particular about her litter boxes, and after some detective work with our cat cams, we deduced that she also had some lingering gastrointestinal issues. With all the little presents she left us, we affectionately nicknamed her “Peggy the Pooper,” then put her on a special diet to help her lose the nickname and continue her progress toward recovery.
Fortunately for Peggy, someone was very interested in her almost immediately! I could see an instant connection between Peggy and her adopter. They’d been in search of a gentle, friendly soul to befriend their cat at home. I told them about her litter box problems and her special diet, and did it change their mind at all? Not one bit. I was thrilled, both as a Cat Town staff member and as Peggy’s sponsor, to facilitate this adoption.
I love that Cat Town has such great partnerships with other rescue agencies, and that we can work together in the best interest of the cats to make sure they get the care they need, so they can find someone who really connects with them. These collaborations increase the odds for cats like Peggy to find an adopter who feels that magic connection, and will take care of them in sickness and in health.
Peggy finds the courage to hang out in the open at our Adoption Center. Photo by David Yeung.
bill’S PicK: suzy
Suzy first came to the Adoption Center in 2017 as an extremely smart older kitten who had been outside her whole life, evading TNR efforts for months. Volunteers and staff spent lots of time and effort to build up her confidence, and after months, she got adopted. She was truly cherished, but a few years later her adopter passed away, and she needed Cat Town's help again.
Suzy shares a tender moment with Bill’s fiance during her first stay at Cat Town. Photo by Andrew Dorman.
My fiance had worked at Cat Town during Suzy’s first stay, and had told me tales of their time together, so I already felt a connection with her even though we had never met. I knew she was an elusive beauty, and that she was older this time around. I figured it was a no-brainer — this girl needed to come stay in my guest room!
She was with us for 8 months as a foster, and I will treasure that time with her forever. She started off very confused and quite timid. I've never worked so hard to earn a cat’s affections, but it was worth it! I already have four cats, so I knew I wouldn't be able to be her forever mom. While she was with us, she was also diagnosed with stomatitis and had to have nearly all of her teeth removed. Then, she was ready for her next home.
Heartbreaking as it was for her to leave us, I felt overjoyed when she was adopted by another wonderful person. Again, she was adored and well taken care of, but sadly her second adopter hit financial issues and was unable to continue to care for her.
She came back to the Adoption Center, as I was unable to foster her this time around. I was heartbroken to see her back AGAIN, but something was different this time. She had really blossomed in her last home, and adjusted quicker to this return than she had previously. This stay was her shortest yet, and she was adopted after less than 3 weeks by an experienced volunteer (and good friend of mine!).
She is truly spoiled (as are all of her new cat sisters!), and she is living her best possible life. Suzy’s last adoption happened 1,937 days after her first day in Cat Town’s care.
I cannot explain to you what it means to me to get to work for an organization that is able to see a cat through all of that. With an expensive medical diagnosis, multiple returns, and the hours spent socializing her as an older kitten, Cat Town was there for her through every stage. She was dealt an incredibly tough hand of cards, but she has always been loved, appreciated, and gotten the care she needs — which is a pretty darn great success story in my book.
Suzy. Photo by Andrew Dorman.
Cover photo by David Yeung.