At Cat Town, we don’t force cats to trust, love, or thrive — we simply create the space for them to let their guard down, build trust on their own terms, and be wholly accepted and seen for who they are. Time and again, we’re reminded of the magic that emerges when misunderstood and overlooked cats are given the freedom to be their true, authentic selves — and the transformations are always extraordinary to see.
In Part 2 of our team’s most memorable adoption stories from this year, we reflect on the power of connection: the bonds between cats, the trust they build with us, and the love they bring into their new homes. We see these stories as more than just adoptions, but as connections to you — our community of adopters, volunteers, and supporters who make all of this magic come to life.
These stories exist because of you. Thank you for supporting our work and these cats.
ADELINE’S PICK: NEBLINA
Neblina. Photo by David Yeung.
When Neblina arrived at Cat Town, her round face and big, bug-like eyes immediately caught my attention. I’ve always had a soft spot for black cats, and I was instantly enamored with her.
Neblina making a new friend. Photo by David Yeung.
Neblina came to Oakland Animal Services as a one-year-old stray, and despite spending time in a foster home, she was still very fearful. She came to Cat Town so she could have a more social environment around confident cat role models and people who knew how to care for scared kittens like her. At first, was incredibly shy and easily startled by any noise or movement, but with the help of our patient volunteers, she started opening up.
One of my favorite moments with her was the first time I got her to purr. She was wary of me, but she walked up to sniff my hand. I gave her some chin scratches, and although cautious, she leaned into it, and soon enough, started purring and flopping around. After that, I felt like we had a bond, and she always stayed sweet with me. Then she got ringworm.
I was so worried this would undo all the trust she’d built, especially since the treatment (weeks of sulfur dipping) isn’t easy for any cat. But Neblina was so resilient. She stayed sweet through it all, and after the treatment, she picked up right where she left off.
What stands out to me most about Neblina’s story is how much progress she made despite everything she went through. She remained a quieter cat who preferred her safe zone, but it was wonderful to see how much she’d opened up. I worried the ringworm treatment might make her shut down again, but she came out on the other side just as curious and sweet as ever. Watching her grow into a more confident version of herself will always be one of my favorite memories.
Neblina found comfort and safety at Cat Town. Photo by David Yeung.
KRISTIN’s PicK: KENSHI
Kenshi in his foster home.
Kenshi is a special kind of warrior — hence why I named him after a blind Mortal Kombat character! I met him at the shelter when one of their vet techs told me about him. He came to the shelter at 10 years old with very bad eyes that they deemed were non-functional and painful, so they removed them. The shelter sent him to one of their to foster homes to while recover, but the foster noticed that he didn't like their other cats and seemed unhappy there, so he went back to the shelter.
Kenshi loving the adopted life.
I’m so glad the shelter’s vet staff put him on my radar — Kenshi is a very sweet boy who loved getting pets from everyone! I found him a wonderful foster (with no other cats in their home) who helped him get acclimated, and very shortly after that, we knew he was ready for adoption.
The next part warms my heart so much. The very first person interested in Kenshi had adopted from us twice before — both times they fell for senior cats with some medical issues (who had passed away by this point). They came to an adoption meeting with Kenshi and fell in love immediately. I know he is with a loving, caring, special person and living his best life.
Kenshi’s story shows how patience and the right match can change everything. Although he faced challenges early on, his sweet personality always shined through, and the care he received gave him the space to heal and grow. Then, when the perfect adopter who understood and valued Kenshi’s unique journey came along, everything clicked into place. Now he’s thriving in a home where he’s not only loved but also deeply appreciated for who he is!
JULIE’S PicK: SHRIMP & TUNA
Tiny Shrimp and Tuna love to play!
When Tuna and Shrimp arrived at Cat Town’s Pet Food Express adoption space, they were just two months old — so tiny, so adorable, and such charmers! I was still a new volunteer at the time, and these two were the first kittens to really steal my heart.
Shrimp and Tuna at Pet Food Express.
I had two or three shifts a week, and the siblings were with us for a couple of months, so I had the joy of watching them grow from tiny kittens into small cats. It was amazing to see their personalities emerge: their quirks, their likes and dislikes, and all the funny little things they did that made them them. They were obsessed with playing, so much so that everyone commented on it. They could tumble, leap, chase, and pounce non-stop for hours before starting to slow down. Then, they would curl up together for a quick nap, or find a lap to purr on, before diving into playtime again.
Theese kittens adored playing with volunteers.
The two kittens weren’t adopted as quickly as we hoped. They faced the common challenge of being older black kittens, and adopters who may have been put off by their wild energy didn’t get a chance to see their softer sides. But Cat Town‘s volunteers and staff gave them all the time, love, and exposure they needed to find their perfect match, and after two months in our care, they found a home with adopters who were happy to welcome the brother-sister duo’s energy.
Tuna and Shrimp will always have a special place in my heart. They taught me so much about kittens, cat care, and the joy of helping cats thrive. What started as volunteering — helping kittens that deserved all the extra time, patience, and love — led me to join Cat Town as a Cat Care Attendant later that year. I’ll always be grateful for the role these kittens played in shaping my road to Cat Town.
Bill’s PICK: Miramar & Morro Bay
Miramar and Morro Bay bonded while recovering from ringworm together. Photo by David Yeung.
The instant these cats got adopted, I knew I wanted to make them my picks for this blog series because I love them so much! Morro Bay is hilarious — the goofiest boy who ever lived, he was always trying to climb up stuff in the worst way possible. Miramar is simply the prettiest girl who ever lived.
Morro Bay.
Miramar.
When the two started showing symptoms of Ringworm, a contagious rash like athlete’s foot, they became roommates during treatment. Between quarantine, lime sulfur baths, testing, and careful cleaning, ringworm can be a logistical nightmare that can take weeks or even months to eradicate; I feel incredibly grateful Cat Town has the space and resources to help cats through challenges like this.
Miramar and Morro Bay always found each other in the open Cat Zone. Photo by David Yeung.
What began as a marriage of convenience for their treatment turned into a deep friendship. They comforted each other after their baths, even helping to clean the lime sulfur off each other’s fur. By the end of the treatment, they were inseparable. Then, we moved them from their own studio to the big Cat Zone. They played and got along well with the other cats, but even with 10+ cat roommates, they always found their way back to each other, snuggling in the same cubby or playing together throughout the day. They also got more and more comfortable asking for attention, with Morro Bay using his squeaky little voice to ask for pets, and Miramar strutting up to lean on people she met.
They waited months for their adopters to find them, but when they did, it was worth the wait. On adoption day, we placed Morro in his carrier first, and Miramar immediately draped herself over it, as if to say, “Don’t leave without me!” They settled in beautifully in their new home, chasing and playing with each other, and, as always, finding each other to curl up and take naps together throughout the day.
When we get cats like Miramar and Morro Bay, who had so much to overcome, they instantly claim a piece of my heart. I’m so happy we could help them overcome every obstacle in their way.
Morro Bay and Miramar snuggling in their new home!
Want to read more of these stories? Here’s Part One in this blog series!
Cover photo by David Yeung.