Cat Returned to Shelter for Being Too Needy—Then Everything Changed
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A 7-year-old cat named Art has finally found his forever home after being returned to shelter for being "too needy."
Art first arrived at the shelter in California after being found alone in Altadena following the Eaton Fire in January, a spokesperson for the Pasadena Humane, Kevin McManus, told Newsweek.
"We suspected that he was an outdoor community cat, but no one came forward to reclaim him. While he was here, he interacted with our volunteers positively, but would occasionally give indications that he was a little nervous with people," McManus said.
Art was eventually adopted by an experienced cat owner seeking a chilled-out lap companion, and although the cat did show his sweet side to her, she couldn't deal with his behavior when overstimulated, and decided to take him back to shelter.
"He would sometimes play bite or swat at the adopter. She was concerned that she was not the right person for him, and, quite frankly, this was a wise decision as he ultimately (accidentally) bit her to the point of drawing blood," McManus said.
So Pasadena Humane took to Facebook to help Art find a better match for his affectionate and playful energy.
"If you're looking for a Velcro kitty who always wants to be the center of attention (and will show off his perfectly fluffy belly to make sure that happens), seven-year-old Art is probably the cat for you!" Pasadena Humane said in a post shared on Friday.
After the message went viral, Art the cat was quickly adopted by another very experienced family looking to add a new feline to their home.
"[They] had a feisty cat previously, so his behavior did not faze them," McManus said.
While Art was lucky enough to find a family willing to give him a chance, for many other felines in shelter things don't always go this way.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says that, 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 owner or the field, 369,000 were transferred to other organizations, and 273,000 were euthanized.
The majority of animals in shelter, about 60 percent, enter as stray; however, almost 30 percent are surrendered by owners who can no longer care for them.
An image shared by Pasadena Humane shows Art lying on a bed of towels.
An image shared by Pasadena Humane shows Art lying on a bed of towels.
@pasadenahumane
The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received over 21,000 likes and 1,900 comments on the platform.
One user, Myra Austin Cochran, commented: "Who turns in a cat for 'being too needy?"
Lakin Danielle Sizemore posted: "How could a person return him for being too needy? THEY ARE NOT A TRUE CAT PERSON! Because … I beg for my cats to come snuggle with me and they ignore me."
Tina Banks added: "A pet that loves you, and loves to be near you and show affection? how hard that must have been for them. Maybe they should just get a pet rock instead."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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