Rachel Melilli did not walk into the café at the Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Northwest Arkansas planning to adopt a cat. She was just visiting with her fiancé, Ryan Wells. The couple already had two cats at home, Little and Popcorn.
Then she noticed Katt.
Sixteen and full of life
Katt was lying on his back, relaxed and playful. He had an easygoing personality and a surprising amount of energy. Then Rachel read his information: he was 16 years old.
Her heart sank a little. She worried that his age might keep him from ever being adopted. Most visitors look for kittens or young cats, and a 16-year-old can wait a very long time.
A change of plans
Rachel made a decision she had not expected to make that morning. She took Katt home that same day.
Katt has since settled into life with his new family, including his two feline housemates. His story shows that the right pet sometimes finds you when you are not even looking, and that a senior cat can still have plenty of spark.
Thinking about adopting a senior pet?
Older dogs and cats are often calm, gentle and already house-trained. If you are curious whether a senior pet could fit your life, our Adopting an Older Pet guides are a good place to start.
Source: This story was originally reported by Best Friends Animal Society. We have retold it in our own words.
Images on this page are AI illustrations based on a true story. They do not show the real people or animals.
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