After 5 Years In A Happy Home, Calico Cat Arrives At LA Shelter Uncertain Of Her Future

Nova, a stunning calico, shows us that patience can sometimes lead to the happiest endings. 

Her story is one of transformation, from a timid shelter cat to a cherished member of a loving family.

When this six-year-old first arrived at the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center in Los Angeles, she was heartbroken and unsure of her future.

For five years, Nova had known the warmth of a home, but suddenly she found herself alone and bewildered. 

Unsure of what would happen next, she clung tightly to the only comfort she had left – a soft gray blanket.

Those first days at the shelter were overwhelming. Frightened and unsettled, Nova hissed and growled at anyone who approached, doing her best to protect herself from a world that felt unfamiliar.

But Faith Giesick, the Best Friends lifesaving outcomes coordinator, looked past her defensive behavior. She recognised that Nova’s reactions came from fear, not aggression.

At the time, finding a loving home for Nova was the most important thing, but first, she needed a peaceful place to relax and feel safe. This is the moment when foster care came into the picture. 

Nova needed a temporary home, but Faith also thought it was a great chance to understand a pet’s real personality too, as she shared for Best Friends:

“Cats thrive on routine and being able to express their natural behaviors. So often those things can’t happen in a shelter environment.”

During her time at the shelter, Nova was given the chance to stay with several foster families. 

She tended to be reserved at first in each new environment, but within a few days, her real personality began to emerge.

Once she felt comfortable, her foster families discovered a joyful cat who loved stretching out in sunny spots, snacking on treats, and chatting constantly.

One volunteer even joked that sharing a home with Nova felt like living with another person, simply because of how talkative she was.

Her foster families also discovered that, although she had once seemed distant, Nova truly enjoyed affection. 

She loved to be petted, purred happily, and even kneaded when she was content, though she still valued having her own space now and then.

But her journey didn’t end there. Not long after, Nova crossed paths with a kindhearted family. John Doppler and his loved ones had come to the shelter in search of an affectionate adult cat.

That’s when Faith thought of Nova – the unique calico who had been patiently waiting for a chance. 

She felt confident that Nova could be the perfect fit, as long as the family was willing to give her the opportunity she deserved.

Just as they thought, Nova wasn’t too excited about meeting her potential new family at first. 

She was nervous and she greeted them with hisses. However, as she spent time in the meeting room, John saw her true self shining through.

That’s when the family took a chance and decided to adopt her. Still, they were worried at first. They didn’t know if Nova liked them and if she would feel at home with them. As John mentioned:

“We were nervous: What if she didn’t warm up to us? Would she be comfortable in our home? Would she run away and hiss if we tried to pet her?”

Luckily, their fears turned out to be unnecessary. Nova was finally home, but similar to when she was in foster care, the beginning was filled with hissing, growling, and hiding. 

The Dopplers realized Nova needed time and space, so they patiently let her settle in at her own speed. They continued:

“About a week later, she suddenly strolled into the living room, jumped up on my wife’s lap, and started purring loud enough to hear from across the room. It was completely unexpected. I think that was her way of announcing that she was finally home.”

Today, Nova has blossomed into a completely different cat. She carries herself with confidence, feels perfectly at home, and has claimed her place as the heart of the household.

Her days are filled with playful antics and silly moments that never fail to make the Dopplers laugh.

While she loves darting after boxes and batting at crumpled paper, her top choice is a soft green worm on a string. 

She eagerly waits for John to bring it out, leaping into the air to snatch it with delight. Nova’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. 

After all she endured, she found the patience to wait for the right family and the courage to trust again. Seeing her thrive now is proof that her happily ever after was worth the wait.