After 2,432 Days Spent In A New York Shelter, This Special Cat Finally Has A Forever Home
Most people prefer to adopt young, healthy kittens to join their families, while adult cats often get overlooked.
When an adult cat also has special needs, their chances of being adopted drop even further. These cats require extra care and attention, which makes it hard for them to find forever homes.
But one special cat named Plankton was luckier than most, showing that every feline has the right person out there waiting for them.
Plankton’s Touching Story
Plankton’s path to a forever home was far from simple. As a special needs cat, he didn’t get adopted until he had spent 2,432 days at the Ulster County SPCA in New York.
What makes his story both heartbreaking and inspiring is that he first arrived at the shelter as a tiny kitten, rescued from a hoarding situation along with more than 100 other cats.
The little black kitten was very ill, and after extensive testing, Plankton was diagnosed with kidney failure. Against the odds, this tiny fighter pulled through and survived the serious illness.
Even though he overcame kidney failure, the illness left him with lifelong medical needs, which made it even harder for him to be adopted.
Plankton required a ten-minute drug infusion three times a week for the rest of his life. While this could be done at home, few people were willing to take on such responsibility.
As he grew into a striking adult cat, his chances of being adopted only declined.
Still, Plankton never lost hope and embraced shelter life, waiting for the day he would finally find a loving family.
Plankton Finally Finds A Forever Home
After 2,432 days – that’s 6 years and 6 months – Plankton’s patience paid off. He finally found his forever home, proving that every moment in the shelter was worth it.
He was adopted by Ashlee Houghtaling and her mother, Ann, who discovered him through an article highlighting older shelter pets.
Having lost their dog to kidney failure, they immediately recognized that Plankton was meant to join their family. Ashlee said:
“I thought it was so sad that no one was adopting him because he had a medical condition. The fact that he had been there for so long – it really hit home for me. Sick cats need homes too.”
After so many years, the shelter staff and volunteers had grown attached to Plankton.
But seeing him go to a home where he would finally thrive made them overjoyed. The SPCA shared:
“Plankton was cheered by staff and volunteers alike as adoption papers were signed and he at last bid farewell to the Ulster County SPCA for his fur-ever home.”
In his new life, Plankton not only gained Ashlee and Ann but also two feline siblings, Nutmeg and Boots.
After everything he had endured, Plankton could finally relax and enjoy life, surrounded by love, comfort, and his new furry family.
