Kitten Was One Of The Last Left At Arkansas Shelter Event, Now He Gives His Rescuer Full-Body Hugs

A sweet orange kitten was nearly left behind at a local shelter event. Thanks to a glowing recommendation from a shelter worker, he found the perfect home and a unique way to say thank you.

Down To The Final Minutes

Maren Kennedy decided to visit her local shelter during a special "clear the shelter" adoption event.

By the time she arrived, the event was winding down, with only about 30 minutes left before the doors closed.

Inside, she spotted a sweet, six-month-old orange kitten.

He was one of the very last kittens remaining in the building, patiently waiting for someone to notice him.

A Confident Recommendation

The shelter staff unfortunately didn’t know anything about the little kitten’s backstory or where he had come from.

However, they did know his personality, and one shelter worker was absolutely certain he was a hidden gem.

The lady at the shelter was incredibly adamant, telling Maren directly, "This is the cat that you want. Like, you do want him."

Trusting the worker’s glowing recommendation, Maren simply replied, "Oh, okay," and decided to bring the handsome boy home.

A Magical Naming Theme

Maren already had a cat at home named Gremlin, inspired by the soot gremlins from the animated movie My Neighbor Totoro.

She wanted to keep the fun movie theme going for her newest family member.

Since the new kitten had a bright orange coat, she decided to name him Calcifer.

The name was a perfect fit, inspired by the fiery little fire demon from the movie Howl’s Moving Castle.

A Naturally Affectionate Soul

From the moment he settled in, it was clear that Calcifer was just happy to be held.

Maren quickly realized what had drawn her to him in the first place: he was incredibly warm and sweet.

He seemed like a cat who was simply born to be loved.

As long as he is getting plenty of attention, Calcifer is always eager to give that love right back to his mom.

The Feline Version Of A Hug

Calcifer has a very special way of showing his deep affection for Maren.

He does a full-body lean into her, pressing his weight against her as closely as he can.

Maren says it is the absolute closest thing a cat can do to actually giving a hug.

Out of all the cats in her home, Calcifer is the only one who consistently offers these sweet, leaning embraces.

Silly Flips For Attention

Like many orange cats, Calcifer has a wonderfully goofy side that keeps Maren laughing.

Maren jokes about the popular internet theory that orange cats only share "one brain cell."

When Calcifer gets excited for some love, he does a funny little routine where he completely rolls over.

He basically does a full flip on the floor just to get into the perfect position for belly rubs.

Making Sure He Is Not Forgotten

Calcifer is a very smart boy who knows his own name, as well as the names of his feline siblings.

If Maren calls out for another cat, Calcifer will often come running instead, making sure he isn’t missing out.

He can get a little bit jealous if he feels someone else is getting the spotlight.

If Maren is showing another cat too much attention, Calcifer will boldly walk right between her legs as if to say, "Hi, I can get pet too."

Beautiful Eyes And Happy Squints

While friends in the United Kingdom might lovingly tease Americans for calling "ginger" cats "orange," Maren embraces both terms for her beautiful boy.

Along with his striking coat, Calcifer has gorgeous yellow-green eyes.

Maren finds his expressive face to be one of his most adorable features.

Whenever he is feeling especially happy and content, those bright eyes narrow into the sweetest little squints.

Two Peas In A Pod

Today, Maren and the kitten who was almost left behind at the shelter are completely inseparable.

She describes them as "two peas in a pod," noting that he is very protective and territorial when it comes to her.

Every single night, Calcifer doesn’t just sleep next to her—he sleeps physically on top of her to make sure she isn’t going anywhere.

Maren feels incredibly lucky to have this good boy in her life, and she hopes he knows just how deeply he is loved.