Iowa Cat Who Lived His Whole Life In A Shelter Finally Gets Adopted
Animal shelters across the country are often filled to the brim with abandoned animals, each waiting for someone to notice them and offer a loving home.
For a beautiful gray tabby named Barney, this wait stretched far longer than anyone could have imagined.
The nine-year-old cat spent his entire life at the Emmet County Animal Shelter (ECAS) in Iowa, quietly hoping his chance would come.
Barney had grown up within the walls of the shelter. Born in 2014 to a feral mother who had been trapped, he and his siblings were given the rare opportunity to be raised as house cats instead of facing life on the streets.
From the beginning, staff at ECAS adored his gentle, easygoing nature. Yet, despite their best efforts, year after year passed with no one choosing him.
The shelter shared his story online, hoping to finally catch someone’s attention:
“Sweet, gentle Barney has been looking for a forever home since he came to us as a baby. Born of a feral mother that was caught in a trap, Barney and his siblings were given the chance to become house cats. Although things are fun here at the shelter, Barney would still love to have the chance to live out the life he was saved to have and find himself in a loving forever home where he can have a family to call his own!”
Even with that heartfelt message, Barney remained overlooked. Like many cats in Midwest shelters, he was simply one of the “wonderful cats being overlooked by potential adopters,” as ECAS director Kristy Henning later explained.
Everything changed when Barney’s smiling face appeared on Reddit. The photo was posted with the caption:
“Meet Barney; he’s been at his shelter since he was born. He’s 9 years old and the happiest-looking cat you’ll see today.”
That single post transformed his life. For the first time, Barney’s story reached far beyond the walls of his Iowa shelter.
People across the country — and even from other parts of the world — were touched by the idea of a cat spending nine long years waiting. Suddenly, adoption applications poured in, with more than 15 families eager to make him part of their home.
Ultimately, ECAS chose Amanda Scherer and her family, who lived about six hours away. They had seen his smiling picture on Reddit and instantly knew he was the cat for them.
Distance was no obstacle, and they made the trip to meet him. While an initial fever caused by a booster shot delayed his adoption, they returned to take him home as soon as he was feeling better.
At first, Barney was cautious in his new environment. Like many cats, he needed time to adjust to the smells, sounds, and routines of his new home.
His family gave him patience and love, and before long, his personality began to shine. He revealed himself to be playful, affectionate, and deeply bonded to his people.
His new family shared updates with ECAS, reassuring his many fans that Barney was thriving:
“Barney and everyone from the Emmett County animal shelter wanted to thank Reddit for all of the support you have all given them. Barney’s new family is showing him so much love and wanted to share him getting comfortable with all of his new [toys.].”
The Scherer family even shared their plans for Barney’s future, telling the Des Moines Register:
“The Scherer family has big plans in store for Barney’s new life, including a family Halloween costume. He’s even got a harness and leash in case he ever wants to explore the great outdoors.”
For ECAS, Barney’s adoption was more than just a happy ending for one cat. In a heartfelt message, the shelter wrote:
“We absolutely love that Barney has found his family and in turn has garnered so much attention…we truly hope this will shine a positive light on overlooked cats in shelters everywhere!”
After nearly a decade of waiting, Barney finally got his forever home, proving that sometimes the right moment, a little bit of luck, and the power of the internet can change everything.
