Senior Cat At Florida Shelter Secures Himself A Forever Home With One Clever Move
Adult cats in shelters are often overlooked, waiting patiently as adopters search for kittens. Yet every so often, one comes along and makes an instant connection.
Atlas, a gentle tabby from Orlando, Florida, was exactly that kind of cat. She captured a human’s heart the very moment they crossed paths.
His owner, Rebecca, recalled the touching moment she first saw Atlas, sharing in an interview:
“I went to the shelter and when I started to walk away from him to go see some other cats, he meowed at me.”
What a clever kitty, right? He saw his moment and took it, meowing for the lady he hoped would become his forever human.
While there wasn’t much known about Atlas’s past, Rebecca learned that he had once lived with someone who fed him table scraps.
The thought of him surviving on leftovers, without real care or affection, truly broke Rebecca’s heart.
At first, Rebecca was unsure about adopting him since he would be her first cat. But within just five minutes of interacting, it was clear that they were meant to be together.
So, Rebecca officially brought Atlas into her life in Orlando, Florida.
As she spent more time with him, Rebecca began to notice something distinctive about Atlas – he didn’t have a tail. She shared:
“I also noticed right away that he was missing a tail. Best guess is that he was born that way. He only has the nub so it just wiggles.”
Atlas tends to be a little shy, especially around strangers. Rebecca explained:
“When new people come over, he runs and hides immediately.”
But she found a way to help him feel at ease – she sings to him, gently coaxing him out from under the bed when guests arrive. She added:
“And if he rubs his head, on my hand, that’s how I know he is comfortable enough to come out, and he’ll do a little meow.”
When it comes to meowing, Atlas is a real expert! He has a whole range of meows, but he loves the soft, quiet ones, especially when he’s feeling snuggly, sleepy, or happy.
Just listen to him – isn’t he absolutely adorable?
Atlas has an uncanny ability to recognize his loved ones by their scent. However, there are moments when things don’t quite go as planned.
For instance, when Rebecca returns home after being away, Atlas sometimes has trouble recognizing her and hides until she starts singing to him.
The funniest situation, though, happens when he doesn’t recognize his cat companion after a visit to the groomer. Rebecca laughed as she recalled:
“He went up to him, gave him a big smell, and hissed at him in his face, because he is like, ‘You don’t smell like him.’”
Rebecca made the perfect decision that day at the Florida shelter. Atlas is a wonderful cat who’s always there for her, especially on tough days.
In return, Rebecca gives Atlas all the love and care he deserves, ensuring he stays happy and healthy for the rest of his life!
I hope sweet Atlas enjoys many more years filled with happiness, cozy naps, and soft meows and that Rebecca keeps showering him with all the love he so deeply deserves.
If you’d like to see more of this charming kitty, be sure to check out his very own Instagram page – managed by his human, of course.
