A cat owner has melted hearts on social media after sharing the story of how the kitty she was warned about adopting changed after being given a forever home.
In a post shared on TikTok on July 11 under the username @jolieanddee, the poster, Deanna McCallum, can be seen holding her fluffy cat, Jolie, close to her chest, as she admires her owner with loving eyes.
Text laid on the clip read: "Shelter: 'Are you sure you want this one? She's very shy and doesn't really like people." Followed by a caption that responded: "She just needed love."
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Stock image of a woman cuddling her cat. A woman was told by a shelter that the cat she wanted to adopt was too shy, but it turns out that the cat is not that...Stock image of a woman cuddling her cat. A woman was told by a shelter that the cat she wanted to adopt was too shy, but it turns out that the cat is not that shy after all.Getty imagesThe charity Cats Protection previously explained that a cat's shyness can be due to multiple possible factors, including genetics, lack of early socialization, or negative experiences.
To help shy cats, owners are advised to create a calm, stable environment with safe hiding places and consistent routines. Understanding a cat's body language, such as recognizing signs of fear like hiding, dilated pupils, and flattened ears, is also crucial.
They recommend using synthetic pheromones and gently encouraging interaction without forcing it, allowing the cat to build trust gradually.
Each year 6.3 million pets enter U.S. shelters, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which is an average of 17,260 a day. The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, the 24Pet 'Shelter Watch Report' found.
Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.
The video quickly went viral on social media, getting viewers from across TikTok. It has so far received over 3.9 million views and 529,200 likes on the platform.
One user, GradualBuckle62, commented: "I was warned when I got my cat that he was a very vocal boy, they did not lie about that, as soon as I get home from work he tells me everything I've missed in the house while I've been gone."
Charlotte said: "She was probably overwhelmed in the shelter and needed a better environment and some love."
Serentai added: "She just needed mutual trust. Cats aren't naturally trusting. Thank you for giving her that."
Newsweek reached out to jolieanddee for comment via TikTok comments. We could not verify the details of the case.
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