That’s right; a cat from Ohio is making her grievances quite obvious after her owner (and favorite human) left for the U.S. Navy.

Two Unlikely Friends Find Each Other

Max Nimrichter, 19, rescued the little black cat from a local shelter about 6 months before leaving for boot camp.

He instantly fell in-love with the kitten and found himself unable to leave her behind. Plus, he knew that his mother, Erin, would be lonely after his leaving.

Yuuki Was Given A Very Special Name

Max brought her home and named his new pet, Yuuki, after Yuuki Matthews of his favorite band, “The Shins.” There was a strong bond that formed between the two.

An Endearing Friendship Blossomed for Life

“Max has always felt connections to any animals he was around,” Erin said in an interview with The Dodo. “He’s a sweetheart.”

In the days leading up to Max’s leaving, he spent every day with Yuuki. They were often found cuddling, playing, and napping together. It was a match made in heaven.

Can you imagine anything more precious?

Sometimes Things Can’t Last Forever

Unfortunately, it came time for Max to leave for boot camp. He gave Yuuki a hug good-bye. They both parted ways with heavy hearts.

Yuuki had a difficult time accepting that her best friend was gone. Friends and family say that she eventually learned to move on and understood that he wasn’t coming home any time soon.

Until This One Crazy Thing Happened

Over the months that ensued, Erin began to notice something very peculiar about Yuuki in her son’s absence. The wonderful cat seemed to be staring forlornly at a portrait of Max.

“She does it often,” she said. “I used to think it was a fluke…the reflection or light bouncing off…but now it’s just too often.”

Max’s Mom Was Sure to Test Her Theory

In fact, Erin and Yuuki moved into a new home; therefore, the picture was placed in a much different location. Erin was astonished when the cat relocated it and began staring lovingly at it again.

Staring at Her Human’s Photo Is A Daily Occurrence

Yuuki is often found sitting in front of the framed photo of her favorite human, Max. It even seems to bring her solace.
“She just sits there, stares and meows and then lays down next to the picture to nap,” Erin said. “I know for sure she misses him.”

Their Story Has Touched Thousands of Hearts

Video evidence of this amazing bond between man and cat was captured by Erin last week before going viral across the web to animal lovers like you.

“My son worries that she won’t remember him,” Nimrichter said. “It gives me comfort knowing she does, and it’s nice to have proof to show him.”

Yuuki Is in for The Biggest Surprise Yet

What’s even sweeter is that Max and Yuuki will be able to reunite very soon. Erin is going to travel to her son in a few weeks, and she will be bringing Yuuki with her, as well.

Stay Up-to-Date on Latest in Max and Yuuki News

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The post Lovesick Cat Can’t Stop Staring At A Portrait Of Her Favorite Human Who Just Left For The Navy appeared first on PawSoCute.

The shelter felt Bunny would not be adoptable because of her condition, and so they sent her to a facility that could provide her with the care she needed.

No rescue was able to take her in, and because of this, the shelter decided they needed to euthanize her…

Before the shelter was able to do this, a woman decided to step in and change things for Bunny forever.

Nikki Martinez had experience working with foster animals, and wanted to make sure Bunny had a fair chance of living. She worried Bunny could be too sick to survive, but she was willing to try anything she could.

“She was underweight, missing hair and urinating blood,” Martinez told The Dodo. “At one point she was so frail, I was scared to check in on her the following morning because I didn’t know if she would still be alive.”

By miracle, Bunny made it through her first few days in foster care…

And then a few more days.

While Bunny began to recover, she still needed to be monitored. Martinez always worked to find a way to be with her.

“She had to be isolated from my resident pets and other fosters so she was with me the majority of the time,” Martinez said. “I had shirts with giant pockets in the front and she would hang out in the pocket/pouch. I’d take her everywhere I went so she wouldn’t be alone. Doing household chores, walking the dogs, going to the store — she went everywhere with me.”

As time went on, Bunny grew stronger, and her ringworm infection slowly improved.

Bunny’s personality began to rise to the surface more each day, until she was nearly ready to find her forever home. Martinez knew, however, that Bunny would need a very specific family to care for her.

Fortunately, the perfect family came into the picture to adopt Bunny. They understood that despite her health problems, this was a kitten deserving of love.

“Bunny appeared on my Instagram … during the holiday of 2016-17,” Marija Jennings, Bunny’s new mom, told The Dodo. “I started following Nikki and immediately unfollowed because I didn’t think Bunny was going to make it and it was too painful to watch her suffer. But photos of her kept coming up … and at that point Jack [my partner] and I fell in love with her and became emotionally invested in her recovery.”

The couple that wanted to adopt Bunny had two cats. The two were clearly ready for a new addition to the family!

“Not only did they adopt her, but they agreed to take over her fungal treatment,” Martinez said. “I couldn’t have found a more loving, dedicated family to adopt her.”

The couple brought Bunny into their home and gladly took over her needed treatments. While Bunny’s ringworm was believed to be nearly gone, the case turned out to be far worse than anyone expected.

“At that point, she had contaminated us and our other cats, and pretty much everyone we know,” Jennings said. “As Bunny got older, the treatments became more and more traumatizing and uncomfortable, but Bunny was able to take it in stride.”

Since Bunny’s hair began to come back, as well as her personality, it was hard to tell just how severe her condition was. Luckily, her parents never once regretted taking in Bunny. All they cared about was helping her heal and live a full life.

 

“It took biweekly baths, antifungal medication and decontaminating our apartment from floor to ceiling every week; even then the progress that we made was not very encouraging,” Jennings said. “After a few months of no progress, our ringworm case had become so legendary that our vet enlisted the help of specialists, and they held weekly meetings to discuss how to proceed.”

After trying almost everything, the vet decided to try a new medicine for Bunny–and it finally worked! Come September of 2017, Bunny was finally healed!

Once everything was said and done, you might think Bunny would end up a bit nervous or anxious…

But Bunny is an active, happy cat that climbs around all over!

Bunny’s personality brings joy to everyone in her life, and reminds her family that the challenging journey to recovery was well worth it.

“She has been bathed so much that she has developed an obsession for towels,” Jennings said. “When I come out of the shower, she cries until I wrap her in one, hold her like a baby and kiss her on her forehead over and over while she sleeps in my arms. If I stop kissing her forehead, she bites my nose. She also likes to be carried around the house inside of an Ikea bag and comes running as soon as she hears one crinkle.”

 

While Bunny’s life began with great challenges, and nearly ended quickly, she has ended up as a loving kitty full of kindness and compassion. Her fighting spirit has allowed her to become a healthy and ringworm-free cat.

“Not all ringworm infections are as bad as Bunny’s was,” Jennings said. “These cats deserve a chance that they don’t get in shelters — it just takes someone that is willing to spend the time and have the commitment that is required to make them healthy again.”

Want to know more about Bunny’s life? Check out her Instagram!

Source: The Dodo

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To show her love, Baloo decided to start doing a little hunting. Each morning she would bring her owner, Ben, a small creature. Never once did she hurt her prey, making it clear she caught these critters with care.

“I’d wake up to her on my chest with something in her mouth which she would then drop on my face or chest, and then meow,” Ben told The Dodo. “I don’t know if she expected me to think it was breakfast or that it was simply a gift.”

Baloo’s gifts were always alive, forcing Ben to rush around trying to catch and release the animals she brought in.

This chase was not something Ben wanted to keep doing.

Baloo noticed Ben’s lack of enthusiasm for her gifts. Unsure what she was doing wrong, she tried to think of a new idea.

“She always looked so confused and sad, which made me feel pretty bad,” Ben said.

Baloo finally realized that grabbing animals from the backyard was not impressing Ben. She needed to try giving him a different gift.

If Baloo could not satisfy Ben with creatures, maybe she could gain his appreciation by bringing in leaves.

“It took a couple of months of me rejecting her gifts for her to start bringing me leaves. They were always big, nice looking leaves,” Ben said. “It was such a relief from the live mice every morning that I would show my gratitude by taking the leaf and playing with it while she sat on my chest.”

Baloo quickly noted Ben’s reaction, and as a result, went on the hunt for the perfect leaf every day.

“She knew she was doing something right now,” Ben said.

To spice things up, sometimes Baloo will bring in a twig instead of a leaf.

“It warms my heart thinking about her on a little mission each morning to find a gift for her human,” Ben said.

As time has gone by, Baloo has taken on a lazier lifestyle. Now she prefers to show her appreciation through cuddles.

“She will comfort me when I’m feeling down,” Ben said. “She’s not a lap cat by any means, but when I’m upset or nervous she will hop up onto me, push me back so I lay down and then she’ll just sit on my chest purring like mad and nuzzling my face with her nose. She’s a very loving cat.”

Source: The Dodo

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When Danielle Grubisic and her family lost their 19-year-old cat two years ago, it was a tragedy. For Danielle’s younger sister, Peyton, this loss hit especially hard.

“My sister had been heartbroken ever since and been begging my dad to get another cat,” Danielle told The Dodo.

As Peyton begged, it seemed to make no difference. She decided a new approach was needed.

Tha plan? Guilt!

Instead of focusing on the joy she would feel with a new cat, Peyton opted to highlight the good adopting a shelter cat can be.

Peyton created a  “wall of sorrow”. The wall contains notes all working to get her dad’s attention and tug at his emotions.

“She loves animals,” Danielle said. “And she’s a very persuasive little girl!”

While Peyton’s dad wasn’t sure if the family was ready for another pet, his daughter’s notes convinced him that may not be the case.

“He eventually caved and they rescued a cat from a local shelter,” Danielle said. “The cat was actually one of the oldest residents there, being almost 2 years old.”

And just like that, Mittens, their new cat, had a home of her own!

While dad was uncertain at first, Mittens has proven to be a perfect fit for the family.

“She loves our house, and the family loves her!” Danielle said. “It’s definitely a happier environment in the house.”

Dad and Mitten have even grown close.

“It’s all because of Peyton. She had the persistence for it,” Danielle’s father told The Dodo, saying also:

“Mittens is a sweet cat.”

Source: The Dodo 

The post Girl Persuades Father to Adopt a New Cat appeared first on PawSoCute.

While Laura Ringenberger, her husband, and two children were visiting with relatives in Napa, California, they were asked to evacuate.

“When we got that phone call, we didn’t think much of it,” Ringenberger told The Dodo. “But when we walked outside, the moon was pink, and we were staring at raging fires across the way.”

Ringenberger woke her children and had them sent to safety with relatives. Ringenberger, however, was not leaving without her cat, Kitty Kitty Star.

“My husband was knocking on our neighbors’ door to make sure they were up and moving — they were an older couple,” Ringenberger said. “While he was doing that, I was calling for the kitty. I called for 15 to 20 minutes.”

Locating Kitty Kitty Star was easier said than done. As a primarily outdoor cat, Kitty Kitty Star spent most of her days exploring. As time passed trying to locate the cat, the fires slowly got closer.

“I did not want to leave her,” Ringenberger said. “None of us wanted to leave her, but it was a life or death situation. People have died in these fires.”

While Ringenberger knew her cat was resilient, she still feared the idea of losing her cat forever.

On Monday, Ringenberger and her family remained with family in another part of Napa. Anxiously, the family awaited news.

When the news came, it was shocking. Their house had burnt down.

Ringenberger could only think of one thing: Kitty Kitty Star.

When Ringenberger found out she would be able to see the house, she ran into a man filming for ABC News. She asked him to take her to her home.

“It’s just ash and dust,” Ringenberger said. “It’s a lot to process.”

Ringenberger began yelling out for the cat, but nothing happened.

Until suddenly…

“Far off in the distance, we heard her. ‘Meow, meow,’” Ringenberger said. “It was a moment of giddiness. I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t believe she got through all of this.’”

Ringenberger immediately grabbed Kitty Kitty Star and cuddled with her.

“You could tell that she’d been in the thick of it,” Ringenberger said. “She was all brown and smoky.”
Despite all of the devastation, Kitty Kitty Star was okay – and that was all that mattered.

“I’ve never heard her more vocal,” she added. “That first day driving back, she just gave me the business all day long, as if she was telling me, ‘How dare you for leaving me,’ or ‘You wouldn’t believe what I saw.’”

After losing their home, Ringenberger’s family is staying at a friend’s condo in Lake Tahoe.

“Kitty Kitty Star is now an indoor cat, and my daughter’s really happy because that’s all she ever wanted,” Ringenberger said.

Kitty Kitty Star seems to be loving her new role.

“This place where we’re staying has two flights of stairs, and she’s been bouncing up and down the stairs,” Ringenberger said. “She’s a very happy kitty. We woke up this morning, and she was curled up in bed with us, which was a sweet thing.”

While figuring out the future may be a challenge for the Ringenbergers, the family still has each other – even Kitty Kitty Star.

Source: The Dodo

The post Woman Loses Home in Fire But What Happens to Her Cat Is Remarkable appeared first on PawSoCute.

At Columbia Police Department in South Carolina, officers noticed a cat outside of the station. He had arrived one weekend a month ago.

Rather than be subtle and cute to get what he wanted, this cat demanded everyone’s attention and love!

To no surprise, the police officers could not resist.The officers adjusted to the cat’s presence quickly, despite his originally uninvited presence.

It did not take long for the cat to take overlaps.

One of the officers fell in love with the cat – so much he took a selfie with him!

And of course, someone caught a picture of the moment taking place.

(Clearly, the cat is getting all of the attention he is looking for.)

Knowing the cat likely had a family somewhere, the officers decided to try to send the cat back home.

…But the cat wanted no part of this.

As the next day came, the cat returned again. His attention-loving ways had not gone anywhere.

Officer Brandon Montgomery had his first encounter with the cat on this day, as he had been off work over the weekend.

“Whenever an officer would go in or out, he would run back inside real quick,” Montgomery said. “He wanted to be pet and held. He likes being on shoulders, very much. He’ll climb right up.”

The officers posted photos of the cat online in an attempt to find the original owners. No one claimed the cat, however, so instead it was time to make a choice. Rather than send the cat to a shelter, Officer Montgomery volunteered to adopt the cat.

The cat, now known as Kingsley, has made himself quite comfortable in the Montgomery home.

Kingsley is not the only rescue pet in the home, giving him plenty of company – including a dog and two other cats.

“(Kingsley is) getting along really well with the dog,” Montgomery said. “Our other cats have met him under controlled circumstances. We’re slowly introducing each of them to each other. They’re being normal cats, so they hiss and puff.”

Did we mention there are two toddlers in the Montgomery home as well?

“I’m a pet lover,” Montgomery said. “I consider my pets parts of the family. He’s doing very well.”

While we may never know why Kingsley decided to show up at the police station in the first place, it sure is great he did! From the start, it seemed Kingsley knew just what he wanted and where to find it.

“It worked out for him,” he said. “It definitely worked out.”

Source: The State

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When feral kittens are rescued at a young age, making the transition from being wild to being a family pet is completely possible. 

While this process takes some time, this shelter came up with a plan to speed up the process – and also make it more fun!

About ten years ago, at the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL), a volunteer – and also a seamstress – recognized the importance of finding a more efficient way to help young kittens get accustomed.

Feral cats around 4 months and younger have the best potential for becoming loving family members. All that is necessary for this is exposure to humans! To make this transition process most efficient, shelter staff needed a way to do many things at once. And so the “Kitten Bjorn” idea was born. 

What is a Kitten Bjorn you ask?

A Babybjorn is a baby carrier that lets parents carry their baby while still doing other things. The Kitten Bjorn works the same way! 

Staff at the shelter wear a vest that has a little mesh pouch in the front for kittens to rest in. Kittens are able to get comfortable with humans while experiencing the world as it moves around them.

“The idea was to have something that allow the kittens to socialize, and be hands-free, thus allowing staff and volunteers to multi-task (answering phones, talking with clients etc.),” Michael DeFina, communications and media relations officer at ARL Boston, explained to The Dodo. 

“The design allows the kitten to be flooded with stimuli in a safe way while being constantly monitored by whoever is wearing the vest. Three were made and we are looking to make more.”

For the last 7 years, ARL has been using these vests – and they have every intention of continuing to do so! The vests have successfully sped up the process of socialization for feral cats. The kittens are now ready for adoption in just two days.

“Turnaround for socialization can be fairly quick, with the sign of success being when the kitten begins to purr,” DeFina said.

“Sometimes a kitten will begin purring after just an hour, sometimes it takes a couple of days, but during the seven years of their use, they have shown to be effective in trying to quickly socialize kittens.” 

Helping socialization for kittens is a good thing on its own, but this vest idea has helped in another way as well. By getting kittens ready for adoption quickly, more kittens can come in to be rescued and adopted. This means more lives saved! 

Source: The Dodo 

The post How Quickly These Awesome Pouches Help Kittens Get Adopted Will Blow Your Mind appeared first on PawSoCute.

1. Just a bunch of cats lounging…

2. Hand me a wrench, will you?

3. I’m feeling a little otter place!

4. Just another busy day at the office…

5. So comfortable, perfect fit!

6. Are you ready to rock?

7. Excuse me, do not interrupt in the middle of the chapter.

8. Just some pups enjoying the breeze…

9. Come on kids, don’t fall behind!

10. I swear I know where I’m going!

11. Ugh, not pasta again!

12. Could I get another round for my friend here?

13. Lovely day for a bike ride, wouldn’t you say?

14. What do you mean I’m not a pony?

15. Oh c’mon computer, don’t freeze again!

Hope these made you laugh! Which are your favorite? Let us know!

The post 13+ Adorable Dogs and Cats Who Are Seriously Confused (#9 is the Greatest!) appeared first on PawSoCute.

Despite the difficult medical issues, Pickle the cat survived against all odds, though was diagnosed with severe corneal ulcers, hypoglycemia and respiratory issues.

Pickle was strong and continues to be amazing. Even according to Pickle’s first veterinarian, Pickle is a special kitten.

“I met her the day that she came in and was her doctor initially,” Dr. Delfino, Pickle’s first veterinarian, explained to The Dodo.

“I knew from the moment I met her that I was going to adopt her.”

Delfino had just lost her cats not long before, and was interested in a Sphynx cat. Running into Pickle was practically meant to be.

While Pickle was growing stronger and healthier, Delfino was a foster parent. Once Pickle was doing well, Delfino adopted her into her new forever home.

At home, Delfino already had a cat, Andy, and a pit bull, Olive. When Pickle came home, Andy and Olive were thrilled to have a new sister.

Right from the start, Pickle and Olive became the best of friends. Olive makes sure that Pickle is always safe (though Pickle thinks she doesn’t need protection!).

“They are always playing together and running around my apartment,” Delfino told the Dodo.

“Pickle doesn’t know how small she is. She is still tiny.”

Pickle and Olive love to cuddle with each other, and it is simple to see the love shared between them.

Now Delfino can’t imagine a life without Pickle in it!

Source: The Dodo

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