Kittens and cats in Berea, Ohio

Despite all that we do here to make it welcoming, the shelter is a scary place for cats. They don't know what this place is, or why they've ended up here. At first, they may not even understand that we are here to help them, not hurt them. Because of this, many cats who would make wonderful companions simply do not show well at the shelter, and it keeps them from quickly finding their home. When Pearl entered the shelter, she was very sad and grumpy. She did not want to leave her cage or receive attention from the volunteers. She often had a constant low growl or hissing coming from her cage. We knew that Pearl was just frightened and uncertain. We were confident that if someone would give Pearl a chance, she would become a wonderful feline companion. Pearl was placed in foster care with a volunteer to see how she would do in a home environment, away from the stresses of the shelter. Pearl has blossomed. Pearl was very interested in checking out her new expanded space. After spending months afraid to leave her cage at the shelter, Pearl was now very interested in exploring her new area, even ignoring her food to do so. Her foster mom allowed Pearl to approach her for petting on her own terms, and Pearl did. Once she trusted her foster mom, Pearl would push on her for more attention. She lets her foster mom hold her, but that took a little time. Pearl, who didn't even want to leave her cage at the shelter, is now obsessed with playing with the laser toy. Her foster mom bought her an automatic laser light and reports that it is always "game on" for Pearl. She also loves playing with paper balls and mice and rolling around in wrapping paper. This cutie has even been known to be up and playing during the middle of the night. She enjoys being brushed and loves to look out the window and spy on the deer and the neighbor's dog. In typical cat fashion, Pearl enjoys sitting in a good box and knocking things off the desk every now and then. She's also sure to jump on the bed as you're making it. She likes to keep her human company while they watch tv. Although she wasn't completely sure about sleeping in bed with her foster mom at first, Pearl now sleeps right next to her, stretching out and relaxing. She will even pull on the covers so she can get underneath. Since she stayed with her foster mom over Christmas, she was given a small tree in her room. Pearl was obviously familiar with them and loved to sleep under it. Pearl has proven herself to be a wonderful house guest. She always uses her scratcher and maintains a clean litter box. She is quite the talker now and loves to purr. Pearl is a very curious girl, who could even do well in an active household with a proper adjustment. She is currently in foster care. In you are interested in Pearl, please contact ARF's cat coordinator, Pat Brinks at arfcats@gmail.com

Hello there, I'm Tina. I'm a bit shy and reserved and am not one to come to the front of my cage and beg for attention. Maybe that's why I've been here a little while. At 8 years old, I'm over the kitten crazies and am pretty quiet and laid back. The volunteers tell me that lots of people like to hang out in the evenings and watch tv after work. I'd be a perfect companion for that. I love nice relaxing evenings where I can just sit back and get all the pets that I can. I return the favor by purring non-stop. I envision my forever home as a quieter place where I have a nice warm bed to relax in, and someone to pet me and give me lots of attention. I know there's someone out there who'd like a nice, quiet companion to hang out with and keep them company. If you'd like any more information on me, please reach out to ARF's cat coordinator, Pat Brinks at arfcats@gmail.com

Noodles came to Berea ARF as a transfer from a rescue partner. Upon the intake exam, he tested positive for FIV. Noodles also had a leg injury which appeared to have broken and healed improperly. His right front leg was shorter than the left front, he was missing digits and had decreased range of motion. He held his up foot and would bear weight only when needed resulting in limited activity. After further examination and X-rays, the vet determined he was missing a carpal bone which was congenital vs trauma. To make Noodles more comfortable with getting around, the vet recommended amputation. His surgery went well and he healed up within a couple weeks. Noodles is now in a foster home where he is thriving and spending time with another foster cat. If you are interested in adopting Noodles, you can contact his consultant at arfcats@gmail.com

Meet Reba. She is a 6yo beautiful, red/brown Tabby. She is a little unsure of shelter life, but she's getting braver every day. She comes out to explore, she absolutely loves to be pet, and when she's done she goes back into her cage and snuggles under her blanket. She would love a home that will give her some time to adjust, and you'll be getting the sweetest snuggle-bug around.If you would like to make an appointment to meet her please contact our cat coordinator Pat: arfcats@gmail.com.

Bunny Blossomed into a Friendly Cat and Would Now Love a Home of Her OwnHi Everyone! The name's Bunny and I'm reaching out here hoping that my special adopter is out there searching for me. When I first arrived here at ARF, I was so upset. I didn't understand why I'd ended up at a shelter and I was angry and afraid. Who were these strangers? Why was I in a cage? Luckily for me, the shelter has a special group of cat volunteers who work with cats like me, called the TLC Team. They had lots of tricks up their sleeves to get me to calm down and realize that this wasn't such a bad place after all. I learned they were just taking care of me and trying to find me a home. Once I figured that out, I adjusted very well. I love getting out of my cage, stretching out on the floor and watching everything happening around me. I also enjoy taking a seat in the window and keeping an eye on things outside. Someone's got to keep watch over this place, and we sure can't trust the dogs to do it! I'm really hoping my new home will have a window for me to catch some sun in and spy on the birds. I'd love that! I'm only two years old. While I'm very friendly with people, the shelter thinks I might do best as an only cat.Have any questions about me? Feel free to contact ARF's cat coordinator, Pat Brinks at arfcats@gmail.com

Churchill is a sweet seven-year old boy who has been with ARF for a while. He is currently taking a break from shelter life in foster care, where his foster mom reports that he loves the company of people. Churchill is a true lap cat, happy and content to sit in his human's lap and receive pets. This sweet boy loves to take a break from relaxing to chase his laser light around, but he's much too dignified for other silly cat toys. Churchill is currently being fostered with another cat, and does well with him, so he would make a great addition to a home that already has cats. His laid-back personality indicates he'd likely be good with dogs as well. He has been around young children and has always been gentle and patient with them. Churchill did test positive for FIV, but don't let that scare you off. FIV stands for feline immunodeficiency virus. It is similar to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). FIV affects only cats, and while it affects a cat's immune system, it progresses very slowly. Cats with FIV have a more difficult time finding a home simply because many potential adopters lack knowledge of the condition. FIV cannot be spread to humans or dogs. The disease is not easily spread to other cats. A cat may only be infected by receiving a deep bite from a FIV positive cat. FIV cats can live years without any issues. They often live long and healthy lives, and many have few or no symptoms. If you have any questions about Churchill, or would like to schedule to meet him, please feel free to contact ARF's cat coordinator, Pat Brinks at arfcats@gmail.com