The team at Haralson County Animal Shelter (HCAS) has been handling cats of all kinds for years. Though some cats arrive with physical disabilities and others have quirky personalities, regardless of their differences, the dedicated caregivers are always ready to give every new resident a dose of love.
One day, this Georgia-based shelter welcomed eight stray cats into their care. While they adored each of these little felines, one cat immediately stood out from the rest. Igor, an orange tabby, sported a cartoon-like scowl that captured everyone's attention.
Source: Haralson County Animal Shelter
“I’ve never seen another cat like that,” Amanda Matthews, HCAS’s field officer and Igor’s primary caregiver, said. “He’s very unique with his grumpy face.”
The vet team initially knew little about Igor’s medical condition but soon discovered that it was lucky that his vision wasn't entirely limited by his adorable deformity.
“He can still see,” Matthews explained. “But he’s very near-sighted. He would get lost in my shelter very easily.”
Source: Haralson County Animal Shelter
Despite his inconvenient health condition, Igor was known for his fondness for exploring every nook and cranny of the shelter, occasionally finding himself stuck and howling for help.
“He got stuck behind a door at one point and was just crying because he couldn’t p out how to get out from it,” Matthews recalled.
Source: Haralson County Animal Shelter
Though these moments of panic happen frequently, Igor's newfound friends always encouraged his curiosity and remained close by in case he needed assistance.
Igor knows it when he gets help from others, and he always makes sure to express his gratitude after every rescue or whenever a human is around, offering affectionate snuggles.
“All he wants to do is cuddle,” Matthews said. “He’s such a sweet cat for someone with such a grumpy little face.”
Initially a bit shy, Igor quickly became closer to Matthews and the rest of his new human companions. And just two weeks after his arrival, a potential adopter visited the shelter, hoping to find the perfect cat. This woman first fell in love with a 3-month-old kitten named Spooks, and then Igor captured her attention.
“She adopted him and the younger kitten,” Matthews said, "taking both the couch potato and the playful little one at the same time.”
Igor's fluffy little sister accompanied him as they returned home with their new family, and everyone could tell right away that Igor had been overjoyed since then.
During Igor's two-week visit, Matthews and her coworkers fell head over heels for him. They are happy that he now has a cozy home and a loving family of his own, even though they would have loved keeping him as an office cat. “He’s just the sweetest thing ever.”
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