In the last five years, you might have experienced a lot of changes in your life – a new job, a new relationship, or even starting a family. But for one shelter cat named Marriott, the last five years have been spent patiently waiting to find her forever home.
Marriott, a black cat, was found near a Marriott hotel in Maryland around five-and-a-half years ago and was taken to the Chesapeake Feline Association (CFA) shelter. Jaclene Commers, the treasurer of the CFA, estimates that Marriott is between 6 and 8 years old.
Despite being at the shelter for over 2,000 days, Marriott remains shy and timid around new people, often hiding from them. “She is more of an independent cat and very shy around people she doesn’t know, so she hides around almost everyone,” Commers said.
Though forming connections can be challenging for the reserved feline, she has found comfort in a fellow shelter resident – Boots, a deaf senior cat. “Boots does not like people, but [she] and Marriott are often found looking out of the windows together. Boots has the most distinct meow and will just start meowing out of nowhere. Whenever she does that, Marriott will run to her side to comfort her,” Commers explained.
With an estimated 3.2 million cats entering shelters each year and around 2.1 million getting adopted, the CFA team is determined to find a loving home for Marriott. They believe her ideal home would be a quiet one, with an owner willing to give her the patience and love she needs.
In a bid to find Marriott her forever family, the CFA shared her story on TikTok (@chesapeakefeline). The video has received over 3,700 views and 800 likes, sparking interest in the “sweet, shy and independent girl.” The shelter has also started a fundraiser to raise $2,000 for the 2,000 days Marriott has spent waiting.
As Marriott has seen many other cats come and go during her time at the shelter, the CFA team firmly believes “it’s her turn to have a family of her own.” With the help of social media and the generosity of potential adopters, they hope Marriott will soon find the loving home she deserves.
