A cat found seemingly abandoned outside the gates of a California animal shelter is facing an uphill battle to find a new forever home.
Elderly cats are scared and confused at the shelter
Shaun Paw, a 4-year-old cat, was first spotted sitting outside the Valley Animal Center in Fresno back in February. “He was spotted sitting outside of our facility’s gate when I was leaving work for the day,” said Minah Camacho, the shelter’s cat care associate.
Shaun wasn’t surrendered by an owner – he wasn’t neutered or microchipped and had no visible identification. Even so, the shelter staff suspect Shaun once had a home. “It’s suspected that he may have been dumped as he warmed up to our staff extremely fast and never showed any signs of aggression toward humans as unsocialized cats normally would,” Camacho explained.
Adjusting to the busy shelter environment has been difficult for Shaun. “At first, he was very scared and confused and would cry a lot. He genuinely just wanted someone to be by his side constantly to reassure him and give him pets,” Camacho said. Shaun also struggled with being around so many other cats, something he didn’t seem accustomed to.
While Shaun has grown more confident in the shelter, he still struggles. “During the summertime, we do need to keep the Catio doors closed, and he has resorted to staring out of his room window directly at staff and stare us down until we finally break and go give him some love and treats,” Camacho said.
Elderly cat Shaun Paw is waiting for a new home after arriving at the shelter
Finding a new home may be challenging for Shaun. Older cats face lower adoption rates compared to kittens. Camacho believes Shaun’s large size and tendency to be “a bit growly” with other cats could put off potential adopters. However, the shelter staff know the perfect home is out there for this gentle giant who just wants affection.
“He is kind of like a bubbly dog in a sense; very food motivated, loves people, and loves his outdoor time,” Camacho said. With patience and the right environment, the shelter is confident Shaun can adjust and thrive. “He may have never really had a household environment before; they may be his first experience in one, so his adjustment process will need a lot of patience,” Camacho added.
