Animal shelter volunteer surprises long-time black cat resident with signed adoption papers so neither of them will spend Christmas alone

Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager

Dec 4, 2025 12:00 PM EST

No one should spend Christmas alone, whether they're hooman or feline. We feel especially bad for all the kitties sitting alone in shelters during the holiday season. They could be snuggled up next to their pawrents, sleeping in, or rushing down to climb the tree and nearly ruin Christmas. But instead, they're all stuck in tiny cages… except this beautiful black baby below. He's been in the shelter for nearly a year now with 0 adoption applications, until one of the volunteers decided to take him home. Now, they'll get to spend Christmas together!

Cats are the gift that keeps on giving, but we do feel a need to say that you should not give a cat as a surprise to a family member or friend. A cat is a 15+ year responsibility, and although they are relatively low-maintenance, they still change your life in many ways. Everyone needs to be on board with that change, or else the cat, and the hooman will suffer.

You have no idea how many cats are returned to shelters after the holidays because people either weren't prepurred or weren't aware of how much attention cats require. Instead of surprising someone, talk about it with them first, then take them with you to the shelter and pick out the cat together. Then everyone gets a happily ever after this Christmas!

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This handsome boy, who has spent nearly a year at the cat rescue where I volunteer, is getting a forever home with me for Christmas.

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It is sad, but he's about to be sad no more because he's going home fur good! Black cats are still the least adopted kind of cat in 2025, so they get passed over like week-old leftovers. To us, he's absolutely purrfect.
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Purrsonally, we love black cats. We think they're the cutest ones. We do love orange cats, and we have a soft spot for torties…. but black cats are always the sweetest.
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