"World's worst cat" goes viral online, gets over 100 applications for adoption, and finally, after years of waiting, finds her purrfect forever home: 'They adore her, and she tolerates them'

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Feb 27, 2026 10:00 AM EST

There is no such thing as a bad cat, only a cat whose love language is a little unconventional. 

As much as we like looking at our little cats and calling them our babies, we do, in fact, know that they are a different species from us. That is a crucial part of understanding them, actually. If you expect a cat to act the same way that a human baby would, you are bound to misunderstand them. People who think that cats don't love their humans are simply people who don't understand the way that cats show affection - because they expect that affection to be given to them in a language that they immediately understand. 

Cats show their humans they love them in small ways. It could be slow blinking at you, it could be turning their back to you, it could be sleeping next to you. All of these count. Not all cats are velcro cats. They don't have to snuggle in your lap for hours for you to understand that they care about you. That's nearly excessive for some of them. And some cats… well, some of them are a little more wary of humans than others, so you have to look a little more carefully to understand their love language. Calling them "bad cats" is not the solution. The solution is understanding that their being in the same room with you is already a very high degree of honor and actually appreciating it. 

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  • 01
    PERDITA, WE THOUGHT SHE WAS SICK, TURNS OUT SHE'S JUST A J World's Worst Cat
    via Mitchell County Animal Rescue, Inc-North Carolina
  • 02
    Meet Perdita, not for the faint of heart.
    via Mitchell County Animal Rescue, Inc-North Carolina
  • 03
    LIKES: staring into your soul until you feel as if you may never be cheerful again; the song Cat Scratch Fever, the movie Pet Cemetery (Church is her hero), jump scares (her specialty), lurking in dark corners, being queen of her domicile, fooling shelter staff into thinking she's sick (vet agrees...she's just a j )
    via Mitchell County Animal Rescue, Inc-North Carolina
  • 04
    DISLIKES: the color pink, kittens (yuk they are so chipper), dogs, children, the Dixie Chicks, Disney movies, Christmas and last but NOT least...HUGS.
    via Mitchell County Animal Rescue, Inc-North Carolina
  • 05
    She's single and ready to be socially awkward with a socially awkward human who understands personal space. FREE ADOPTION
    via Mitchell County Animal Rescue, Inc-North Carolina

  • Calling her the “world's worst cat” was either the most offensive thing in the world, or the smartest. Because on the one hand, there is no such a thing as a bad cat. There are grumpy cats, there are cats with an attitude, but they all have a furrever home out there waiting for them, they simply have not found their human yet. “Socially awkward” cat is a much more apt description. On the other hand, calling the cat “the worst cat in the world” was literally the best way to get attention to the kitty. Heck, if she hadn't been adopted yet, we would have been one of the people sending in an application. She. is. purrfect. 

  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10608059904
    via Mitchell County Animal Rescue, Inc-North Carolina
  • 07
    Cheezburger Image 10608059648
    via Mitchell County Animal Rescue, Inc-North Carolina
  • 08
    Today has been a pretty great day for Perdita! She has had 115+ applications for adoption, hundreds of emails of love and support and many, many phone calls. If you have called, messaged or emailed and we have not returned your messages, please be patient, we are working hard to speak with everyone we can.
    via Mitchell County Animal Rescue, Inc-North Carolina
  • 09
    We are no longer taking applications for her adoption and have narrowed the search down some today. We will make a decsion Monday on her home and keep everyone posted. She is a spectacular cat.
    via Mitchell County Animal Rescue, Inc-North Carolina

  • Over 100 applications, and you know what? All is right with the world. That is how things should be. A cat in need should call in the attention of hundreds of people. Really, this story gives us so much hope for humanity. Perdita is going to be so happy in her new home, committing crimes and ruling the house with an iron paw like the purrfect little dictator that she is. We just hope that her new servants grace us with updates about her every once in a while. 

  • 10
    Cheezburger Image 10608061184
    via Mitchell County Animal Rescue, Inc-North Carolina
  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 10608061440
    via Mitchell County Animal Rescue, Inc-North Carolina
  • 12
    LLL
    via Mitchell County Animal Rescue, Inc-North Carolina
  • 13
    Perdita is not impressed with her new found fame. She is being her spicy self. This video. was made this morning. She enjoyed her head scratches and growls at the end to let us know she was done. We love this spirited, strong-willed, beauty. We have given her privacy and quiet as much as possible.
    via Mitchell County Animal Rescue, Inc-North Carolina
  • 14
    We are carefully considering each of the 50+ applications we have received for her. Love and support for Perdita has poured in from all over the world. We are thrilled that so many people are passionate about cats like her. We will keep everyone posted about her adoption when it happens.
    via Mitchell County Animal Rescue, Inc-North Carolina
  • 15
    Cheezburger Image 10608061696
    via Mitchell County Animal Rescue, Inc-North Carolina
  • 16
    Today is a bittersweet day. Perdita has brought so much joy to the staff here at MCAR. We have loved getting to know her and watching her come out of her slappy shell. Today she went to her forever home with Joe and Betty from Monroe County, TN.
    via Mitchell County Animal Rescue, Inc-North Carolina
  • 17
    They adore her and she tolerates them. She wouldn't let us take adoption photos in our photo booth, she just growled and ran out of the room. She was in a hurry to get home where she will have her own private bedroom to stay in until she is ready to transition to the rest of the home. Then she will have access to the many catwalks, indoor cat trees, enclosed cattery and cat pond.
    via Mitchell County Animal Rescue, Inc-North Carolina
  • 18
    Seriously, I want to live there. Joe and Betty have decided to change her name to Noel, just in case the name Perdita is the cause of her anger. (We can't blame them for that!) You can follow Perdita/Noel on Instagram... perditas journey.
    via Mitchell County Animal Rescue, Inc-North Carolina
  • 19
    I can't wait to watch her go from the #Worldsworstcat to the World's Best Cat. Happy Tails, Perdy (as I call her) may the catnip be plentiful, the music classical, the bed always fluffy and the journey smooth. Thank you for letting us share your story with the world.
    via Mitchell County Animal Rescue, Inc-North Carolina
  • 20
    Michelle Leigh So very awesome!! Now, everyone who applied to get Perdita.... There are THOUSANDS of kitties in need of a forever home. Go get them!
    via Michelle Leigh
  • 21
    Lisa Johnson Auman Whoever was behind the promotion of this cat needs to develop a narrative about all of your cats at the rescue. This cat developed such a following, nationwide in fact. It just goes to show what networking and promotion can do to save the lives of homeless animals.
    via Lisa Johnson Auman
  • 22
    Sarah Zed "They adore her and she tolerates them." best line ever. And so very true. Congratulations to Joe and Betty and Noel!
    via Sarah Zed

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aww wholesome cat adorable adoption heartwarming cute adopted story Cats rescue
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