Former feral cat with a face full of scars keeps getting overlooked at the shelter, until one visitor returns for him 3 separate times and adopts him

Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager

Jun 13, 2026 10:15 AM EDT

It's a tough life out there as a shelter cat. You have to wait for a hooman to see you and your heart, and sometimes, that can take years. For Dr. Vincent "Fancypants" DeNozo, it took longer than it should have. But now, he has a family of his own and a pawrent that loves him!

Not only do black cats have the lowest adoption rate out of any cat breed and color, but former feral ones even less. If you saw a beautiful, clean-looking cat next to one that is full of scars and partially shaved from its fur being matted together, which one would you pick? Well, we know that you would probably pick the scraggly one, but most people would pick the pretty one.

That's how Dr. Vincent "Fancypants" DeNozo from Reddit's r/Cats subreddit felt. He was brought into the shelter after living a rough life in a feral colony outside. He looked ruff, and as a result, he was passed over many times by potential pawrents looking to adopt. Until, one purrson formed a connection with him, saw how beautiful he was underneath, and came back three times to finally adopt him.

Now, Dr. Vincent "Fancypants" DeNozo loves his head scratches. He relishes in cuddles. He gets along with his new cat siblings and drools when he's happy. Dr. Vincent "Fancypants" DeNozo is finally living the good life, healing, and beginning his joyous journey to the indoor life slowly but surely.

It just takes one purrson to change a cat's life - be that purrson. Adopt the scraggly-looking cat, they often love the hardest.

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Former feral cats can be tricky. It can take them a lot of time to adjust to being indoors and to let go of all of those instincts that kept them alive while living outside. They usually don't get along with other cats and can be… temperamental (to say the least). But not all of them. Some of them were waiting to be picked up and pampered their whole lives - these ones adjust quickly, like Dr. Vincent "Fancypants" DeNozo. We're glad he's finally getting what he's wanted all along.
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Cats have the best names. Dog owners always name their dogs something normal like “Spot” or “Rupert”. Dr. Vincent "Fancypants" DeNozo is far superior.
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