Shelter employee refuses to let healthy cat be euthanized for needing more than a day to acclimate to a new home, fights relentlessly to save him, and a stranger who is moved by the cat's story online steps up and adopts him

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Sep 6, 2026 2:15 PM EDT

When bringing a cat to a shelter, it is crucial to look up that shelter's policies. 

Cat shelters, generally, are beautiful places. They are places full of the kindest people with the best of intentions. People who want to take care of cats who need their help the most. People who want to find as many cats forever homes as possible. We look at shelters as safe places, places that we recommend people bring cats to - if they rescue a cat and can't keep it or if they need to surrender a cat for any reason. Shelters are better than abandoning a cat in need on the street. Right? Almost. 

No-k*ll shelters are the ones that you actually want to look for. These are the places where euthanasia is used as a last-last resort, only if the animal is suffering and cannot be helped. Those are places where, even if funds are low and adopters are not coming, euthanasia will not be used on a healthy animal. In our minds, when we write about cats being surrendered to shelters, we always assume it's a no-k*ll shelter that they are being brought to. We do it not because we don't know better, but because it makes us feel better to ignore this issue. Bringing a cat to a shelter is better than dumping it outside. It gives them an actual chance. 

But the problem is there, and "k*ll shelters" exist, unfortunately. That's where today's story is set. In a place like that. But even in places like that, good people exist. And the healthy cat that was saved from euthanasia in this story was saved by one of these good people. 

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  • 01

    "Local shelter euthanizing healthy cat on Thursday :("

    Cheezburger Image 10660201472
    via Apart-Musician4053
  • 02
    My roommate works at an animal shelter, and they're euthanizing this 4 year old cat, Papaya, because he's taking time to acclimate to his foster homes.
    via Apart-Musician4053
  • 03
    He's traumatized, he was placed in a cardboard box shut with duct tape, and his been returned twice after a day. My roommate says he needs at least three days to acclimate to a new space.
    via Apart-Musician4053
  • 04
    He hasn't bitten anyone during his 2 months at the shelter, and he's healthy. What can I do to help find a foster for him? What websites are best, I want him to have a fair shot.
    via Apart-Musician4053
  • 05
    Cheezburger Image 10660206336
    via Unsplash / Carolina de León

    Close up of a cat looking at the camera.

    Licensed media provided as editorial context.

  • 06
    UPDATE: I have found two people interested in fostering in Papaya. He has officially been taken off of the euthanasia list.
    via Apart-Musician4053
  • 07
    I do have to give big kudos to my roommate for raising h I for this cat to have a chance at a better life.
    via Apart-Musician4053
  • 08
    Cheezburger Image 10660204544
    via Unsplash / Carolina de León

    Orange and white cat lying on top of a couch.

    Photo is a representation of scenes.

  • 09
    FINAL UPDATE: Papaya was placed as adoption only, so the two fosters didnt work out. BUT a redditor came forward and is adopting him this weekend! Thank you all for caring about Papaya, and the words of encouragement <3
    via Apart-Musician4053
  • 10
    Cheezburger Image 10660207104
    via Unsplash / Carolina Heza - carolinahdzz

    Orange and white cat lying on top of a bed.

    Model portrayal.

  • 11
    Powered-by-Chai People are so impatient, any normal cat is going to be hiding and scared after only one day in a new place. I wish I was closer, I love working on shy cats, it's the best feeling in the world when you gain their trust.
    via Powered-by-Chai
  • 12
    Cheezburger Image 10660201984
    via Unsplash / Carolina Heza - carolinahdzz

    Beautiful striped white and orange cat with green eyes. 

    Not actual story subjects.

  • 13
    Fluffy_Carrot_4284 He was returned twice after a day by fosters? Foster homes are supposed to be understanding of cats like these and patient, helping them to become more confident. I wouldn't work with those fosters anymore but I guess when these places are full to capacity you need to take whatever you can get.
    via Fluffy_Carrot_4284
  • 14
    Cheezburger Image 10660205824
    via Unsplash / Slava L - slava_0

    Cute orange and white cat lying on top of a blue couch.

    Stock photography for depiction only.

  • 15
    sussiiie Wow, that's awful. I wish I could do something but I'm at capacity. Some cats can take months to adjust to changes. I took in a traumatized 12 year old cat. His owners had moved 7-10 years prior and just left him there. He was living on the
    via sussiiie
  • 16
    streets on the outskirts of a feral community that was being fed by a local vet tech until he got a bad case of fleas and needed treatment for anemia. I ended up adopting him before he finished his treatment. He came home 2 weeks later. I put him in the bathroom to start and he
    via sussiiie
  • 17
    happily lived there for 6 months until he very clearly asked to be let out. I would spend time in the bathroom often, near him but not bothering him. He would huddle behind the toilet but eventually moved to something I bought him that was covered (not a carrier).
    via sussiiie
  • 18
    Long story short, that's a picture of him by year 2. If you can find someone patient, that cat can be homed.
    via sussiiie
  • 19
    P ASQUERADING A NORMAL IRSON DAY
    via sussiiie
  • 20
    manicstateofmind my boy was returned by his foster because he was "too naughty" aka... just being a kitten. Then was turned down by multiple people at the shelter because of his eye. It took him several weeks to actually come near me but i wouldn't trade him for the world.
    via manicstateofmind
  • 21
    Cheezburger Image 10660201728
    via manicstateofmind

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