Is the Word “Unadoptable” Meaningless?

We usually say that the residents at the RAPS Cat Sanctuary are “unadoptable.” But what does that mean?

Well, sometimes … it means nothing.

The cats who live at our Sanctuary often have a physical or behavioural issue. This means they are unlikely to find a forever family.

RAPS Cat Sanctuary is a home for many cats with chronic but manageable health conditions like diabetes, feline leukemia or FIV (“feline AIDS”). These cats may live long and happy lives – but the simple reality of supply and demand means that most would languish at an adoption centre while kittens or cats with no known health conditions get adopted. This is true as well for older cats, who are less likely to be adopted.

Others have behavioural issues. Most people do not want to adopt a cat that is likely to slash their human if they get too close. We’ve got more than a few like that at the Sanctuary!

But this is where the word “unadoptable” loses its meaning.

Sometimes RAPS Cat Sanctuary residents who are considered “unadoptable” make a match with people and go to a forever home outside the place we call our “Kitty Club Med.”

We’ve had a few such cases recently, including Westin, Root Beer, Eddie, Ophelia and Solstice, among others. Each of these felines was assumed to be “unadoptable” but the term didn’t take. They found forever families.

Ophelia needs eye drops. It’s not a huge deal. But it can be a deal-breaker for plenty of people, especially if they have a choice to adopt a cat who doesn’t require eye drops! Someone eventually bonded with her at the Sanctuary and took her home – viewing the eye drops as a small price to pay for a loving relationship

Others have made similar matches, despite whatever health or other concerns an animal may have.

“Some people will fall in love with an animal and just take those conditions as part and parcel with the animal,” says Angie Rostron, the Sanctuary manager.

Even happy endings sometimes come with mixed emotions. By the time Root Beer found a forever home, he had wound his way into the hearts of many of the Sanctuary’s volunteers and regular visitors. Everyone was thrilled that he was going to a family home, but there were a few tears shed at the goodbyes.

Some cats are picky (is that an understatement?!) and it takes them a while to pick the right human. This is the case with several of the cats who have been adopted from the Sanctuary. There have been instances where we thought a particular cat simply objected to humans as a species. And then – shocker – along comes some unique biped and the cat makes a special bond.

In a conventional adoption centre, these cats might languish in a kennel for months at a time – sometimes years. In the worst case scenario (a far-too-common occurrence in organizations that do not share RAPS’ no-kill commitment) they would be euthanized.

Because of the RAPS Cat Sanctuary, which provides a (presumably) permanent home for “unadoptable” cats, these cats are able to enjoy life with all the amenities and care they need and, occasionally, someone falls in love with them (or they fall in love with someone) and the word “unadoptable” is redefined to mean “adoptable when the stars align.”

Wherever and however these animals live, their well-being is made possible by the animal allies who make our work possible – the volunteers and financial supporters who make the Sanctuary run – and the adopters who see the spark of magnificence in cats the world might have otherwise forgotten.