'Shut-Down' Black Cat Spent 899 Days in Shelter - Then One Moment Changed Everything
Some dogs and cats in shelters wait longer to be adopted than others. It can be due to age, health, or even size. In other cases, an animal may have a very traumatic past and is still trying to recover emotionally. The healing process takes time and often hinders a shelter dog or cat from showing their true personality.
Skippy the black cat waited over two years at the NAWS Humane Society in Illinois for someone to give him a chance at finding forever family - and then it finally happened.
@franflight HAPPY TEARS GUYS! I'm hoping this video brings you all so much joy tonight. Thank you SO much to Lisa and Josh for not only seeing and understanding Skippy, but for allowing us to be involved with him and the adjustment process. I truly am so grateful to both of you. Thank you to Maria for fostering Skippy to get him out of the shelter and just for being the most perfect human on this planet. Thank you to all of you for advocating for an overlooked, black, shelter cat who truly needed our help. Because of you all he is home. I love you guys so much and am so grateful to be involved in this community for these animals. #adopt#adoptdontshop#catadoption#cats#cat
Coming Up Roses - Harry Styles
The TikTok from @franflight shared Skippy's story, where the black cat was often passed over for adoption since he was emotionally closed off due to past trauma.
"Skippy continuously shut down at the shelter, which made him very hard to adopt," the onscreen text shared. "All he wanted to do with us was hide away."
Thankfully, a lovely couple opened their hearts to the feline fur baby and officially made him a member of their family.
"Skippy has waited 899 days to find his forever home," the story explained as the NAWS staff member lovingly held Skippy in her arms. "On his 900th day, someone finally saw him. Our sweet boy was finally going home."
Skippy Has a New Life
The feline fur baby settled into his new home and is now enjoying a life of love and security. The video featured clips of Skippy lounging in his cozy cat bed, playing with his feline brother, and pawing at a cat toy.
"Things are so different now that he found his patient and loving home," the text continued. "A home where he can be confident. A home where he has a big brother to help him grow his confidence. A home where he can finally be himself."
The TikTok concluded with a shoutout to Skippy's new parents, who gave him the chance he deserved, and to followers who shared his story, stating, "These animals deserve to have their stories told. They deserve to be heard and seen."
For more information about the NAWS Humane Society or to make a donation, visit their website.
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This story was originally published May 11, 2026 at 7:10 PM.