By Corrie Whittemore, Adoption Coordinator

Some cats capture the hearts of our staff and volunteers from the minute they arrive at Animal Friends. Clyde was certainly one of those cats.

Clyde came to Animal Friends earlier this year when his owner was experiencing some health issues and was no longer able to care for him. We know it is never easy to make the decision to surrender a beloved pet, but sometimes it is best for both the animal and the family.

Clyde took some time to settle into his new routine at Animal Friends. He seemed shut down and depressed while he was first settling in, so our skilled staff and volunteers began their compassionate work with him right away. Through their dedication and patience, Clyde began making some progress on his social skills. Before we knew it, Clyde was one of the more outgoing cats we have had at Animal Friends and he began making friends with everyone.

When Clyde first arrived, the initial exam by our Medical team showed that he was suffering from hyperthyroidism, which is when a cat has an over production of the thyroid hormone and an increase in their metabolic rate. To manage this, we started Clyde on a daily medication that he will need to take for the rest of his life. This can sometimes be a challenging thing to ask of our adopters, but we believe the right family was out there. Clyde would need someone who was committed to helping him feel his best no matter what it took.

The day finally arrived that Clyde’s new family came to meet some cats and they fell in love with his sweet face. They had adopted a cat from Animal Friends last year and were so happy with their experience and their new family member that they decided to return to find a companion for their resident kitty. It was love at first purr for both Clyde and his new family.

Today, Clyde is living his best life in his new home! His family tells us that he enjoys nothing more than snuggling up on a comfortable lap and getting plenty of pets and belly rubs. They were also pleasantly surprised to find Clyde to be the softest cat they’ve ever had! Clyde’s family wrapped up their most recent update on him with this, “I know he was there for some time, but I’ll tell you, I feel sorry for everyone that passed him up!”

Happy tails, Clyde!