All shelter animals are just waiting for the day they’re finally adopted, but sometimes it takes a long time to find a home – like an adorable 9-year-old cat who spent his entire life in the shelter being passed over.
But now Barney’s story finally has a happy ending.
Barney has been in the care of the Emmet County Animal Shelter since he was a kitten. According to People, Barney’s mother was pregnant and found in a feral cat colony; An animal rescuer took her in, where she gave birth to her kittens, including Barney.
The kittens were brought to ECAS and placed up for adoption, but for some reason, Barney was always passed over.
“He just wasn’t chosen,” shelter director Kristy Henning told People, saying that while Barney was “super sociable and affectionate,” there were just more cats than adopters at the busy shelter.
“Although Barney is handsome, healthy, friendly, and outgoing, so are more than 100 other people in our care,” Henning told Newsweek. “It’s a supply and demand issue in most Midwest and southern states. Our supply is often astronomical, and the demand for adopting a cat or kitten is quite low.”
For the next nine years, ECAS tried to find a home for Barney, but no one would take him. The poor cat spent his entire life at the shelter waiting to be adopted.
But Barney’s fortunes changed last month after a Reddit post about him went viral. “Meet Barney, he’s been at his shelter since he was born,” the post reads. “He’s 9 years old and the happiest-looking cat you’ll see today.”
The post received over 53,000 upvotes and over a thousand comments, with many expressing their love for the sweet cat and wondering why he hasn’t been adopted yet.
“HOW HAS THIS BOY NOT BEEN ADOPTED?” one comment reads. “Barney is beautiful!” He never had a home! I wish I could adopt this majestic baby and give him the best life,” another wrote.
Thankfully, several people even expressed interest in adopting him: “I applied, he’s adorable and I love him! I hope someone gets him soon if I don’t!”, one comment reads.
After nine years without success, the shelter received 15 applications to adopt Barney, including one from Amanda Scherer.
“I was scrolling through Reddit and he popped up … I saw him and thought he was super cute,” Scherer told the Des Moines Register. “They said he’d been there for nine years, I really wanted to give him a home.”
Even though the Scherer family lived six hours from the shelter, they were happy to make the trip and give Barney the home he deserved. Although he was nervous the first few days, Barney has been warming up to his new family.
A follow-up to the viral Reddit post shows Barney enjoying his new home: “Barney’s new family is showing him so much love and wanted to share him getting comfortable with all of his new [toys],” the post reads.
No cat should have to spend that long in a shelter, but we’re glad Barney’s long wait is finally over and he has a sweet forever home!