Ivan The Handicapped Cat Finds Home After More Than 2,000 Inquires From Across Globe

JAMAICA PLAIN, MA — Everyone knows Ivan, the cat with deformed legs who had been passed over for weeks in the shelter, but no one knows who the loving adopter is who took the kitty in. But the person, or family, who adopted Ivan, a cat who had been surrendered to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals due to his deformities, wishes to remain anonymous, including not disclosing his or her hometown.

Before a plea was issued, Ivan sat in the shelter without a single inquiry for adoption. After a shoutout through the media, the MSPCA's shelter in Jamaica Plain received more than 450 inquires for Ivan within 24 hours, according to MSPCA spokesman Rob Halpin. Ultimately, Ivan received nearly 2,000 inquiries from more 40 states, Canada, the U.K., Spain, Thailand, China and Australia.

• Subscribe to your local Patch for news alert and newsletters

"We have selected one lucky family for Ivan," said the MSPCA in a statement. "He also drew in some really wonderful folks to our adoption center who decided to adopt other special cats, including two 15+ year old cats! In fact, we adopted out every single cat in our adoption room on Saturday. Thanks to everyone who shared his story, came to visit him and applied to adopt. This was an incredibly difficult decision to make, but we're thrilled to be sending him to a great home and that he encouraged so many other wonderful adoptions this weekend!

• You can follow Ivan's story on Instagram @IvanTheTwisted.

The adorable 10-month-old tuxedo cat was passed over because of a handicap. The super-social kitty cannot walk properly because he's got malformed legs. It was because of his malformed legs that Ivan's previous owner surrendered him.

MSPCA-Angell adoption center manager Alyssa Krieger believes Ivan is just as deserving as any other cat, however. Ivan loves to be held and petted. "What Ivan lacks in mobility he more than makes up for in personality," Krieger said in a statement.

Halpin said that Ivan is leaving on Wednesday for his new home.

Photos via MSPCA