Kitty Spent Years Displaced — Now She’s Ready To Belong: Huntington Adoptable Pet Of The Week

HUNTINGTON, NY — Kitty is a brown tiger cat, about 8–9 years old, with “golden soulful eyes,” and a story the shelter describes as one of resilience and quiet strength.

Kitty once lived at a local riding facility, where the buildings provided safety and shelter, according to Grateful Paw Cat Shelter. But when the facility closed and the structures were demolished, Kitty “suddenly found herself without a home,” the shelter said.

Displaced, she wandered to an industrial area and tried to survive outdoors. The shelter said she was seen there periodically for about six years, until things changed in 2023.

In 2023, a Good Samaritan identified by the shelter as Debra and her coworkers began caring for Kitty Monday through Friday, the shelter said. They also arranged for someone to check on her on weekends to make sure she was fed and safe. But the shelter said that fragile stability was threatened again when the area was set to close.

“That’s when we received the call for help,” said Debbi Larkin, president of the shelter.

Kitty came into the shelter in November, and “to say she was terrified would be an understatement,” the shelter said.

While Kitty had been affectionate and trusting with the Good Samaritan who helped save her, the shelter said she did not understand that being brought in was meant to keep her safe.

After a full veterinary check, Kitty was placed in a room with other gentle cats, the shelter said. Having had feline companions while living outdoors, she adjusted well to their presence. People, however, were “much harder for her,” according to the shelter. Early on, Kitty hid in her cubby and would only peek out long enough to take food before retreating again.

During the first weeks, the shelter said staff monitored her closely to be sure she was eating, drinking, and using the litter box — and she was. The shelter said her weight increased, indicating she was likely coming out at night when things were quiet.

Over time, the shelter said Kitty began to show more comfort and connection. She knows her name and will come when called, as long as she is approached “with patience and sensitivity,” the shelter said.

Kitty enjoys gentle petting, soft massages, scratching, and light brushing, according to the shelter. She does not like to be picked up, but will tolerate it briefly when necessary, such as for weigh-ins.

“If you sit on the floor with her, she will sit beside you,” Larkin said, adding that she sometimes climbs into a lap “for a short, precious moment.”

The shelter also said that “if you are lucky enough, she will lick your hand.”

The shelter said Kitty has relaxed enough to wander around the room and is no longer hiding in the same spot each day — a sign of growing confidence. She has not shown interest in toys yet, which the shelter said is understandable given that she spent most of her life outdoors, focused on survival.

Kitty has been fully vetted by the shelter’s in-house veterinarian, the shelter said. She was already spayed prior to arrival, has tested negative for FeLV and FIV, is parasite-free, fully vaccinated, and reliably litter box trained.

Kitty is learning that she no longer has to search for food, endure snowstorms to find warmth, or hide from the rain, the shelter said. She is receiving safety, care, and kindness at the shelter — but the shelter said what she truly needs is a home where she can finally settle in and “know she belongs.”

Those interested in meeting Kitty can email cats@laphuntington.org, visit the shelter’s Facebook page, or stop by and meet her in person. The shelter is located at 3 Verleye Avenue, East Northport. Visiting hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 12–4 p.m. The shelter also offers Thursday night hours from 7–9 p.m. by appointment only.

“Kitty is truly an old soul in a beautiful body with the most expressive eyes that tell her story,” the shelter said, adding that she is ready for a next chapter “filled with a big snuggle bed, warmth, peace, security, and love.”