'Very Interactive' Yani: Huntington Adoptable Pet Of The Week

HUNTINGTON, NY — Yani, a 9-month-old bi-color kitten who entered the shelter in September, is the Grateful Paw Cat Shelter's Huntington Pet of the Week.

He arrived with his two sisters who were adopted together, but Yani is still waiting for his forever home, said Debbi Larkin, president of the shelter.

"All three kittens had the misfortune of being born in a trap to a feral mom," Larkin said. "The mom was TNR’d and released because she was so wild, but we took all three kittens with the hope of socializing them so they could be adopted…and now we really need to help this handsome boy."

Yani entered the kitten room later than his sisters, not because of his personality, but because he had a few health issues that needed to be addressed, Larkin said. He had conjunctivitis, a "very bad" upper respiratory disease, and then he had ringworm, she said.

He spent almost a month in isolation away from the other kittens, Larkin said.

"How scary that must have been for him, to come into the shelter with his sisters and then be taken away and have no interaction except for the two volunteers who took care of him," she said. "Thankfully he recovered fully and has been thriving in the kitten room with all of the others."

Yani is very playful and outgoing and will chase the feather toy, the stuffed mice and the springs
for hours, Larkin said. He loves to play with the others and will usually start the activity.

"He adores the others in the room but it must be so sad for him that he constantly is overlooked," she said. "He usually finds a 'best buddy' to cuddle with but then they leave the shelter because they are going home with their humans."

When he is not playing with all of the toys in the room or cuddling with one of the girls, he can
always be found sitting on the highest perch so he can get the best view looking out the
window. And if he is feeling very cuddly he will share his perch with them. Yani also has quite
the hearty appetite and is usually the first one at the food plate when it arrives, according to Larkin.

"It is sometimes a challenge trying to get into the room with the food because he is under your feet leading the way to get the prime spot!"

The rescue does not require kittens to be adopted in pairs, but Larkin said she and her team feel it would be in Yani's best interest to either go home with one of the other kittens at the shelter or to a home with another kitten or cat.

"He is very interactive and would really do well," she said.

Yani has been completely vetted, had all of his vaccines, was checked for parasites, tested negative
for FELV and FIV, is neutered and is litter box trained.

If you are interested in meeting Yani, you may call the shelter at 631-757-4517, email cats@laphuntington.org, visit the Facebook page or visit at the Grateful Paw Cat Shelter.

The rescue is at 3 Verleye Ave., East Northport, and visiting hours are Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

The shelter is also open from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday nights only for those who cannot make it during the daytime hours.

"Before this gentle boy gets any older and has to be moved into the teenage/adult room when the kittens arrive, let’s give him his own forever home with his own humans," Larkin said. "He deserves a chance just like his sisters! How can you look into those beautiful yellow eyes and not fall in love? He is waiting patiently for you to visit and ask to meet him, so he can choose you!"