Northport Adoptable Pet Of The Week: Maximus

NORTHPORT, NY — Maximus, less than 1-year-old, is a boy kitten and was named the Northport Cat Rescue Association's Kitten of the Week.

Max was adopted as a young kitten about 4 months ago, but he was recently returned to the rescue, said Lora Wild, a volunteer with the organization.

"This sweet boy was the silliest and sweetest kitten when he was under NCRA care," Wild said.

He was fostered with tons of love until he was about 3 months old, according to Wild. Maximus was friendly, loving and playful, along with his three siblings. He was placed in the rescue's habitats to help get him noticed by potential adopters. All of his siblings were adopted. He was the last one left and seemed to be overlooked time and time again. Each rescue volunteer fell in love with Maximus, Wild said.

"The day came and he was finally adopted by a family with very young toddlers and two cats," she said. "Updates came that Max was very sweet and loving to the family’s other cats but that he was quite nervous around the toddlers. When they went to sleep at night, Max would come out for love and play time. Once the updates stopped coming, we assumed Max came around and would live happily ever after. Unfortunately, we then received a message from his adopters a few weeks ago that they no longer wanted Max, because he was hiding in their basement, not being friendly enough to the toddlers in the home."

Max was returned to the rescue, nervous and very confused, according to Wild. He went back into the rescue's habitat at Petco Commack, where his original foster mom could visit him, and his old volunteer friends were able to help him remember how truly loved he still is.

"We are never sure what happens when a cat gets adopted, but we always hope that with time all of our kittens and cats get all the love and care they need to live the rest of their lives happy," Wild said. "Every once in a while, a fur baby will come back to us, through no fault of their own. Sometimes it’s a change in an adopter's circumstances. Sometimes it is just not a great match. Sometimes they are not given enough time to adjust. Sometimes a family will lose interest in a kitten that is now all grown up and sometimes a cat is just not happy in the home they are in."

Wild called Maximus an "amazing cat" who loves people and adores other cats.

"We believe the very young age of the children in the home he was adopted into was too overwhelming for Max," she said. "He was never mean, just scared. In a home with older children and/or adults, we know Max will thrive and he would love other cats to play with, too. He is silly and patient, beautiful and affectionate and just wants to be loved. He deserves another chance and we hope he doesn’t have to wait too long to be adopted. Max may no longer be the tiny kitten he once was, but he has the cutest personality and shows it to our volunteers each and every day as he sits and waits once again to be noticed."

Maximus is neutered, has all his shots, is litter box-trained, and micro-chipped and FELV/FIV negative.

If you are interested in meeting Maximus, you may head to the Northport Cat Rescue website and fill out an application to let them know you would like to meet him or any of the rescue's other wonderful kittens and cats! Or you can call NCRA at 631-606-2631 or email info@northportcatrescue.org.