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Approximately 3.2 million cats enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year, of which about 1.6 million are adopted. By adopting, people are providing these majestic animals with the second chance they deserve. After all, many of them have been rescued from terrible circumstances such as cruelty, neglect, and abandonment, or their owners were simply no longer able to look after them.

One of the places that celebrate pets finding their new homes is the subreddit r/BeforeNAfterAdoption. There, owners share their heartwarming stories, often providing pictures of their new family members as well. Taken before and after their adoption, these images accentuate the amazing difference a loving family can make for an abandoned or mistreated animal.

Here are some of the cats featured on the subreddit.

Experts estimate that about 35% of all households in the United States have a cat. So my question to the rest of you is this: what are you waiting for? I'm joking, of course. Bringing home an animal is a big responsibility (which comes with many rewards), and should not be something you rush into. If you are unsure whether or not you are ready to make this move, check out this cat adoption checklist by American Humane and this cat care guide by ASPCA. They should give you the information you need to make up your mind.

#2

Took A Chance, And Decided To Rehabilitate This Boy Instead Of Letting Him Be Put Down. One Of The Best Decisions Of My Life

Took A Chance, And Decided To Rehabilitate This Boy Instead Of Letting Him Be Put Down. One Of The Best Decisions Of My Life

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Danger Noodle
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish more could be done to prevent healthy (*edit*) and unhealthy animals from unnecessarily being put down. All animals deserve the right to live and love somebody they can trust, whether human or animal. Thank you for giving him a chance!

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In the meantime, check out other posts Bored Panda has done on the topic: in the past, we published before-and-after adoption photos of not only cats, but also dogs, and pretty much any pet that can end up in a shelter.

Let's end things off with a quote from Matthew Bershadker, ASPCA President and CEO, that really puts things into perspective: "Helping vulnerable animals and keeping pets in safe and loving homes requires a commitment from all of us—advocates, pet owners, shelters, leaders, and entire communities. When we work together under a common cause, we're both saving lives and elevating our society and its laws to ensure cruelty victims and other at-risk animals receive the protection and care they deserve."

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#3

What A Foster Home Can Do For A Sick Cat...now Misza Is Enjoying His Cat Retirement After Being A Neglected Feral For 15 Years

What A Foster Home Can Do For A Sick Cat...now Misza Is Enjoying His Cat Retirement After Being A Neglected Feral For 15 Years

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#4

Toby And Quinton Were Rescued Together And Adopted As A Bonded Pair. Toby Has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome And Quinton Was Toothless. They Became Brave And Happy . Quinton Passed Away Recently, I'm So Glad We Had Him For The Time We Did And He Passed Knowing We Would Keep His Best Friend Safe

Toby And Quinton Were Rescued Together And Adopted As A Bonded Pair. Toby Has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome And Quinton Was Toothless. They Became Brave And Happy . Quinton Passed Away Recently, I'm So Glad We Had Him For The Time We Did And He Passed Knowing We Would Keep His Best Friend Safe

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#5

8 Years Ago Today The Triplets Were Born. From Bottle Feeding Every 3 Hours, To Beautiful Lazy Babies. Bob, Possum, And Arwyn Made Me The Crazy Cat Lady I Am Today

8 Years Ago Today The Triplets Were Born. From Bottle Feeding Every 3 Hours, To Beautiful Lazy Babies. Bob, Possum, And Arwyn Made Me The Crazy Cat Lady I Am Today

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#6

Before And After. What A Transformation!

Before And After. What A Transformation!

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#7

Bones Had Some Issues With Ringworm When We First Found Him (~8 Weeks), But He’s All Better Now (2 Years)!

Bones Had Some Issues With Ringworm When We First Found Him (~8 Weeks), But He’s All Better Now (2 Years)!

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#8

A Local Vet Treated This Rescued Stray From A Bad Case Of Fungus/Ringworm Few Months Ago. Look At Her Now

A Local Vet Treated This Rescued Stray From A Bad Case Of Fungus/Ringworm Few Months Ago. Look At Her Now

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#9

Our Kitty Was Already An Adult In The Photo On The Left. A 6 Month Glow Up

Our Kitty Was Already An Adult In The Photo On The Left. A 6 Month Glow Up

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#10

My Mom Is A Realtor. She Went To Show An Empty House And Found That The Previous Owners Had Left Something Behind

My Mom Is A Realtor. She Went To Show An Empty House And Found That The Previous Owners Had Left Something Behind

After checking with the listing agent and finding out that the person who had loved her was deceased, she went back and brought her home. Name suggestions are welcome

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Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How could the person in charge of the deceased person’s estate just leave the cat in the house? Thus isn’t something new, btw. A friend of mine rescued a purebred schnauzer puppy from a cage with no food or water in an empty house for sale. Fritz lived a long and happy life with my friend. He loved all people, all animals (his best friend was a cat), and beachcombing (I’d find a shell, he’d sniff it, and go find a shell of his own). He died in his sleep, a very content and happy little old man.

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#12

Two Months Ago I Found Him Mangled, Probably Had Been Run Over, And Almost Dead Due To Dehydration. Vets Had To Amputate One Of His Front Legs And Tail. Today We Finally Took The Cone Of Shame Off And Let Him Chill With Us On The Bed

Two Months Ago I Found Him Mangled, Probably Had Been Run Over, And Almost Dead Due To Dehydration. Vets Had To Amputate One Of His Front Legs And Tail. Today We Finally Took The Cone Of Shame Off And Let Him Chill With Us On The Bed

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Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Miraculous recovery. You snatched him from the very jaws of death.

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#13

Rey When I Found Her On The Street And At 1 Year Old. Good Job, Baby Girl!

Rey When I Found Her On The Street And At 1 Year Old. Good Job, Baby Girl!

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#14

Two Months Of Love Changed Mr. Biscuits

Two Months Of Love Changed Mr. Biscuits

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#15

Found This Girl In November 2019

Found This Girl In November 2019

She walked right up to the door of my job. I posted on social media seeing if anyone would claim her, but someone said she looked like a stray that hung around the dumpster outside his job. I named her Hops after the restaurant. She’s now chunky and happy

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#16

From Being Found In Our Woodshed Two Years Ago With Wounds The Vet Believes Was From A Coyote , To Yesterday A Happy Healthy House Kitty. Meet Chip!

From Being Found In Our Woodshed Two Years Ago With Wounds The Vet Believes Was From A Coyote , To Yesterday A Happy Healthy House Kitty. Meet Chip!

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#17

I Found This Kitten Dumped In The Middle Of A Road Too Weak And Hungry To Get To Safety. The Photo On The Right Is What 6 Days Of Cuddles By The Fireplace, Lots Of Food And A Cosy Bed Can Do

I Found This Kitten Dumped In The Middle Of A Road Too Weak And Hungry To Get To Safety. The Photo On The Right Is What 6 Days Of Cuddles By The Fireplace, Lots Of Food And A Cosy Bed Can Do

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#18

When We Got Hilda She Was Very Underweight After Having Recently Given Birth; Somewhere In The Last 6 Months She Turned Into A Long Haired Beauty Queen!

When We Got Hilda She Was Very Underweight After Having Recently Given Birth; Somewhere In The Last 6 Months She Turned Into A Long Haired Beauty Queen!

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#19

Apollo Has Given Us Just As Much As We Have Been Able To Give Him

Apollo Has Given Us Just As Much As We Have Been Able To Give Him

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Kimberlee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I volunteer with OFOSA! Christy and her staff save so many like this. They take on the cats no one else will. They are in Hillsboro, Oregon and have lots of cats needing homes right now.

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#20

After 6 Months Spent In A Shelter, They Thought He Would Never Get Adopted Due To Him Having Fiv. Now He's Been My Bud For Over A Year And Living His Best Life

After 6 Months Spent In A Shelter, They Thought He Would Never Get Adopted Due To Him Having Fiv. Now He's Been My Bud For Over A Year And Living His Best Life

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Mewton’s Third Paw
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I fostered an FIV+ cat for a couple years because nobody wanted him. He is the best cat I’ve had, his memory is with me for life. I really truly loved him. He died in 2015 and idk if I’ll ever really “get over it.” I miss him. FIV isn’t contagious to humans and it doesn’t mean they’re walking around on the edge of death. Just that you might not get many years with them..

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#21

2 Years Ago Today I Walked Into A Petsmart And Met A Cat Named Sonny

2 Years Ago Today I Walked Into A Petsmart And Met A Cat Named Sonny

No one would adopt because he was 13 years old, covered in fleas, underweight, and had a mouth full of rotten teeth that had to be removed. He came home with me that night and it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

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Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You could have him with you for another five—-or more—- years, too. I have an eighteen year old cat who is still going strong.

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#23

This Is My Best Friend Lcdr Ryker. I Was Told You All Like These Kind Of Stories

This Is My Best Friend Lcdr Ryker. I Was Told You All Like These Kind Of Stories

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#24

Frank At A Couple Weeks vs. Almost A Year, Also Threw In The Christmas Photo With His Brother Teddy

Frank At A Couple Weeks vs. Almost A Year, Also Threw In The Christmas Photo With His Brother Teddy

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#25

Got My Feral Kittens At 4 Weeks Old And Now They’re All Grown Up

Got My Feral Kittens At 4 Weeks Old And Now They’re All Grown Up

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#26

My James Won't Ever Be Cold Again

My James Won't Ever Be Cold Again

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#27

Found This Girl In Need While In Greece, Now She Is Our Chunky Mischief Maker

Found This Girl In Need While In Greece, Now She Is Our Chunky Mischief Maker

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#28

The Week I Rescued Him And 4 Months Later. He's A Terrible Office Assistant

The Week I Rescued Him And 4 Months Later. He's A Terrible Office Assistant

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#29

Jerry, Found In A Box With His Siblings, Covered In Oil And Fleas At A Couple Of Weeks Old. Now, At 11 Weeks, Healthy And So Lazy. We Fostered All Four Siblings And Adopted Him Ourselves

Jerry, Found In A Box With His Siblings, Covered In Oil And Fleas At A Couple Of Weeks Old. Now, At 11 Weeks, Healthy And So Lazy. We Fostered All Four Siblings And Adopted Him Ourselves

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#30

Wally Update Pt.2. He Chonkin’ Up Nicely

Wally Update Pt.2. He Chonkin’ Up Nicely

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Note: this post originally had 111 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.