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This Online Community Shares Before And After Adoption Pics, Shows How Love And Care Changes Cats (30 New Pics)
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.
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Its Been A Year
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.
Took A Chance, And Decided To Rehabilitate This Boy Instead Of Letting Him Be Put Down. One Of The Best Decisions Of My Life
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!
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."
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
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
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
Before And After. What A Transformation!
Bones Had Some Issues With Ringworm When We First Found Him (~8 Weeks), But He’s All Better Now (2 Years)!
A Local Vet Treated This Rescued Stray From A Bad Case Of Fungus/Ringworm Few Months Ago. Look At Her Now
Our Kitty Was Already An Adult In The Photo On The Left. A 6 Month Glow Up
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
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.
I’m So Happy For Her Progress
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
Rey When I Found Her On The Street And At 1 Year Old. Good Job, Baby Girl!
Two Months Of Love Changed Mr. Biscuits
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
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!
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
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!
Apollo Has Given Us Just As Much As We Have Been Able To Give Him
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
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..
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.
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.
So Much Healthier
This Is My Best Friend Lcdr Ryker. I Was Told You All Like These Kind Of Stories
Frank At A Couple Weeks vs. Almost A Year, Also Threw In The Christmas Photo With His Brother Teddy
Got My Feral Kittens At 4 Weeks Old And Now They’re All Grown Up
My James Won't Ever Be Cold Again
Found This Girl In Need While In Greece, Now She Is Our Chunky Mischief Maker
The Week I Rescued Him And 4 Months Later. He's A Terrible Office Assistant
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
Wally Update Pt.2. He Chonkin’ Up Nicely
A Little Bit Stressed And Dishevelled At The Rspca In 2018, vs. At Home With Me In 2020
Abe Just Needed The Stability Of A Forever Home For His Fur Coat To Fluff Out
I Found Him In A Parking Garage, All Matted And Flea-Ridden. Here He Is 9 Months Later
This Is Fefa. We Found Her Almost Blinded With Over 200 Fleas (After Washing)
When I Adopted Pauli (18 Years Old) As A Hospice Care Case In 2018, They Told Me He Wouldn't Live More Than A Few Months. How Wrong They Were!
Little Selina Turned Up In My Garden With An Open Wound On Her Back, Nearly Starving To Death
She adopted me, vet fixed her and now (seven years later) we've both become chonkers so we're both on a diet - too many treats!! I love her so much
Our Little Teo When He Was Found Abandoned In A Dumpster In Greece To Being Cuddly And Sleeping In Sweden
My Cat Ruben Just Passed His 2 Year Adoptaversary. This Is The Day I Brought Him Home Versus This Month!
Found Him Sleeping Under A Parked Car. Now He Sleeps In My Bed Every Night
I Adopted Zeuss When He Was 6 Months Old, And That's The Best Decision That I Have Ever Made
A Year Ago (Left) Versus Now (Right) - The Difference A Year Of Love Makes!
Before And After In Three Months. When I Found Her, I Spent Almost Three Days In A Row Without Sleeping. She Was Very Ill. Now She Is Ok. And Her Name Is Eve
Our Newest 5yo Family Member - We Thought He Was A Short-Haired Cat, But It Turns Out He’s A True Floof
From Terrified Cat Who Hid For Over A Month After We Got Her, To Cuddly Kitty Who Has No Concept Of Personal Space. We Still Have A Long Ways To Go, But She’s Getting There, Slowly But Surely!
Recently Rescued And Adopted A Tripod Kitten. I Want Everyone To Meet This Little Fighter - Mitzi!
Update: I Posted The Two Left Pictures Several Months Ago & Many People Commented On How Much Floof My Kitty Acquired In 4 Months. I’ve Had Her For Over A Year Now & She Is Fluffier Than Ever!
After Our Old Cat Passed Away We Swore We’d Never Have Another Animal, It Was Too Hard. 8 Months Later We Found This Guy In A Car Engine. Butters Has Made Us Love Again!
Sadly, after safely removing the cat, the poor engine would never purr again.
From A Dirty 3 Week Old Kitten To An 11 Month Old Sexy Boi, Meet Jack!
I Was Told That You Guys Would Like This. My Cat Before When He Was First Seeing Me And Now. I Love Him
My Cat Was In A Shelter With A 84% Kill Rate, & Was Denied Transport To A No-Kill Rescue Bc He Was "Too Ugly". He Was So Sad And Just Wanted Love. His Story Was Posted To Fb & He Was Saved! I Adopted Him A Month Later (In 2018). He Is So Loving And Such A Sweetheart. Every Life Is Worth Saving!!
We Adopted This Little Guy After He Was Found With A Crushed Leg, Leg Was Repaired With Three Nails And He Is In Perfect Condition Now. He's The Best :) Meet Theo!
Not Really An Adoption Since She Showed Up At Our Front Door Crying To Be Let In! Meet Ammut! ~8 Weeks To 1 Year!
Ran In Front Of My Sister’s Car And Wouldn’t Move Until She Picked Him Up. 2 Years Later And He Became A Giant Floof
Ulysse Is A Special Needs Senior That I Am Fostering. He Had Been In The Shelter Since January. If You Can't Adopt, Foster!
We Found Buccaneer On Craigslist, He’s Missing An Eye Due To A Rooster Pecking It Out, And His Whiskers Had Been Cut. Picture On Left From November 2019 And Picture On The Right Is From January 2020
The Difference A Year Makes... From Living In An Alley In -20°c (-4°f) Weather, To Queen Of The Household. Meet Rosie
Last Of His Litter With An Upper Respiratory Infection And All Grown Up, Our House Panther
From A Scared And Shy Girl. To A Happy, Loving, Belly Exposing Girl. After Almost Three Years She’s Finally Trusting Me Enough To Lay Down In My Lap. It’s One Of The Best Feelings. I Love Her So Much
From A Scared Stray Cat With 3 Newborn Kittens (Plus 4 Adopted Ones) To This Confident Chonker Enjoying Her New Forever Home
My Neglected Flea-Ridden Baby As She Was Found And Just A Few Days Later After We Brought Her Home. Daisy Has Quite Literally Bloomed In Such A Short Amount Of Time!
We Fostered Jester After Her Leg Amputation At 6 Weeks Old. She Was Found With Her Leg And Shoulder Shattered And Was Terrified Of Everything. Now Her Incision Has Healed, She’s Staying Forever, And She’s The Happiest Little Tripawd
From 9 Weeks To 9 Months, Meet Saffron!
This Is Arnold! We Adopted Him 3 Weeks Ago, And He’s Had An Amazing Transformation. I’ve Never Met A Cat With So Much Moxie
What 6 Weeks In Foster Care Does For A Skinny, Crusty, Poopy Kitten. I Love Sending Happy, Healthy Kittens To Their Forever Homes
Rescued From The Streets Of Cairo At 3 Weeks, Ashes Was An Underweight Orphan Who Was Littered With Infections And Didn't Know How To Groom Himself. 2 Months Later In Toronto, He's Happy, Healthy, And Very Handsome!
Found This Baby Boy At The Side Walk, Dehydrated, Unconscious And With Severe Eye Infection. Long Story Short, A Little Love And Care Could Transform Anyone. 3 Week Into Rescue And This Little Fella Couldn't Stop Loving Me
When I Got Sweet T She Couldn’t Walk, Meow, Eat Or Breathe Well
She had a bulging eye and severe constipation. She weighed 1lb at 3 months old (1/3 the size she should be). After months of fighting and almost dying several times, she turned a corner and now lives happily ever after with her sister
From Scaredy Cat To Sofa Cat
I have a rescue—-dumped by herself in our yard at 5-6 weeks old, weighing barely one pound, and absolutely terrified—-who’s now 7 months old, frisky, feisty, fearless, seven pounds, full of energy as all get-out, and growing like a long, lanky, weed. I know once she’s fixed she’ll fill out, and I can’t wait to see how she’s going to look.
Found The Triplets On Mother's Day 9 Years Ago
Jax Was Found As A Very Feral Kitten. She Would Bite And Hiss At Anyone Who Tried To Touch Her. Now, Three Weeks Later, She Screams For Food And Will Roll Over Onto Her Back To Ask For Pets
8 Year Old Tuna Slept Behind The Toilet For A Week Because She Was So Scared. Now, Three Weeks Later, She Owns The Place
In 2007, Molly Was Rescued From A Snowbank
His fur had been shaved off and he had a massive infection on his chest wall. He was so severely malnourished , his eyes were a bright orange. Today he is spoiled rotten, full of sass and rules the roost with a velvet paw!
Odin The Day I Found Him In A Trash Bin Behind A Walgreens And Odin 5 Years Later. The Bathroom Is Still He Favorite Place To Hangout
What kind of evil m***********s throw live animals in the trash?
A Not Very Happy Little Man Before Adoption To The Happiest Little Fluff
Today Is Db's 5 Year Adoptiversary. He's Gone From A Terrified Loner, Who'd Been In A Shelter For Six Months, To A Loud, Affectionate And Still Playful Old Pirate
Aye, Matey! Ol’ Captain DB’s gonna give you the treasure! (Hint: He’s the treasure.)
Timón And Pumbaa Born On May 10, 2015, Celebrating 5 Years Of Being Super Spoiled! A Stray Gave Birth In A Neighbour’s Backyard And We Found Them Under The BBQ With Infected Eyes. Couldn’t Bear To Leave Them!
Saved This Purrito From A Street Gutter, She Was Tiny And Had A Respiratory Infection. 7 Months Later She's A Beautiful Lady
They Gave Her Away On Facebook. After A Flea Bath, Eye Drops And Antibiotics, Horchata Is Good As New!
Mr. Smith At The Shelter Compared To His 5th Birthday/2 Year Adoptiversary Party Yesterday
Before And After 30 Days. I Took A New Born Kitten At Home And Saved Her From Euthanasia
Why would anyone euthanize a newborn kitten, when kittens are so much easier to adopt out than older cats? Hope the mama cat was fixed (and not euthanized too) and adopted out after this one’s birth.
The Difference 6 Months Can Make
Her Last Owners Abandoned Her Outside In The Middle Of Winter As A Baby. We’re Going To Give Her The Best Life!
Her last owners deserve to spend a winter living on the streets. In Alaska.
This Is Runa. I Found Her Crying Outside A Pizza Shop In The Sleet. Look At Her Now! Fat, Happy And Proud 3 Months Later
Sleet hurts when it hits you, so it’s no wonder she was crying. Now she’s comfortable, warm, dry, and happy—-with you. Great job!
Found This Little Lady Crying In A Parking Lot With Fleas And A Badly Broken Leg. Here She Is 3 Months And 2 Surgeries Later
Lucifer In Our Yard In Early October And Then Yesterday Morning In Our Room. Lil Dude Is Healed From Flea Allergy Wounds, Is Growing In A Healthy Coat, Has Gone From Skittish To Super Talkative, And Is The Love Of Our Lives
Luce is just telling you he loves you for giving him a forever home!
We've Had Chili For 2 Years, Looking Forward To Many More!
Lux Was Rescued From A Hoarder’s House. She Was Covered In Fleas, Severely Underweight And Stank Of Piss. Three Years Later The Glow Up Is Real
I Found This Kitten, Her Mother And Her Three Sisters On The Street Under A Bush
She Survived Alone Outside All Winter At -30°c. The Tips Of Her Ears Had Frozen Bites. Now She's Warm And Happy!
I can’t bear to think of all the babies who have to be outside in bad weather. I wish I could take them all in and keep them warm and dry. Please spay and neuter, people, and don’t adopt a pet unless you’re going to be there their entire life!
10 Years Difference: Fat, Happy, And Loved To Bits
We Found Her On 4 Of October And This Is Her Now
1 Year Ago On The Left When I First Picked Them Up, And Then Today On The Right. 1 Whole Year As Of Today With These Foster Fails
4 1/2 Months Old Mochi. He Fought Off The Shelter Employees But Snuggled Into My Chest When I First Held Him And Refuses To Leave My Side
5 Months Of Hard Work And Patience Have LED To This Moment. Happy Adoption Day, Habanero!
From A Skinny Outside Stray To An Indoor Couch Hog, This 10 Year Old Cat Was Found By Us And Adopted By My Parents Who Are Giving Her A Well Deserved Retirement
They named her Wheezy after the respiratory infection she had when we found her in April
First Day Of Adoption vs. 4 Month Being In Her New Home
This Boy Was Next On The Euthanize List At The Shelter Because He Has Fiv, Only Had A Couple Months To Live, Was Severely Underweight, And Afraid Of Humans
Two years later he’s extremely healthy, chubby, and sleeps on my chest every night!
Skinny Minnie To Chunky Monkey In A Year
I have a skinny minny rescue girl too. Once we get her fixed I can’t wait to see how she fills out!
3 Years Ago Today My Husband And I Ran Up To The Grocery Store To Grab A Few Last Minute Items. This Little Guy Was Sitting Outside Eating Popeye’s Chicken
He Went From Living On The Streets On His Own As A Two Month Old Kitten, To When We Picked Him Up The Day He Was Going To Be Euthanized To Now, A Sassy Boy Who Loves Cuddles
While I am fully aware that some people are just that cruel to animals, I cannot understand why would someone just throw away an expensive pedigreed cat, which one in four of those in the post are.
Jo Was Adopted 3 Months Ago. I Hardly Recognize Her In Earlier Pictures, And I Can’t Believe How Fluffy She’s Gotten
Was Told To Post Here As Well
My Coworker's Rescue After 6 Months
This Is My Kitten, Bubbles. My Brother Rescued Him From An Alley Way Back In August 2019. He’s Four Months Old And Looking Real Healthy The Vet Says!
It's Amazing The Difference Some Tlc And 24 Hours Can Make!
Happy Gotcha Day To This Lil Guy. Ollie On The Day We Adopted Him vs. Today, 2 Months Later. Smol With A Huge Heart
Meet Luke. The Day We Met vs. Six Months Later
1 Year Later...
Tiny, Covered In Fleas, And Very Feral. Now, Ivy Is A Lovable Destroyer Of Toys And
And loves you dearly for all your spoiling—-of such a deserving cat!
3 Months After Adoption
Our sweetie, foster kitty. Now she has proper family (us). oli-5fc63d...1e-png.jpg 
I'm so happy all these people are nice enough to adopt sweet kittens :)
111 pictures shortened to 30? NO, BP. I think I speak for us all when I say I WANT TO SEE ALL THE CUTE BEAUTIFUL KITTIES.
aw, makes me think of when we got one of our cats. she was a stray cat that we found outside our house. she was very skinny and a chunks of fur missing from her tail. we took her in and now she is a heathy grown cat. she is now even a mama to four kittens.
All these sweeties make me want to adopt another cat! I lost my 15-year-old fur baby in June and a new cat simply does not fit into my life right now -- but Holy Heck, I want one! *must. resist. temptation. to. adopt*
Résistance is futile. You will bow to our purring overlords 😉
Load More Replies...
I'm so happy these furballs got a second chance, but some of the before stories make me all stabby.
I wish all cats could get the care and (basic) medical treatment they needed... a lot of these illnesses are preventable and curable. The discarded, abandoned and feral felines would all benefit from some TLC, enough food, neutering/spaying, deworming and flea treatment. There's no need for luxury but a good supply of comfort would be a good thing! :)
Darn, if only I had a good pic of my furbaby Ragamuffin when I first found her. She was a stray - and pregnant, and scruffy from lack of brushing.
Our sweetie, foster kitty. Now she has proper family (us). oli-5fc63d...1e-png.jpg
I'm so happy all these people are nice enough to adopt sweet kittens :)
111 pictures shortened to 30? NO, BP. I think I speak for us all when I say I WANT TO SEE ALL THE CUTE BEAUTIFUL KITTIES.
aw, makes me think of when we got one of our cats. she was a stray cat that we found outside our house. she was very skinny and a chunks of fur missing from her tail. we took her in and now she is a heathy grown cat. she is now even a mama to four kittens.
All these sweeties make me want to adopt another cat! I lost my 15-year-old fur baby in June and a new cat simply does not fit into my life right now -- but Holy Heck, I want one! *must. resist. temptation. to. adopt*
Résistance is futile. You will bow to our purring overlords 😉
Load More Replies... I'm so happy these furballs got a second chance, but some of the before stories make me all stabby.
I wish all cats could get the care and (basic) medical treatment they needed... a lot of these illnesses are preventable and curable. The discarded, abandoned and feral felines would all benefit from some TLC, enough food, neutering/spaying, deworming and flea treatment. There's no need for luxury but a good supply of comfort would be a good thing! :)
Darn, if only I had a good pic of my furbaby Ragamuffin when I first found her. She was a stray - and pregnant, and scruffy from lack of brushing.
