After nearly one year of waiting for a forever home, a cat finally gets to trade in her title as the shelter's longest resident at that time for a new one: queen.
Since November 2023, Harlow has been waiting day in and day out at the Heart of Minnesota Animal Shelter for someone to give her a chance. Toni Mochinski, the shelter's operations manager, told Newsweek that Harlow was originally found as a stray in September of last year. Someone saw her in a nearby community and kept her in their garage since she didn't get along with their cats. Otherwise, they noted she was friendly.
Because the animal shelter was on a waitlist for incoming animals, Harlow stayed with the person who found her. She wasn't brought into their care until November. Once she was with the shelter, they scheduled her for a spay surgery. However, right before surgery, they realized she had already been spayed, which signaled Harlow was someone's cat at one point, Mochinsky said, but whether she was abandoned or lost remains unknown.
Mochinski said there wasn't much interest in Harlow. People came and met her throughout the year, but Harlow didn't "show well." She became overstimulated and often showed her sassy side. She did, however, test well when meeting dogs. Cats, on the other hand, weren't as easy. Harlow was particular. She felt fine with older and calm male cats, but other female felines caused problems. This meant finding her a fitting home became limited.
After pushing her story on social media as her one-year at the shelter approached, someone finally stepped forward. This past Saturday, Harlow's forever family traveled an hour and a half to meet her, and it instantly became a purr-fect match. After 363 days at the shelter, she was finally going home.
The Heart of Minnesota Animal Shelter shared Harlow's exciting news in a November 17 Facebook post. She no longer served as the shelter's longest resident. She was upgraded with a new family who promised she could "be the queen," which she happily accepted.
Mochinski said Harlow's already "making herself right at home," soaking up her life as the only cat. Her family does have dogs, but the caption explained that they have learned "there's a new boss in town." Harlow is the queen bee and everyone knows it.
Facebook users celebrated Harlow's good news of finally getting adopted. The post amassed 590 likes and 45 comments as of Wednesday.
"Congratulations Harlow, you look so comfy already in your forever home," wrote one person.
A second commented: "This makes me so happy!!! Just in time for the holidays! Harlow is extra thankful this Thanksgiving."
Another added: "What a wonderful day today knowing that 'QUEEN HARLOW' has a loving home."
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