Many cats enjoy snuggling, but Zorro, a 3-year-old cat, goes above and above. He grabs onto those who lift him up and tucks his neck into theirs for a huge, bear embrace.
According to Kristen Nau, a veterinarian at the Pennsylvania SPCA, the rescue organization that is presently caring for Zorro, “you can simply pick him up and he will wrap his arms around you like a newborn orangutan and just hang on.” He’ll do the same thing a little child does and put his head on your shoulder.
This extra-cuddly cat first arrived at a shelter run by the Pennsylvania SPCA back in January.
“The story as I understand it is that there was a Good Samaritan who had been feeding him … and trying to find him a home in the process,” Gillian Kocher, director of public relations at the Pennsylvania SPCA, told The Dodo. “But for whatever reason, it was hard to find him a home, so she decided to bring him to us.”
The staff at the shelter was initially unaware of Zorro’s friendly nature or even his preference for giving hugs. In fact, according to Kocher, they noted on his papers that he “didn’t accept a lot of handling.”
Zorro was ill soon after getting to the shelter; he started urinating more frequently than normal and occasionally his litter box contained blood. The veterinarians determined that he had bladder stones when he was brought to the shelter hospital for surgery.
thankfully, the vet team was able to perform surgery and help Zorro get better, although he’ll need to stay on a special diet, Nau explained. After the surgery, Zorro stayed in the recovery area for a couple of weeks, and this is when the team started to figure out how special Zorro was.
“Whenever the [veterinary] techs would take him out to clean [his kennel], or for the vets to check him out, he would sort of give them hugs, and didn’t really want to let go,” Kocher said. “He would do it to everyone. He certainly doesn’t discriminate with his hugs.”
Zorro won the hearts of everyone, particularly Nau, who enjoys cuddling with him while using her computer. She claimed, “He’ll simply around me the whole time.” “Last night, as I was holding him, he was genuinely kissing me all over my face.”
Nau said, “It’s hilarious because he behaves like he doesn’t want to be captured or handled when you first go into his cage. “He just wraps around you the moment he’s in your arms.”
Despite Zorro’s lovable nature, he’s having a very difficult time finding a home, and no one at the Pennsylvania SPCA can understand why.
“You wouldn’t necessarily think that he’s super special, but every person I brought down there yesterday, and who picked him up and held him, just didn’t want to let him go,” Kocher said. “And of course now, everybody is dedicated to finding him the best home.”
Zorro will need someone who is OK with feeding him his prescription diet, Kocher explained. He’d also be great with small children, and fine with living with other animals. But most of all, he just needs a family who will give him hugs — lots and lots of them.
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