Cat with Disfigured Face Gets Adopted by Mom of Kids with Special Needs

• Onyx the cat has a cleft palate, which gave her a unique-looking face that made potential adopters shy away from her.
• Shelter staff Cindy Houk, who had kids with special needs, fell in love with Onyx.
• After 90 days passed without an adopter, Onyx got to go home to Cindy’s loving family.

Meet Onyx. She was living as a stray until she and her kittens were brought to Butler County Humane Society, where the kittens were all cared for until they were old enough to be adopted. And while the cute kittens quickly got adopted, the shelter staff worried that Onyx might get passed over by potential adopters. She was born with a cleft palate that made her look a little different.

The vet determined that she didn’t need surgery since it doesn’t affect her. The only issue she has is that she occasionally gets food stuck while eating, causing her to have a sneezing fit.

Most adopters seemed to turn away from her unique appearance, but shelter staff Cindy Houk immediately fell in love with her and wanted to take her home.

Cindy shared, “I have two special needs children and I just have a special place in my heart for anyone with special needs. There was just something so beautiful about her sweet face.”

As Cindy saw Onyx every day, she fell more in love with her. But as a new shelter employee, she had to wait 90 days before she can adopt.

Cindy continued to show all the cats to potential adopters, but no one wanted Onyx. Cindy thought it heartbreaking, but she took it as a sign that she would be the one to take her home.

When the 90-day mark approached, Cindy took her kids along to meet Onyx. They fell in love with her too!

Cindy’s daughter, who has down syndrome, told her father that they needed to take Onyx home because she had special needs too.

Cindy’s family simply knew that they would be the family that would love Onyx just the way she is.

After 90 days passed and no one applied to adopt Onyx, Cindy was finally able to officially welcome her into her family.

The shy shelter cat quickly showed her true personality once she arrived at her new home. Onyx is now their most vocal and playful cat!

“She is happy first thing in the morning when she sees us. It is such a good feeling,” Cindy shared. “We have five other cats, all rescues, that she has to play with, plus a big, fun dog. We plan on spoiling Onyx for the rest of her life. To my family, she is absolutely perfect!”

Onyx’s unique appearance may have turned off potential adopters, but it’s what brought her into Cindy’s loving family.

Source: The Dodo