It is really amazing what a bath, some love and a safe home can do for a cat. Aside from looking cleaner, fluffier and a bit bigger in the belly area, many of these cats simply look happier as well. And thankfully, many people around the world have gotten behind the “adopt don’t shop” mindset. The Before and After Pictures of Adopted Animals subreddit has 1.1 million members at the moment and describes itself as “a place to share the amazing difference a loving family can make on an abandoned or mistreated animal”. 

The page also notes that all pets are welcome, but today we’re here to celebrate the felines. And this subreddit does great work in raising awareness for how wonderful pet adoption can be. If you’ve ever adopted a fur baby before, you are probably well aware of how many are sitting in shelters awaiting loving homes. But if you have never considered rescuing a pet, it might be eye opening to hear that about 920,000 innocent animals were euthanized in shelters in 2020 because they were not adopted in time to be saved. 

To get more information on why it's important to rescue and adopt cats rather than buy them from breeders, we reached out to Heather Svoboda Miller at the Cat Adoption Team. She told Bored Panda, "When you adopt a cat from a shelter or rescue, you actually help two cats—the kitty you are adding to your home, and the one who will get to come into the shelter now that there's an open space," Heather explained.

"No matter how comfortable and loving a shelter and its staff and volunteers are, the shelter and the strangers there are stressful for even the most confident cat. After all, there's just no substitute for a loving home with a dedicated family of one's own. When you adopt, you give a cat the chance to feel their best again!"

We also asked Heather what kind of transformations she has seen in cats that have been adopted into loving homes. "Recently, a cat named White Lightening Jr. was adopted from Cat Adoption Team after more than 100 days in our care. When he first arrived, it was clear that shelter life was overwhelming him. He would hiss, growl, swat, and lunge at our staff and volunteers," she explained. "With help from our behavior team, we soon learned that treats and playtime helped White Lightening Jr. feel more relaxed and happy. Even though our team put in a lot of time and effort to make him comfortable, he still didn't like to be touched and wouldn't solicit petting or sit in laps."

"Well, all that changed once he was adopted! His adopter shares that White Lightening Jr. absolutely blossomed once home. He runs up to her purring and excited to see her. He also snuggles in her laps, never swats or hisses, and seems thoroughly joyful now that he's home! His is just one story. It's heartwarming to see how a cat who is shy, fearful, or just not very social in a shelter will transform into the snuggliest puddle of love once they get comfy and confident with their new people."

Lastly, we asked Heather if there are any misconceptions about adopting animals that she would like to dispel. "People sometimes have the impression that animals in a shelter are 'damaged goods' who've been abused or were given up because they had behavior problems," she said. "That couldn't be further from the truth! Most animals in a shelter are lovable, well-behaved, friendly, and from homes where they were cared for and loved in the past. Of course, it's important to give a newly adopted pet time to unwind and settle in when they make a big transition from the shelter to a home. But once they can relax, they often surprise us by becoming even more fun and affectionate than we could have imagined. It's definitely worth looking past a scruffy coat or unwelcome behavior to be rewarded with a beatiful, funny, sweet, and loving pet. And even if they never become a lap cat or don't grow to love time at the dog park, you'll likely grow to love them and their quirks all the more!"

If you're interested in adopting a cat of your own or just want more information about the process, you can check out the Cat Adoption Team's website right here.

We also reached out to Ruth Allen, Director of Admissions and Matchmaking at the ASPCA Adoption Center, to hear from another expert why adopting is so important. "When adopting from a shelter, you often have the advantage of learning valuable information about the cat’s background, including any important medical or behavioral needs," Ruth explained. "If you are thinking about bringing a new kitten into your life, please consider adopting from a local shelter or rescue or learn how to identify a responsible breeder to ensure you are not supporting the cruel breeding industry. Responsible breeders reject the practices of commercial breeders, brokers, pet stores, auctions and others who profit from cruelty and instead plan breeding carefully, place animals thoughtfully, and take a lifetime of responsibility for the animals they have bred. In addition to saving and protecting lives, adoption also frees up shelter resources to help another animal in need."

We also asked Ruth what kind of transformations she has seen in cats that have been adopted into loving homes. "Approximately 3.2 million cats enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. Adoption places shelter animals in safe and loving homes and provides people with comfort and companionship," she told Bored Panda. "The time that an animal spends with a shelter or rescue organization is a brief moment compared to their time in a safe, comfortable home, and many shelters offer ongoing support to help adopters as questions come up along the way. Many animals at shelters, especially older ones, have already lived in homes and have experience being pets, so are ready to transition into their new home. To help your new cat feel at home, purchase pet supplies in advance and set them up prior to the pet's arrival. For cats, this includes a cat-safe collar, litter and litterbox, bed, food, scratcher, toys, and bowls."

We also asked Ruth if there are any misconceptions about adoption that she wanted to dispel. "The ASPCA encourages the public to keep an open mind when adopting, as you may go home with a pet you hadn’t previously considered," she said. "To learn more about cats available for adoption at your local shelter, visit ASPCA.org/Adopt. Your personality and lifestyle, along with the amount of time spent at home, should be explored to determine what pet is right for your household. Ask questions and lean on the staff at the shelter for guidance—they're the experts at making matches and can typically provide information to help you decide whether or not the animal is a good fit for your lifestyle."

Ruth gave some more tips for helping animal shelters if you're interested but just don't know where to start. "Every community has different needs, so getting in contact with your local shelter is the best way to find out what kind of support they need most," Ruth says. "If you’re not ready to adopt, you can still support your local shelter by fostering, volunteering, or donating. Both adoption and fostering puts shelter animals in safe and loving homes, helps shelters conserve their space and resources, and provides people with comfort and companionship. Fostering is unique in that it helps shelter animals acclimate to an eventual life in a home."

"Feline breeding season, or kitten season, is when shelters nationwide are overwhelmed with vulnerable and newborn cats during the warmer months—with shelters and rescues in some regions experiencing a steady stream of kitten intake year-round," Ruth explained. "Vulnerable kittens under eight weeks old often require round-the-clock attention and bottle-feeding from foster caregivers as they mature. During this time, the public can visit ASPCA.org/Foster to learn more about fostering kittens."

If you'd like to find even more information on the ASPCA or how to get started helping out, be sure to visit their website right here.

We hope you are enjoying all of these adorably heartwarming photos of cats who now get to live out their days in wonderful, loving homes. Be sure to upvote the pics you find most adorable, and let us know in the comments if your fur babies were adopted from rescues as well. Remember to "adopt don't shop" the next time you are looking to expand your family, and if you want to find even more of these wholesome photo transformations, check out this Bored Panda piece next.