Please do! I volunteer at a no-kill shelter and we've had cats that have been there their whole life (19+ years) because they were shy people passed them by. Shy cats can change in a home environment where it is less stressful.

Reminds me of the time I worked at a bunny shelter. A little boy with autism came in, and I helped him get to know the bunnies, as his family was adopting and he'd get to choose/let the bunny choose him. His answer was that he wanted the bunny whom would have the hardest time getting adopted, and ended up becoming great buds with a bunny with only one ear and three legs. Happiest lil two, lemme just tell you, it absolutely makes the day of the staff to see such wholesomeness.

Me too

Oh no! Another me. I never learn. I go to a shelter and pick the saddest most un-adoptable animal. My last one was a 5-6 year old hound with Lyme’s disease, arthritis, a huge cyst and his nickname was Dumbdumb no harm meant from shelter staff. I quickly figured out why they called him that and sometimes I say it to him. His name is Harry and he just stares off into the distance most of the time as if he’s got brain damage possibly. He is a SWEETHEART and would never hurt anyone, he’s kind and lovable and let’s all his siblings bully him, but in the end we all love each other. I’m happy my 10 year old daughter felt bad for hi and brought him home. I’m afraid nobody else would have.

You can foster those too if you’re worried about the responsibility. Before I adopted my two cats, I fostered the most damaged cats that were available. It was so enriching and meaningful in my life, and theirs.

We did it with my parents when I was a kid. My first cat was killed by the neighbour who made it on purpose because one day he closed her into his garage for a whole night and she pooped there. As it was my first pet my parents took me to the shelter in the afternoon and asked me what cat I wanted. There was this cat who had a cold and who the shelter employees wanted to put to sleep so she didn't pass the cold to the other cats. We took her. She was already an old lady but for me she was perfect. We spent so many years with her, it was the best. She died of old age illness. Really old animals or sick animals are as awesome as puppies or kitten if you take the time to care for them.