Senior Cat’s Heartbreak: Returned to Shelter After 7 Years, Now Searching for a New Forever Home

Senior Cat’s Heartbreak: Returned to Shelter After 7 Years, Now Searching for a New Forever Home

By: Clarisse Jelle
Clarisse is an effective freelance SEO writer for a dog magazine, combining her deep passion for animals with her professional skills. Her hands-on experience with rescued cats and stray dogs enriches her writing, enabling her to create engaging and informative content that resonates with pet parents and animal lovers.Read more
| August 20, 2025

It’s always difficult to hear when an animal is returned to a shelter, but some stories carry a deeper weight that lingers long after you hear them. One recent case that has touched many hearts is about a cat named Fig, who had spent the majority of his life in what he thought was his forever home. After being adopted as a young orphan, Fig lived with the same family for seven years only to suddenly find himself back at the shelter, confused and searching for love once again.

The cat, named Fig, was first taken to the Valley Animal Center in Fresno, California, back in 2016. He had been rescued as an orphan and was quickly adopted, giving everyone hope that his story had a happy ending.

However, the shelter staff was shocked when, seven years later, Fig was brought back. His family decided to surrender him because they were moving, and according to them, it would have been too complicated to bring Fig along. “It is a long, difficult process to move a pet to a different country based on the laws and regulations of the country,” a shelter representative explained to Newsweek.

Sadly, the move has clearly had an emotional impact on Fig. TikTok videos that went viral show him looking despondent after being taken from the only home he’s ever known.

People online were quick to express their sadness and disbelief. One person commented, “After 7 years that cat is family,” while another said, “I don’t know how someone could do this.”

To make matters worse, Fig turned eight years old while in the shelter, spending his birthday all alone, uncertain about his future. Older cats like Fig often have a hard time finding new homes. As one TikTok video pointed out, “Senior cats struggle to find homes.”

Despite all this, Fig seems to be handling his situation with grace. According to the shelter, he’s remained sweet and cooperative, even after such a major upheaval. “Fig is the ideal senior cat adjustment; he has been very sweet and cooperative the whole time he has been back in our care,” the spokesperson shared with Newsweek.

Given Fig’s calm and adaptable nature, the shelter is optimistic that he may beat the odds and find a new family soon. “He seems like a pretty laid-back guy; I think he could adjust to any kind of family,” the spokesperson added.

Though his journey has been difficult, there’s still hope that Fig will find a loving home to live out his senior years.

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@jjack.iie Valleyanimal.org #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #catsoftiktok #cat #fypシ #viral #viral #fypシ゚viral #fyp #doglover #sos #fyp #help #tiktok #fypシ #cattok #cats ♬ Somewhere only we know cover – Sofía

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This content was created with AI assistance and edited by the iHeartCats team.