Hearts Break As Cat Adopted As Kitten Back in Shelter ‘Still Full of Love'
A Los Angeles-area rescue organization is hoping to find a second chance for a cat who was once adopted as a kitten but has since been returned after entering adulthood.
The gray cat named Sal, short for Salvador Dalí, began his journey when he arrived at Stray No More, a foster-based animal rescue, as a tiny, vulnerable kitten. Rescued and bottle-fed by the organization, he grew up surrounded by consistent care and affection before being adopted into what was expected to be his forever home. However, after roughly two years, circumstances changed and he was returned to the shelter.
In a January 13 TikTok video posted to the account @straynomorela, Sal is seen lounging at the front of his kennel, gazing at the person filming with wide green eyes. Text over the clip notes that every other cat at the rescue has received adoption applications except Sal, despite him being “still full of love” and a little quirky.
Since coming back, caregivers say they have gained a deeper understanding of his personality and emotional complexity, including what they describe as a "mysterious little trigger" that can surface when he feels overwhelmed or misunderstood. Otherwise, Sal remains affectionate, engaging and playful-sometimes so much that he shows bursts of energy, almost “feral” play. The team is hopeful a patient, cat-savvy adopter will come along soon.
Sal also communicates in a nuanced way, relying on body language, shifting energy and emotional cues rather than straightforward signals, according to his adoption page. Because of this, the rescue believes he is best suited to a home with patient adopters who are willing to learn his unique cat language.
He is expected to thrive in a quieter environment, ideally with adults or experienced cat guardians who appreciate a cat with depth, quirks and what his rescuers jokingly call "artistic flair"-a nod to his namesake, Salvador Dalí.
And while it may take time to understand the cat’s behavior, which could be swaying adopters, his age may also be a factor.
Research from the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior shows that both age and behavior can significantly influence how long cats wait to be adopted. Cats that are social, interactive and comfortable approaching people are typically adopted much faster-spending an average of 36.8 days in animal shelters-while those who appear shy or fearful can remain two to three times longer.
The findings also note that adoption times tend to increase with age. For each additional year of age, a cat took an average of 3.7 more days to get adopted.
The TikTok video had reached nearly 700,000 views, more than 90,000 likes and 4,100 comments, giving Sal wide exposure to potential adopters. But two months later, he is still listed on the rescue’s website.
“He’s so handsome. Someone please adopt him,” pleaded one viewer.
Another added: “Sal, hang in there, someone will give you that forever home. Sending lots of love your way.”
A volunteer with the rescue commented: “This boy has the sweetest heart. I love him so much.”
Newsweek reached out to @straynomorela via TikTok for additional information and comment.
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This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 3:40 PM.