Many cats like snuggling, but Zorro, a 3-year-old cat, takes it to the next level. He clings onto people and nuzzles into their necks for a huge embrace whenever they lift him up.
“You can simply take him up and he’ll wrap his arms around you like a baby orangutan and hold on,” Kristen Nau, a veterinarian at the Pennsylvania SPCA, told The Dodo. “Like a small child, he’ll put his head on your shoulder as well.”
This extra-cuddly cat first arrived at a Pennsylvania SPCA shelter in January.
Gillian Kocher, director of public relations at the Pennsylvania SPCA, told The Dodo, “The story as I understand it is that there was a Good Samaritan who had been feeding him… and trying to find him a home in the meantime.” “However, she chose to bring him to us because it was difficult to find him a home for whatever reason.”
At first, the shelter staff didn’t have any idea that Zorro liked giving hugs, or even that he was affectionate. In fact, they wrote on his files that he “didn’t tolerate a lot of handling,” according to Kocher.
Shortly after Zorro arrived at the shelter, he got sick — he was urinating more than usual and sometimes there was blood in his litterbox. When he was sent to the shelter hospital for surgery, the vets diagnosed him with having bladder stones.
Thankfully, the vet team was able to conduct surgery and assist Zorro in recovering, but he will require a special diet, according to Nau. After the procedure, Zorro remained in the recovery room for a few weeks, during which time the crew began to realize how unique Zorro was.
“Whenever the [veterinary] techs took him out to clean [his kennel] or the vets came to check him up, he would sort of give them hugs and wouldn’t let go,” Kocher said.
Everyone, even Nau, fell in love with Zorro and loves cuddling him while working on her computer. She explained, “He’ll simply wrap his arms around me the whole time.” “Last night, I was hugging him and he was giving me kisses all over my face.”
“It’s hilarious because he looks like he doesn’t want to be grabbed or handled when you first go into his cage,” Nau said. “As soon as he’s in your arms, he wraps himself around you.”
Zorri is having a bad time as he is looking for a family. Despite the love the staff offers, they are looking for a home, Kocher said.
Zorro is ready to adapt from a family that will give him love and hugs, shelter and food.
