A New Home for Apollo

When Barbara and Michael Yothers attended PAWS' Annual General Meeting this July, they hadn't planned on falling in love, but that's what happened when they saw Apollo.

Adorable four-month-old all black kittens, Apollo and his sibling were the "visual aid" during a presentation on the PAWS Foster Care Program. Nearly 500 kittens go into foster care each spring and summer. Like Apollo, most require basic care, socialization, and a bit of time before they're ready for adoption.

It was Apollo's gleaming black fur that attracted Barbara. Her first childhood cat was all black, and since then she's had a special place in her heart for these often over-looked felines. Barbara explained, "We adopted Amber from PAWS two years ago, and she is a beautiful six-year-old tortoiseshell. But I've always loved black cats, so once I saw Apollo it was all over."

During their visit, she received lots of helpful guidance from PAWS' adoption counselors. "The staff were wonderful about explaining why a male kitten would be a better fit for Amber, rather than another female cat," Barbara recalled. "Since bringing Apollo home, he and Amber have learned to share the cat toys and the multi-tiered cat tree."

The Youthers were also impressed by Apollo's friendly nature, and Barbara credits PAWS' foster parents for doing an excellent job of helping Apollo
become comfortable with new people and situtations. "When our neighbors visit he runs right up to the door to greet them. He loves to play with everyone," Barbara described. "While Amber is really attached to my husband, Apollo has become my 'velcro kitty' and I'm pleased he's so attached to me. We enjoy special time together while I'm on the computer, as he lies between the monitor and keyboard."

You just never know when you'll fall in love.