Norbert: Huntington Adoptable Pet Of The Week

HUNTINGTON, NY — Norbert, a 15-month-old grey kitten (that almost looks like a Russian Blue), is the Grateful Paw Cat Shelter's Huntington Pet of the Week.

Norbert is "patiently and quietly waiting for his forever home" since he arrived at the shelter in December, said Debbi Larkin, president of the shelter.

"Unfortunately we don’t have much background info for him, but what we do know is that he showed up in someone’s backyard with an injured front paw," Larkin said. "He was being fed by a good Samaritan and they reached out to get him checked by their vet and off the streets where
he clearly did not belong."

Larkin says the injured paw turned out to be a non-issue for Norbert.

"He could have twisted it running away from another animal or hurt himself when trying to find a warm, safe place to sleep," Larkin said. "If only they could talk and tell us their story, but we know that would be heartbreaking to hear for many people."

When Norbert arrived at the shelter in December, rescuers placed him in one of the free roaming rooms with about eight other cats and kittens, Larkin said.

"We wanted to see how he would react."

At first, he was very shy and was hiding in the cubbies but was always interested in what was happening in the room, according to Larkin. He was not brave enough to come out to the food and water bowls, so rescuers made sure he had his own "special plate" of food.

"The last thing you want when bringing in new cats is for them to stop eating because they are too nervous," Larkin said. "We also checked for 'bathroom issues' outside of the litter boxes and saw none, so that meant he came out at night when the shelter was quiet."

Little by little, with lots of encouragement from the socializers and the visitors, Norbert would come out of the condo and allow brief moments of petting, Larkin said.

"Along with those quiet moments, he also started purring so we could tell he was relaxing," Larkin said.

Currently, he has found some "good friends" that he is hanging out with, either playing with the laser toy, the wands or the toy mice. He has been seen cuddling in the big beds or in one of the condos. And he is brave enough now to eat with the older cats in the room when the food is served "family" style, Larkin said. Norbert is usually the first one to sound the alarm when he sees someone coming into the room with food plate. He loves temptation treats and Churus are his "go to" snack.

Norbert has beautiful eyes that sometimes show how timid he can be, and he has the softest grey fur "you can imagine," Larkin said.

He has tested negative for FELV and FIV, tested negative for parasites, had his ears and heart checked, had all of his vaccines, been neutered and is litter box trained.

If you are interested in meeting Norbert, you may call the shelter at 631-757-4517, email cats@laphuntington.org, visit the Facebook page or visit at the Grateful Paw Cat Shelter.

The rescue is at 3 Verleye Ave., East Northport, and visiting hours are Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

The shelter is also open from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday nights only for those who cannot make it during the daytime hours.

"Norbert would fare well with another cat/kitten in the home. He would be able to learn that he doesn’t need to be afraid because he is safe," Larkin said. "Grey cats usually have a very calm and serene personality but they can also be playful and curious. They are kind, elegant — he looks like royalty — gentle and stoic and will quietly look at you from afar. This handsome boy deserves a chance with a loving family…you just have to be patient and let him show you what he is capable of. Don’t you want to be a part of his next journey?"