'Very Shy' Candy: Huntington Adoptable Pet Of The Week

HUNTINGTON, NY — Candy, a 2-year-old female, is the Grateful Paw Cat Shelter's Huntington Pet of the Week. She is a striking white and grey tabby with "mesmerizing" green eyes, said Debbi Larkin, president of the shelter.

Candy was brought into the shelter with her five babies in April 2024 when she was still fairly young herself, Larkin said.

This mom made her appearance at a colony in Springfield Gardens that had already been TNR’d a few years ago, according to Larkin. The homeowner, who is also the colony feeder, noticed her along with her babies. She immediately called another rescuer for help while she set out to capture all of them. She was checked by the shelter's in-house veterinarian and she was placed in foster care with her kittens, who were still nursing.

"She adored her babies, even when they were climbing all over her and clinging to her for comfort," Larkin said. "When the babies were 3 months old, they came into the shelter and all were adopted quickly — you may remember them as Cadbury, Chicklet, Clark, Carmello and Charleston."

Since all of her babies were adopted, she has become "very shy and timid," Larkin said. She is nervous around loud noises and loud voices. She is currently in one of the quiet rooms and does well with all of the cats in there, according to Larkin.

"You can usually find her at the top of one of the tall condos — that is where she used to be when she needed a break from all of her babies," Larkin said.

Candy also likes one of the big cuddle beds facing the outside where she can observe all of the activities…birds, squirrels, cars etc.

Candy does have a few favorite socializers who come into the shelter weekly and are able to get her to engage with them, Larkin said. She is usually the first one at the door because she knows the treats are coming.

"She will eat hers and try to steal from the others if they don’t eat fast enough!" Larkin said. "If the socializers bring in the laser toy or the fishing pole, she pushes the others out of the way to play. She can be quite active and engaging, as long as you are not trying to pick her up and put her on your lap."

Candy has tested negative for FELV and FIV, has had all of her vaccines, had ears and heart and mouth checked, tested negative for parasites, has been spayed and is litter box trained.

If you are interested in meeting Candy, 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.

"Candy would love to be in a forever home, preferably with another cat, but you will need patience to gain her trust," Larkin said. "She will need to be confined to a small room at the beginning because having the run of an entire house will cause her to panic and run and hide. She had to do that when she was outside with her babies so we don’t think that feeling ever left her.

"Spring arrives this week and this would be the perfect time for Candy to find her people and have a new beginning in life," Larkin continued. "Spring time always brings out the flowers and energizes people to come out of hibernation and reach out to others and maybe start or do something new. Won’t you give Candy this opportunity to start a new life by reaching out to her and letting her blossom with you and your family, where she is the center of attention?"