Kittens and cats in Hamilton, Ontario

Meet Starfish — a beautiful 3-year-old grey tabby and white lady with a gentle spirit and a thoughtful, observant nature. Starfish is on the shy side and prefers to take her time getting comfortable in new spaces, often choosing a cozy hiding spot where she can quietly watch the world go by. Once she feels safe, Starfish will start to show her sweet side. She’s happy to come out for calm company and enjoys gentle, respectful pets from people she trusts. Those quiet moments of connection are where she truly shines — soft, subtle, and sincere. Starfish is not yet comfortable with being handled extensively, and she can find medical procedures stressful. She’ll need a patient home that understands this and is willing to give her the time and space she needs to build trust at her own pace, without pressure or expectation. With kindness, consistency, and respect for her boundaries, Starfish has every chance to blossom into a deeply rewarding companion. She’s looking for a calm, understanding home where she can feel safe enough to slowly come out of her shell and be loved exactly as she is. Please complete an adoption application: https://www.hamilton.ca/home-neighbourhood/animals-pets/adopt-or-foster-pet/adoptions Animal adoptions and viewing are by appointment only. This allows our Adoption Staff to spend quality time with each potential home to ensure the most successful matches are made between the animals and their new families. *Please note: we only adopt within Ontario

Some stories deserve a second chapter. Smokey had a home. He had someone who loved him. Then, one day, his world changed forever when his owner passed away. Instead of spending his golden years in the comfort of the only home he'd ever known, Smokey found himself alone, surviving on the streets for an entire year. A year. Imagine what that must have taken. Learning to fend for himself after a lifetime of being someone's beloved companion. Facing cold nights, empty days, and the uncertainty of where his next meal, or safe place to rest, would come from. Through it all, Smokey kept going. That quiet resilience says so much about the remarkable cat he is. When Smokey first arrived with us, he understandably wasn't thrilled. He let us know exactly how he felt with a hiss or two. And honestly, who could blame him? After everything he'd been through, trusting people again wasn't going to happen overnight. But here's the beautiful part: it didn't take nearly as long as you might think. Before long, Smokey began seeking people out. The hisses faded, replaced by gentle cheek rubs against waiting hands. He discovered that pets still felt wonderful. That kind voices could be trusted. That maybe, just maybe, people could be safe again. Now this handsome, fluffy gentleman is ready to find the home he deserves. Yes, Smokey is a black cat. We know that black cats are often overlooked in shelters for no good reason. But if you take a moment to meet him, you'll see what everyone else is missing. His soft, fluffy coat, his sweet face, and one wonderfully quirky feature: his tail naturally curves so that it almost rests along his back, giving him an extra touch of charm that's entirely his own. Smokey is also FIV-positive (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus), which simply means his immune system may need a little extra support. With regular veterinary care, a healthy diet, and an indoor home, FIV-positive cats can live long, happy, and fulfilling lives. It certainly doesn't stop Smokey from being the loving, wonderful companion he is! Smokey has already survived losing everything once. We'd love for the next chapter of his life to be filled with warm beds, gentle hands, and someone who will never let him wonder where he belongs again. If you're looking for a cat whose quiet strength is matched only by the love he's ready to give, Smokey is waiting. Please complete an adoption request: https://www.hamilton.ca/home-neighbourhood/animals-pets/adopt-or-foster-pet/adoptions Animal adoptions and viewing are by appointment only. This allows our Adoption Staff to spend quality time with each potential home to ensure the most successful matches are made between the animals and their new families. *Please note: we only adopt within Ontario

If Bella could tell her story, we're pretty sure she'd ask for just one thing: a soft bed that never disappears. This beautiful 9-year-old girl came to us as a stray, and it's clear she never belonged out there. She even had a microchip, giving us hope that someone would be missing her. But when we tracked it down, we learned her registered owner had given her away about a month ago... and couldn't remember to whom. Somewhere along the way, Bella slipped through the cracks. Now she's looking for something she should have had all along: a family who won't lose track of her, forget about her, or leave her wondering where she belongs. Bella does have a few things that make adopters scroll a little faster but we're hoping you'll keep reading. First, she's 9 years old. We prefer to say she's 9 years young. She's still curious, still enjoys attention, and still has plenty of pep in her step. Think of her as the grandma at the gym who somehow outpaces everyone on the treadmill. Age isn't slowing Bella down anytime soon. Second, she's a black cat. While some people overlook black cats, many cultures consider them symbols of good luck. We happen to think the real good fortune is ending up with a cat as lovely as Bella. And finally, Bella is diabetic. We know that can sound intimidating, but it really isn't the scary diagnosis many people imagine. She simply needs a consistent routine and insulin to keep her feeling her best. It takes a little extra care, but Bella gives back so much more in return. She's absolutely worth those few extra minutes each day. What Bella needs most isn't perfection. She needs someone who sees past the number on her birthday, the color of her fur, and a medical condition, and sees her — a sweet, resilient cat who deserves to spend her golden years knowing exactly where home is. Bella has already experienced what it's like to be forgotten. We're hoping the next chapter of her story is about being chosen... and cherished for the rest of her life. Please complete an adoption request: https://www.hamilton.ca/home-neighbourhood/animals-pets/adopt-or-foster-pet/adoptions Animal adoptions and viewing are by appointment only. This allows our Adoption Staff to spend quality time with each potential home to ensure the most successful matches are made between the animals and their new families. *Please note: we only adopt within Ontario

Salem is a sweet, playful girl with a calm, easygoing personality that makes her a wonderful companion. If you're looking for her, there's a good chance you'll find her wherever her brother Soot is! The two are often together, exploring, playing, or relaxing side by side. Like any curious kitten, Salem loves to climb and explore, but unlike some of her siblings, she's polite enough to keep her nose out of everyone else's drinks! After a busy play session, you'll usually find her stretched out on the dog bed enjoying a cozy afternoon nap. At bedtime, Salem likes to stay close without needing to be right on top of you. Rather than jumping onto the bed, she'll happily curl up on a folded blanket beside it, keeping you company while enjoying her own cozy space. Salem has been raised in a busy foster home alongside her brothers, Soot and Smudge, with four children ranging in age from 5 to 14. She's experienced it all—from being held and snuggled to being tucked under an arm while racing around the house, playing in tents, cardboard boxes, and countless imaginative spaceships and vehicles built from everyday household items. She has also grown up with three dogs and is comfortable around them. Salem is respectful of their space but happy to play if they show interest. This confident little girl is rarely fazed by anything new. She has grown into a versatile, adaptable kitten with a wonderfully relaxed attitude that will help her settle into just about any home. Whether your family is busy and active or quiet and laid back, Salem has the personality to fit right in and become a beloved member of the family. Please complete an adoption request: https://www.hamilton.ca/home-neighbourhood/animals-pets/adopt-or-foster-pet/adoptions Animal adoptions and viewing are by appointment only. This allows our Adoption Staff to spend quality time with each potential home to ensure the most successful matches are made between the animals and their new families. *Please note: we only adopt within Ontario

Meet Lexi! 3 yrs Spayed/Female Lexi is a cat's cat, and her future hangs in the balance of being able to connect with a compassionate and caring pet owner who can love a cat for the sake of that cat, not for what they get in return from that cat. Lexi was born and raised among a colony of community cats, she was incredibly difficult to catch with efforts spanning more than 10 months as she diligently worked to evade even the most skilled of trappers before she was finally secured, pregnant, and ready to begin adding her own little ones to the overpopulation crisis. Thankfully, Lexi was secured before she could give birth, and her babies never had to experience the harsh reality of being born on the street. Lexi was spayed, and she has been in foster care for well over a year, but Lexi is still a cat's cat, and she has very little use for humans beyond being grateful that they can ensure her comfort and a full tummy. Will Lexi meet you at the door after a long day at work? No. Will Lexi sit up on your lap? Nope. Does Lexi like cuddles? No thanks! Does Lexi love to be petted and show her appreciation with purrs? Also no! Will Lexi sleep up in the bed with you? Not a chance. Will Lexi leap around playing with toys with you? Not going to happen. Will Lexi sit up on the couch with you? Probably not. What WILL Lexi do or offer?? Honestly? Not a lot in terms of what she will give back, or show, but she will faithfully use a litter box, she will happily eat canned and dry food and she may even meow/chatter at you at meal times, and allow a head pet or couple of quick strokes (only at meal times, thank you kindly), she will use a scratching post, and she wont try to dart out your front door every time you come and go. And she is a really great hunter should you happen to have a mouse! And that's about it. Lexi is a good friend to other cats. She settles in really well with another mellow and relaxed cat, she seems to really like the boys to pal and chum around with, and she can make a comforting presence for another cat who would like a buddy who wont try to steal the limelight or try to hog any of the love and affection, but who will just hang around, being there, to watch, cuddle up beside, and hang out with. There is a great chance that Lexi will never become any more open or affectionate. She will probably never be a lap cat, will probably never want to be picked up or held, she will never be able to give what many people are looking for when they adopt a cat - but Lexi still needs to be loved, she still needs a Forever Home, where she can be free to be herself, do her thing and thrive, despite not offering the love, cuddles and sweetness that most people are looking for in a furry family member. Lexi needs someone special to take notice of her, to see her worth despite her aloof and independent nature, and who will offer her a truly unconditional love, that means sharing a home, a life and a love that does not meet the traditional expectations of pet ownership. Lexi can consider a safe barn or shop cat post, where she will be kept safe, well fed and cared for, or would be happy to be a house cat who is simply left to do her thing as she chooses with no expectation of her changing to suit the needs of her humans while they change their focus to accept and love her for who she is. Lexi is fully vetted, vaccinated, spayed, she is microchipped has been treated for routine parasites and is is great health, she has fantastic litter box habits and is a neat and tidy little room-mate who likes to keep herself to herself and is in no rush to change that. ADOPTION FEES WILL BE WAIVED FOR A SUITABLE ADOPTER. Please submit an adoption application for Lexi today at http://priderescue.ca/

Meet Walter! 2 yrs Neutered/Male A handsome soul who found himself abandoned and trying to survive on the street, Walter was very scared when he entered the rescue, and has come a long way, blossoming into a warm and affectionate young cat who is great with other cat companions. Playful, curious and a vocal and chatty guy with a gentle nature, he just needs a little time and patience to truly blossom into himself as he gets to know and trust new people. Looking for a mature, adult home, without dogs, Walter will need a little time to adjust and adapt at his own pace. A cat who will by timid and skittish at first, Walter will need a little time and gentleness as he gets the lay of the land, adjusting to the new place and new people, but given the patience and support he needs to become familiar with new things, he quickly warms into a really very lovely cat. Walter thrives in a quiet setting, and once comfortable is a chatty cat who answers when spoken to, and he openly asks for love and affection from his people. Not one of being picked up or held, in time, Walter enjoys close cuddles and lap time, but will need to develop a trusting bond with his new before before he fully comes out of his shell. Playful and curious, and a lover of high perches to laze around and nap, this beautiful boy is a sweetheart, with so much potential. Ready and waiting to love and be loved, Walter is looking forward to meeting his purrfect Forever Family! Walter has been vet checked and fully vaccinated, he has been treated for routine parasites, has been microchipped and has been neutered. An adoption fee of $250 applies. Please submit your adoption application today at http://priderescue.ca/