When Matthew arrived at PAWS Atlanta, he wasn’t his best self. He was surrendered by his owner and had not always received the care he needed in his previous home. He had scrapes around his nose and chin and a swollen eye. He was also very skeptical of people and kept to himself. Matthew wasn’t a fan of the other cats in the Cat Cottage and was skittish around human visitors. We knew he would need to do a lot of healing, both physically and emotionally, before he was ready to transition to a new home. 

As time passed, Matthew began to improve. His injuries healed and he slowly came out of his shell. He was still unsure about humans, but he could often be seen cuddling or napping with other cats. It seemed as though he found comfort in having a friend around. He eventually opened up to some head rubs and chin scratches. He has made huge strides during the past year and a half, and we’re so proud of how far he’s come. He really is our resilient, chunky boy. 

Matthew has been in a foster home for several months and has continued to come into his own. His foster mom says he’s a very good boy and never scratches the furniture or gets too bossy about mealtime. He’s even lost some weight, which, for Matthew, is a good thing health-wise. His favorite thing about his foster home is the cat tree, where he loves to sit and watch the birds all day. He’s still a low-energy cat and will likely never be one for a lot of playtime with toys, but his foster mom says he’s always down for a cuddle on the couch.  

Matthew has turned into quite the outgoing guy, and he immediately greets every new person like a friend. Even so, he would do best in a lower energy home, so no young kids. He’s also been a bit overwhelmed by the two kittens that his foster family adopted (from PAWS Atlanta!), so he would like to be either an only cat or have a cat sibling with similar chill vibes. He came from the same home as one of our other cats, Ditto, and it would be wonderful for them to find a new family together. Matthew just returned to PAWS Atlanta from his foster home last week and would love to find another foster home but, most of all, a forever home. If you want a furry buddy to Netflix and chill with, Matthew is your boy.   

If you'd like to meet Matthew, apply to foster or adopt today!