Adopted three years ago, Arius had left Adams County Pet Rescue in Washington State, USA, to join a home. But in September, his owner returned with him, claiming the cat was doing his business outside the litter tray.
As soon as he arrived back at the shelter, the stressed feline bit an employee. The volunteers then sought to find out more from his former owner. And that's when the real reason for his behaviour was discovered.
A neglected living environment
In a message posted on 16th September on Facebook, the rescue explained that Arius's owner only cleaned his litter tray once a week, sometimes every two weeks. He even ended up cleaning it just once a month, deciding it was "too much work".
The volunteers also discovered that Arius had been refused by two groomers due to his stress and agitated behaviour. The shelter quickly understood that this distress came from the neglect he'd suffered at home: a poorly maintained tray, too small for a 15-pound cat, and unsuitable living conditions.
New hope for Arius
Today, Arius is waiting for a new family. The shelter hopes he'll soon manage to calm down so he can share the common room with other cats. "We hope he can relax and meet a companion", the volunteers wrote.
On social media, the story has upset internet users, many of whom expressed their sadness and anger. Many came to the cat's defence, reminding everyone that he wasn't responsible for the situation in any way.
Arius is still available for adoption, but the shelter insists: he'll need a patient and experienced person, ready to understand his difficult past and offer him the stability he's so desperately lacked.
