If you’re interested in adopting a pet and looking for a challenge, here’s a way to check both boxes. Perdita the rescue cat has been labeled the “world’s worst cat” by Mitchell County Animal Rescue in North Carolina, where she’s staying until someone is brave enough to adopt her.
In images posted to Facebook Jan. 22 with the heading, “We thought she was sick, turns out she’s just a jerk,” the black-and-white moggy looks decidedly unimpressed.
The caption provides a little more information: “Meet Perdita, not for the faint of heart. LIKES: staring into your soul until you feel as if you may never be cheerful again; the song Cat Scratch Fever, the movie Pet Cemetery (Church is her hero), jump scares (her specialty), lurking in dark corners, being queen of her domicile, fooling shelter staff into thinking she’s sick (vet agrees…she’s just a jerk) DISLIKES: the color pink, kittens (yuk they are so chipper), dogs, children, the Dixie Chicks, Disney movies, Christmas and last but NOT least…HUGS. She’s single and ready to be socially awkward with a socially awkward human who understands personal space.”
The center was also quick to point out that Perdita is free to adopt. Interested (and brave) parties can complete an application form on the Mitchell County Animal Rescue website.
As The News & Observer reports, the 4-year-old cat arrived at the animal rescue on Christmas Eve and quickly shared her signature move: attracting people to her cage with her cute behavior, then batting their hands away as soon as they reached out to her. The shelter thought Perdita might be in pain, but after taking her to a vet, they realized she was just an extra-feisty feline.
Though she’s been labeled the worst cat, plenty of people seem to appreciate Perdita’s plight. The Facebook post is full of supportive comments, including people who say they’d bring her home.
Some people took issue with the title — they were sure they already had the world’s worst cat. “She and Downey might have to fight for the title,” wrote one commenter. Others declared Perdita their cat’s cousin or soul mate. “Perdita meet Bodhi. She is also a jerk. She likes silently judging others, attacking ankles, playing hide-and-fake kill without permission or warning, and never wants to be touched. If I didn’t fear starting the apocalypse, I’d adopt you in a heartbeat lol,” wrote another.
Others wrote, “I want her!” and “I would love to adopt her!”
Another commenter summed up why declaring Perdita the world’s worst cat was a brilliant move by a shelter that clearly gets cat people. “Cats are very independent and proud, just like most people. That is the reason we love and admire them so much! <3 Hope her new people will respect her and love her. Not a bad cat! :)”
Meanwhile, Perdita has done the Mitchell County shelter some good, even if it was unintentional on her part. People have donated more than $1,100 to the shelter — more than enough to cover Perdita’s adoption fees, so other animals at the shelter will get a leg up from donations thanks to the world’s worst cat.
The Facebook post has been shared 7,000 times, and Perdita has even been featured on “CBS This Morning” with Gayle King, so hopefully at least one person will come forward to give Perdita her forever home.
Whether she cares is another matter.
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories.
