DazeVlog

When someone is in the mindset to adopt an animal you would think they do not care about a specific breed, age, or color, but unfortunately, that is not the case.

One rescuer, known on Reddit as u/Fluffy-Designer took a chance on a black cat, or as she put it, the least adoptable cat available. Black cats are often the most overlooked in shelters. What she ended up getting was not what she expected. Although, it worked out for the best.

This user had rescued animals in the past, but took a break to focus on other things. She quickly changed back to being a rescuer once she heard about the cats who needed forever homes.

"Recently I visited some friends where I used to live and one rescuer friend was telling me about all the cats they had in care...a lot of them aren't being adopted because they're FIV positive," the caption read.

Feline immunodeficiency virus, or FIV, is a blood-borne virus specifically in the cat family that attacks and weakens the immune system. Similar to HIV, this virus has no cure. Only about 1 to 5 percent of cats show exposure evidence to the virus, according to VCA Animal Hospitals.

The fact this cat named Duke was diagnosed with FIV didn't stop her from adopting.

"There's not a lot they can throw at me that will bother me—I've seen some stuff," she wrote in the caption.

Along with FIV, Duke has anxiety that is causing him to pull his hair out. He was previously boarded at a vet for a few weeks, which is where she believes his anxiety started. She found out the hard way he hates going to the vet.

Luckily, since being home, Duke has stopped pulling out his hair. She wrote that he's been nothing but sweet, gentle, and easygoing. He cuddles daily with her 15-year-old cat.

Newsweek reached out to Fluffy-Designer via Reddit and email for additional comment.

Why Don't People Adopt Black Cats?

Black cats have become a Halloween icon, appearing in movies and media. They're seen as mysterious. But they are also an intelligent and loyal cat breed. So why are they often overlooked when it comes to adoptions?

A survey conducted by the University of California Berkley found people who had experience with cats were more likely to give orange cats positive traits while white and tortoiseshell cats were seen as aloof and intolerant.

Researchers found that people see black cats as less friendly and more aggressive, according to a study posted to Psychology Today. People in the study also said they were superstitious and because many could not read the emotions of black cats, they rated them to be less friendly.

But based on this Reddit user's experience, black cats are rather very friendly. It's a lesson to all—never judge a book by its cover.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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