Stowaway Kitten Ni Hao Finds His Forever Home

Ni Hao playing at Carson Animal Care Center on August 20th

It was back in July when Ni Hao (Mandarin for "hello") was found in a freight container that had made a 6,500 mile overseas journey from Shanghai to California. Near death, the 3-month-old kitten could barely open his eyes and wasn't able to walk after the harrowing ordeal, which included two-weeks without food and water.

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The kind staff at Carson Animal Care Center have been looking after the little survivor cat, whose condition has dramatically improved over the past two-months. When it was finally time to find him a forever home, they pored over 80 applications submitted by cat lovers from around the world who hoped to adopt the feline. The honor ultimately went to Kathleen Shaver and her husband Harvey Hettick of Redondo Beach, California who pledged, "I promise that the rest of your life will be easier than the beginning." Ni Hao was picked up to go to his new home yesterday (you can see pics from the happy occasion here), and will join two feline siblings, who were also adopted from shelters.

August 20

As for long term effects of his mysterious voyage, Aaron Reyes, deputy director of Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control says that Ni Hao is "still a bit wobbly" and "may end up being a special needs kitty for life," but "he's gone from this shriveled up little kitten with shallow breathing and knocking on death's door to this curious, playful, bouncy, affectionate, patient, little furry kitty."

I'd wish Ni Hao the best of luck with his new family, but there's no doubt in my mind that he doesn't need it. The Press-Telegram also reports that after a inspection of his new home, one animal control officer commented, "If I were a cat, this is where I'd want to live."

Via Press-Telegram / Jackson Sun / Images: Facebook (County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control)