Kittens Keep Getting Ignored At Adoption Events — But They Don’t Know It’s Because They’re ‘Different’

At a recent adoption event hosted by NAWS Humane Society of Illinois, cats and kittens happily found new homes one after another. By the end of the day, most cages sat empty — except for two.

Pixie and Sprout, a pair of sweet, bright-eyed kittens, were still waiting.

Sometimes, rescuers can’t explain why certain animals get overlooked. But this time, heartbreakingly, they knew exactly why.

“Sprout and Pixie are FIV+ kittens,” NAWS director Fran Grzesik wrote on TikTok. “Which causes them to be extremely overlooked — not even catching a second glance sometimes.”

@frangrzesik

Sprout and Pixie are two absolutely wonderful cats. They aren’t bonded together and could go to separate homes as long as there are other cats in the home. They are five month old kittens who have tested positive for FIV, we will be retesting them at 6 months old to confirm they are FIV+, but would still love to see them adopted regardless. If you are interested in adopting Sprout or Pixie or… Sprout AND Pixie please submit an adoption application at nawsus.org. If you have any questions feel free to message me directly. I’m sending you guys all of my love. Let’s get these babies home. 😭🫂🤍 #adopt #adoptdontshop #cat #fivpositivecat #kitten #catsoftiktok #animalshelter

♬ When She Loved Me – Lyn Lapid

FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) might sound intimidating to adopters, but in reality, it doesn’t define who these kittens are — playful, loving, and full of life.

Sprout is the adventurer of the duo. Always curious, he can’t resist a crinkly bag, a bouncing ball, or a feather wand that needs conquering.

“Whether he’s chasing a toy or investigating every sound in the room, Sprout’s always on the move — unless he’s following you around like your loyal little shadow,” NAWS staff shared on Facebook.

Pixie, meanwhile, is the cuddler. After showing off her playful acrobatics, she loves nothing more than curling up in someone’s lap for snuggles.

“She’s the best of both worlds — playful energy and gentle affection,” NAWS wrote.

Despite their diagnosis, Sprout and Pixie are healthy, happy, and can live just as long as any other cat. According to the Cornell Feline Health Center, FIV+ cats often lead completely normal lives — they just need a little extra care, like staying indoors, keeping up with vet visits, and living in homes where cats get along peacefully.

“Cats in households with stable social structures where housemates do not fight are at little risk of acquiring FIV infections,” Cornell notes.

And that makes Pixie and Sprout perfect candidates — both are social butterflies who love other cats and people alike.

“These kittens don’t deserve to wait for their forever home because of their diagnosis,” Grzesik wrote. “They don’t understand that they’re different. They just want to be loved.”

Now, these two special kittens are still waiting for someone to see them for who they truly are — not their diagnosis, but their hearts.

If you think that might be you, you can learn more about adopting Sprout or Pixie through NAWS Humane Society of Illinois’ adoption page.