Hi, I'm Berta! I may not have had the easiest start to life — I came to ARF back in March 2025 along with three other cats after living in a garage colony with little warmth or stability. It wasn't much, but it was all I knew. Adjusting to shelter life took some time, and I'll be honest, people were pretty intimidating at first. But I've come a long way since then, and I'm proud of every small step forward. Two of the cats I arrived with — Jake and Charlie — have since found their wonderful forever homes, and I couldn't be happier for them. That leaves me and my girl Mia, and while we're not attached at the hip, there's something really comforting about having her nearby. We've built a quiet kind of trust with each other — a gentle, easy companionship that just makes everything feel a little safer. We'd love to be adopted together if possible, but we're both the kind of girls who could also settle in beautifully alongside other friendly, calm, and gentle cats — male or female — in the right home. Of all the cats in my group, I've always been the most curious and outgoing — and that adventurous spirit really comes alive out on the catio. That's my happy place. I'll chirp at birds, track every little movement, and watch the whole world go by from my perch like the very serious nature observer that I am. Feather toys, string toys, anything that moves — yes please, I am very interested. I'm still on my own timeline when it comes to hands-on affection with people, and that's okay. I like being near humans and will watch volunteers closely and allow them into my space — I'm just thoughtful about it. Treats are growing on me too, though I still prefer them served in a bowl for now. Every day I get a little braver, a little more curious, and a little more open to what people might have to offer. What I need most is a calm, patient home — one that understands that progress isn't always loud or fast, and that a cat slowly choosing to trust you is one of the most meaningful things in the world. Small victories deserve to be celebrated, and I promise I will keep giving you reasons to celebrate. If you're looking for a quietly captivating, curious, and gentle soul — and maybe a sweet pair of girls who've been through it together — Mia and I might just be exactly what you're looking for. 🐾💕 Some very important things you should know when applying: Adoption fees for young adult and adult cats are $250 ($265 if microchipped). What our adoption fees include: Adult cats have received a wellness exam, fecal exams to test for intestinal parasites, treated for any known/existing conditions to bring them back to health, SNAP tested for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus), FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus), and Heartworm. They have also received flea/tick preventative, have been spayed/neutered and are up to date on both their distemper and rabies vaccinations. For all applicants: Our volunteers do our very best to match an animal’s needs with that of the family’s needs and desires. In an effort to be transparent, please note that we just don’t know how our individual animals, many who have been through prior stress or trauma before arriving at our shelter, will react around young children who are still learning what it means to respect an animals’ boundaries. We are happy to have a beneficial discussion about safety between children and pets. Applicants and their family members arriving for meet and greets will be asked to sign a liability waiver upon arrival and prior to meeting our animals. Please also expect to have at least 2 visits as part of the adoption process at our shelter- one for the initial meet and greet, and one for the adoption appointment if a match is made. It’s important to us that we are properly matching animals to adopters, preparing our adopters for their special adoption day, and for a lifetime of happy pet ownership with your adopted pet. Please double check your application for completeness and accuracy prior to submitting it to us. Please be as thorough as possible when answering application questions as the more you elaborate, the more information we have to consider, the more likely we are to have a full picture of the care, support, and love our cats/kittens will receive for their adopted lifetime and your particular application will be at the top of our mind when placing cats/kittens in their chosen forever homes. You can complete an application at ARFCT.org and submit it to our email at arfct.adoptions@gmail.com for consideration. Thank you!