Forget trying to find your perfect match - what about your purrfect cat?
As a single 20-something who is already envisioning her future as an eccentric elderly woman with 15 cats, I'll be the first to tell you that humans are overrated. Why spend your time searching for a person who will probably leave you anyway (about one in two first marriages end in divorce, people) when you can couple up with a cat companion and enjoy years of unbridled bliss, including less backchat and actually reciprocated affection.
Well, finding your purrfect match may have just become a little easier, with cats now joining their canine counterparts on the popular adoption platform, MyHooman.
The platform's new campaign is inviting people struggling to navigate the dating landscape to "give up on humans and match with a cat instead" - you don't have to tell me twice.
MyHooman's creator, Mars, flipped the adoption process on its head in 2020 when it launched the platform, which uses artificial intelligence and smart-matching algorithms - the likes of which are typically seen in dating apps, like Tinder - to accurately match animals with their most suitable adopters.
The initiative is aiming to help our feline friends find their fur-ever homes, following the successful matches of more than 800 dogs and humans across Aotearoa this year and as the post-pandemic landscape brings new adoption challenges to the fore.
Due to a combination of pet parents heading back to the office and the rising cost of living, shelters have this year reported a 45 percent decrease in dog adoptions and a 50 percent increase in people surrendering their pets to shelters. As a result, shelters across the country are reporting 2022 to be the worst kitten season on record.
Cats and dogs available for adoption in Aotearoa often go through a complicated journey to finding a stable and loving home, with administrative tasks falling to local shelters where the majority of staff are volunteers.
"The need is greater than ever, and teenage and adult cats in particular are a focus. They're beautiful companions and we're already seeing a great response from our initial trial of MyHooman – the process is so simple for us and for people wanting to adopt," Alisha Sinclair, the founder of the Auckland-based non-profit cat and kitten rescue charity 9 Lives Orphanage, said in a statement.
During the development of the MyHooman site, insights from rescue organisations enabled the developers and designers to alleviate the adoption process.
"None of us want to see unwanted and uncared-for cats on the streets. At Mars Petcare we are focused on our purpose, 'a better world for pets'. MyHooman is a proven solution that is helping us achieve that, by addressing the issue of pet homelessness," Mars' general manager, Peter Simmons, added.
So forget your forever person and consider getting yourself a furry friend instead - sure, you've probably stroked a hairy back or two in your time, but this is a cute fluffball you'll actually want to cuddle.
