DORCHESTER, Dorset – A cat named Sarina has finally found a loving home after a TikTok video detailing her long stay at Taylors Rehoming Centre garnered 1.6 million views.
Sarina was brought to the center by an RSPCA inspector after being found in a bathtub with her kittens, infested with fleas. While her kittens were quickly adopted, Sarina remained at the shelter for 232 days.
To increase her chances of adoption, the staff posted an emotional video on TikTok, which has since received over 140,000 likes. The video shows Sarina at the rehoming center with heartfelt messages about her situation, accompanied by an instrumental version of Coldplay’s “Fix You.”
“We honestly weren’t expecting it to reach that many people or go viral,” said animal care assistant Hannah Burt. The video highlighted Sarina’s story and her need for a special home, featuring messages like, “I’ve spent 232 days in RSPCA care. I came in with my four kittens. They found their home but I’m still waiting,” and “Currently I have 0 adoption applications… could you be the one to offer me my forever home?”
The video showed Sarina playing happily with her handler, displaying her affectionate and sweet nature, despite being initially nervous.
“People meet cats like that and don’t always get to see their true personality because they need a little bit of time to learn to trust you,” Burt explained. The TikTok showcased Sarina’s friendly side, with clips of her sitting on Burt’s lap and coming for cuddles.
Sarina’s age (seven years old) and her black-and-white coloring may have contributed to the delay in finding her a home, as ginger and brown tabby cats are often more popular. However, the video led to a flood of applications, including one from the US.
Within two weeks of posting the video, Sarina found a “purrfect” home with a local woman.
“We were all absolutely overjoyed,” Burt said. “It’s quite emotional. I had a real soft spot for her, so we’re all absolutely chuffed. It’s a really nice feeling because you get to know them really well when they’re here for a while, and obviously the end goal is always to find them their forever home, so it’s really great.”
