Three-fourths of golden cats are male. A golden girl, like Maura, is a rare, tiny gift to treasure. Her people didn’t recognize that. They brought the just-out-of-kittenhood cat to the shelter. Even when Maura looked at them, with eyes sparkling like 14-carat jewelry, they didn’t change their minds. Maura’s pleas, with her little body and soft meow didn’t work either.

Yet, her people had given Maura one blessing. They allowed her, during just the right stage of her life, to learn to love people. They made Maura a people-pleasing cat, one who works to be touched and talked to, one who reads people’s gestures, tones and facial expressions.

Now Maura needs to go to a home where she’s valued for her beauty and her spirit.