Faces of No-Kill: Senior cat teaches kittens art of play

Chameleon had been adopted a few times, but home never quite felt right. Maybe it was too quiet. Maybe the furniture was too orderly. Maybe she just missed the thrill of tiny paws pouncing on her tail.

Turns out, Chameleon thrives in chaos — the pint-sized, purr-filled kind that kittens are known for. That’s why she reigns supreme in the area where she’s staying at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary’s Cat World, where a never-ending parade of tiny troublemakers keeps her on her toes (and back and head — kittens have zero respect for personal space). They climb her, chase her, nibble her ears, and she loves every second.

To an outsider, it might seem like the kittens are using Chameleon as their personal playground. And, well, they are. But what those tiny whirlwinds don’t realize is that they’ve met their match. Chameleon is no ordinary cat. She’s a wrestling coach, a jungle gym, a patient nanny, and a best friend all wrapped into one extra-floofy package. She meets every sneak attack with a playful swipe, every ear nibble with a gentle headbutt, and every clumsy pounce with a well-timed roll that sends her tiny sparring partner tumbling (but only in the most encouraging way).

[Faces of No-Kill: Senior cat mentors foster kittens]

Chameleon came to the Sanctuary from a shelter with a few years under her furry belt, although with all her playful energy one would never guess she’s a senior lady. Best Friends’ goal is for all shelters to reach no-kill, and that means working together with other animal welfare organizations to save pets’ lives, giving each one what they need to move out of the shelter. And sometimes that means giving pets like Chameleon the time it takes for the right person to come along and bring them home (perhaps one with a few tiny, furry tails).

Her patience with the precocious kittens seems endless. She doesn’t even mind when these tiny tots treat her tail like a feather toy or turn her favorite nap spot into a wrestling ring. In fact, she seems to thrive on their energy, matching their antics with her own playful pounces.

By day, she wrestles, zooms, and playfully tackles her rotating cast of kitten besties. She’s often spotted lounging mid-chaos, eyes half-closed in bliss as tiny paws bounce around her. By night, she lines them up for a proper bath because, if there's one thing Chameleon takes seriously, it's kitten hygiene. And don't even think about sneaking off before ear-washing time — Auntie Chameleon always notices.

[Cats pamper kitten with purrs]

She’s the ultimate fun aunt: the one who lets you stay up late but still makes sure you wash behind your ears. She teaches her tiny protégés the fine art of cat manners, ensuring that each one leaves her care knowing exactly how to pounce, play, and properly clean their whiskers.

Maybe Chameleon doesn’t have a home yet in the traditional sense. Maybe she built it instead — one tiny kitten at a time.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.