Please help Mystery live a better life.

This handsome cowboy was spotted living in a busy downtown Los Angeles parking lot and had to rely on the kindness of strangers. He napped wedged against parking blocks underneath cars and drank from a nearby water court fountain. His food was eaten on a concrete slab shared with almost non-stop congregating flies. How this shy guy wound up in such a predicament is anyone's guess -- so he came to be called Mystery.

A small group of downtown Los Angeles workers formed a text group (aka Team Mystery) to coordinate feeding, TNR'ing and to communicate about his general well-being. Found cat alerts were posted online but no one came forward to claim this sweet boy. After a vet visit, we learned that Mystery is quite the healthy 1-year-old kitty cat. He was also fixed, vaxed and chipped (previously unchipped) at his appointment. He is currently with a foster where he was able to leave behind the parking lot's gray grime to have the white parts of his fur emerge looking much whiter and brighter. He's also made other small strides in the foster home but needs a continued ​consistent, nurturing environment. Upon gentle petting attempts, he sometimes shakes and cowers (which has continued to lessen over time) but never tries to scratch or bite. It has proven a bit difficult for this timid tom to be adopted since he requires some time to potentially become a more desirable, adoptable cat that is more trusting, friendly and playful.

After post-pandemic adopters' return to work, so many pets have been surrendered resulting in local LA shelters and rescues being maxed to a level not seen in a decade. Unfortunately, no one in Team Mystery is currently able to integrate him into their homes, and the foster originally was willing to foster Mystery for a few days which has now turned into several weeks. We'd love to see Mystery be adopted to someone with the time and heart willing to take on a project kitty. If anyone reading this who is patient and has experience with fearful, introverted cats wants to adopt Mystery to give him a safe loving forever home, please get in touch, and/or please forward this to friends and family.

Barring finding an appropriate adopter, we've decided to apply to a fee-based cat sanctuary to accept Mystery. Our current top choice is the Cat House on the Kings River Rescue near Fresno, California which asks a fee to cover expenses for the life of the cat consisting of food, supplies, medical care, etc. (https://www.cathouseonthekings.com/faq.php). No. 15 details fee amounts. Here, Mystery would initially be with other shy felines who will acclimate according to their own schedule. After a few months, they are offered access to more areas on the grounds where they can run and play in the grass, drink water from the Kings River bank, hang with their cat friends and model other resident cats' brave behavior, if they so choose.

We're hoping to raise as close to the sanctuary fee as possible in order to lessen the burden for Team Mystery to cover the difference. Thank you for contributing whatever amount you can to help Mystery live a better life.