To watch the video click here.

See Apollo and Teela on video!

Are you the type of person who enjoys a little fur on your furniture? Can’t nestle in for a good night’s sleep without the soothing sensation of cat hair on your comforter? Well you’re in luck! Especially if you’re planning a trip to Best Friends. After roughly eight zillion requests and years of anticipation, the first ever cat sleepover program has officially begun!

Actually, technically this isn’t the very first cat sleepover program. For a long while, there have been cats down at the laundromat for the Best Friends cottages who go on sleepovers to the rooms. Think it’s hard to book one of the cottages at Best Friends? Try booking K.C. the cat! K.C. was getting overworked.

Now it’s time to open up the opportunity to the rest of the cats at the sanctuary. The main concern with cat sleepovers all along has been that cats can be so good at escaping. Still, it was hard to deny them a chance at sleepovers. After all, dogs have been going on sleepovers with visitors at Best Friends for years, and as well as being fun for them, it’s helped so many of them get adopted.

There simply had to be a way to let the cats in on this.

After careful planning and consideration, that time has finally come. For starters, it won’t be every cat at the sanctuary who can go on sleepovers. They have to have the right personality—cats who don’t like springing at an open door for one thing. Also, volunteers will be armed with lots of tips and hints to make sure the cats never get outside. (One requirement is that the people stay in the room with the cat all night.)

With everything in place, the only thing left to do was a trial run. Cats Apollo and Teela were the first brave volunteers. As for the first people, friends Cyndi Pearce and Sherri Orner from North Carolina took up the challenge. Sherri is the director of a cat humane society back home, and has been a long-time volunteer at Best Friends. Together they seemed like the perfect folks to try out the program.

And -- drum roll, please -- it was a resounding success! The cats were perfect, and Sherri and Cyndi had a great time too. They even caught some goofy antics on video. With that glowing field report, then, it’s time to kick off the new program officially.

So, ladies and gentlemen, pack your suitcases and bring your fuzzy mice. It’s show time!

Story by David Dickson
Photo by Sarah Ause

Watch the video!

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March 13, 2009 : 5:19 PM ET
posted by: pattysullivan45@hotmail.com

Nothing better than waking up to a fuzzy cat in the morning, unless it's a funny little dog like my Madelyn.

January 26, 2009 : 5:34 PM ET
posted by: BarbWilliamson

Buzz and Bucky who are young brothers in search of a home together got to go on a sleepover recently. They are managing the office building called Claudette's Castle right now if you want to meet them email barbara@bestfriends.org. IN THE MEANTIME, read all about their sleepover on their Catster diary. Copy and paste this url: http://www.catster.com/cats/788482 and help spread the word.

As Buzz says "WE"VE BEEN WAITING OUR WHOLE LIVES TO GO HOME."

January 25, 2009 : 9:38 AM ET
posted by: maxalf6

My husband and I travel a lot and have had cats who live at hotels come to our room and ask to be let it. Once in Grenada, WI, a cat came in and slept on our bed for 2 days. In Hawaii we had a feral cat come to our door every morning for cat food - which I bought - but would not come in.Cats are wonderful affectionate animals - if you gain their trust. Keep up the good work Best Friends! PS: My user name is my 2 cats

January 20, 2009 : 9:31 PM ET
posted by: carriegrover

What a wonderful story! Does anyone know the hotel that Cyndi and Sherri were staying at in this video?

January 17, 2009 : 5:36 PM ET
posted by: dopty4ever

OMG!!!!! That was such a great video showcasing how wonderful and exciting to add those kitties to your family! My cats are so shy and anti-social, they won't be so relaxed and playful at a new place like them. I think Best Friends chose two best candidates for the first official sleepover program. I hope many people watch this video, participate the sleepover program with a kitty-cat and it will lead to many more adoptions for those irresistible fantastic kitties at BF! Congrats!

January 16, 2009 : 4:04 PM ET
posted by: corinnem

How great that BF is finally letting cats do sleepovers. Thanks for a wonderful story & video!

Let's not forget all of the volunteers who stayed in the RVs on site at Rescue Village and did many, many sleepovers with the wonderful cats from the Great Kitty Rescue. These sleepovers really help the cats get ready for their forever homes.

January 16, 2009 : 8:14 AM ET
posted by: KinKStar

Oh my gawd! Those kitties are absolutely beautiful, more than a little deserving of a home of their own! It's obvious they totally enjoyed their sleepover in a perfect room - with a private potty, wall to wall beds, and plenty of running space.

What a wonderful idea! Good for anyone willing to venture into a fuzzy love experience. PurrZ and HeadbonkZ to All!

January 16, 2009 : 12:35 AM ET
posted by: suzieq67

My son and I took Billie on a sleepover on January 2nd. Billie was a WONDERFUL sleepover cat. My son LOVED her so much. She was cute, sweet, well mannered, and liked to give us a kiss when she got really happy! I awoke in the morning to a head massage and a kiss! My son was very sad to have to take Billie back to Benton's Place, so sad that we went to visit her and play with the other kitties there so he could say a proper goodbye. We would have applied to adopt her if we didn't have a non-cat friendly dog in our home. Oh yes....she is a mac and cheese thief!!! I turned my head for a second and she put her head in my dinner bowl and had a snack!!!!! Billie, you are a great girl! I hope you get adopted soon!

January 15, 2009 : 9:04 PM ET
posted by: jmuhj

OMG is that a wonderful video and Apollo and Teela are STARS! Makes me wish I could get over there to get in on the experience -- and if it weren't like that here at our house (only more so!), I'd be there! Great program, and may many, many sweet cats find their loving, forever homes this way!

January 13, 2009 : 7:57 PM ET
posted by: katcarrithers@sbcglobal.net

And, who can forget Ms. Bigglesworth...the first sleep-over cat from the laundry room...K.C. came a couple years later. My friend, Doris, and I were the very first to have Ms. Bigglesworth stay with us in one of the cottages...what a wonderful cat who now has a forever home! Of course we also had K.C. stay with us. The dogs we had stay with us were wonderful, but ther is nothing like a "cat fix". How exciting to learn that we will be able to have cats with us in cottage #7 when we return to Best Friends in April! I say, "It's about time", but I also know all too well the extreme precautions BF had to take before embarking on this program...and I applaud you! Just another reflection of your love and care for the animals...for their well-being as number one priority; we humans need to totally respect and appreciate that. Thank you!!! See you in April for my 8th visit! Kathy in Michigan

January 13, 2009 : 2:42 AM ET
posted by: Jean Shea

K.C. will always have my heart but I am so excited to see the cat sleepover program initiated. Teela and Apollo looked like they were having a great time. Maybe they will pass along word to others that sleepovers are good.

I certainly am game to try a sleepover kitty. Not I would refuse K.C., of course, but hey, it's time to spread the joy!

January 12, 2009 : 2:06 PM ET
posted by: Owned by Pets

I'll bet KC was "overworked" ;) Glad there is more kittes in the program now :)