Raed

Attention all holiday shoppers! Do you have your day-after-Thanksgiving coupons ready to go? All neatly sorted and prioritized? Good. Now give them to someone else. You’re not going to need them this year. …

Best Friends’ partner Pet Airways, America’s first and only airline dedicated to pets, called up recently with a piece of interesting news. They had some room on a cross-country flight in a couple weeks and wondered if any of the animals at Best Friends could use a lift? At that point, all kinds of exciting possibilities started flying around.

Here’s why even the most stalwart shopper should be lured away from coupon-clipping this November 26th. For anybody who has ever looked longingly at the adoptable cats on the Best Friends website, but couldn’t figure out how to bring them home, your chance has come at last. Pet Airways is going to make a special stop in Kanab to pick up all the animals chosen for adoption, and then will drop them off across the country — free of charge — to their new homes! This all happens during two days: Thanksgiving Day, and Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving). Doesn’t that beat waiting in line at 3:00 a.m. for stocking stuffers?

Here’s the goal: Best Friends hopes to have "26 home by the 26th," or rather, at least 26 cats home by November 26th — Thanksgiving weekend. The drop-off points for the trip are as follows: On Thanksgiving Day, Pet Airways will be stopping at Denver, Colorado; Omaha, Nebraska; and Chicago, Illinois. At that point, they’ll stay the night in Chicago. On Friday, they will stop in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area and finally, in New York City (Long Island).

George

All pets who fly on Pet Airways fly as "pawsengers" in the main cabin, never in the luggage area beneath. During the entire flight, pet attendants check their comfort regularly. Rest assured, these animals will be flying in high style. Pet Airways is donating the entire flight. Without them, this whole holiday adoption extravaganza wouldn’t be possible.

Okay, so now for the really fun stuff. Any of the adoptable cats at the sanctuary are eligible. (Please see their profiles on the adoption page.) In addition, the folks over at Cat World put their heads together to come up with a short list of highly adoptable cats they feel are most deserving of a home. Below is the list of 26 cats who would love nothing more than to spend the holidays in their very own home this year. Talk about having something to be thankful for! And now, thanks to Pet Airways, they and all the other adoptable cats at the sanctuary have a better shot than ever.

So heck, let somebody else worry about getting 30% off the latest holiday hot gift item. Here’s a chance to have the newest member of your family flown out for free, just in time for the holidays! Only don’t take too long deciding. All adoption applications must be received at Best Friends by Monday, November 23.

Story by David Dickson
Photos by Best Friends staff

What better holiday gift could there be than a loving new member of the family? Learn more about the 26 fabulous featured felines by checking out their Adorable Adoptables profiles.

• Raed
• George
• Buzz (with Bucky)
• Bucky (with Buzz)
• Angie
• Higgins
• Cornflake
• Zeb (pictured at top of page)
• Kit-Kat
• Bob Marley
• Bogart
• Stubby Nose
• Nancy
• Smokey Jo
• Beni
• Pagoda
• Cybil
• Bobb
• Little Callie
• Clancy
• Jackie
• Fo
• Black Jack
• Quentin Sands
• Cassie
• Ventura

November 23, 2009 : 3:20 PM ET
posted by: dogmom

Thank you Pet Airways! This is a wonderful gift to Best Friends, the animals, and their awaiting families.

Good luck to everyone... I hope you all go Home for the Holidays!!!

November 22, 2009 : 7:25 PM ET
posted by: elainejunko

Pagoda is the most awesome cat ever! Every time I visit, I make sure to visit Morgaine's to see him. It makes me so happy that he may have a home for the holidays!!!!

November 20, 2009 : 11:12 AM ET
posted by: jdjoyce

jmuhj -

The adoptions staff can better answer. But in short, Best Friends has a nationwide network of volunteers. After reviewing an application, the adoptions staff will contact a trusted volunteer that lives near the prospective adopter's home to conduct the home inspection, etc.

November 20, 2009 : 9:39 AM ET
posted by: tampatuxedocat

All these kitties are beautiful but I have to give a special shout out to all the black kitties! Please consider adopting a black cat today. I have one at home, she is the most affectionate adorable cat and not unlucky at all!

November 19, 2009 : 7:32 PM ET
posted by: BarbWilliamson

Buzz and Bucky have written about some of their cat buddies on the Catster diary. And they want to make sure people are giving special consideration to Zeb, Raed and Jimmy Cosmo.

Giving you urls to copy and paste:

The meaning of Zeb: http://www.catster.com/cats/788482/diary/The_latest_mews/633247

Meet Raed: http://www.catster.com/cats/788482/diary/The_latest_mews/470781

The Talented Mr. Cosmo http://www.catster.com/cats/788482/diary/The_latest_mews/633514

Meet My Girlfriend Snuffles http://www.catster.com/cats/788482/diary/The_latest_mews/636654

November 19, 2009 : 7:21 PM ET
posted by: jmuhj

This warms my heart -- but just one concern. How does Best Friends check out and make sure prospective adopters of these cats are bona fide, responsible, compassionate, cat-loving persons? How do they check out the environments they will be going to if adoptions are approved? Yes, I do want a reply, thank you!

November 19, 2009 : 6:56 PM ET
posted by: girlfriendal

I was pretty excited by Nancy based on her writeup until I watched her Adopt Me video where the caretaker very clearly states that she should be an only cat. However, the writeup indicates that she'd be fine other pets, just not too many. Information consistency is important when talking about adopting a new family member.

Way to go Pet Airways for this wonderful service though!

November 19, 2009 : 3:05 PM ET
posted by: lisasal66

To Bittykitty09

This is Lisa at Best Friends adoptions. We have volunteers all over the country who may be able to help us to get Clancy to you if you wanted to adopt him. Please email me at lisas@bestfriends.org so I can send you an application and tell you a little more about the adoption process.

Thanks!

Lisa

November 19, 2009 : 1:19 PM ET
posted by: jbandk9s

Way to go Pet Airways! Love this idea! Kudos to everyone involved.

November 19, 2009 : 12:07 PM ET
posted by: Bittykitty09

Clancy is a very special older Kitty. I would adopt him in a minute if I could get him back to GA.

I hope they all get homes!!!!!!!!!!!

November 19, 2009 : 12:36 AM ET
posted by: csoskins

About Buzz and Bucky...is their URI contagious (in other words, if one has other cats, would the other cats be safe)? I'm not sure I can convince my husband on these two, but I'm sure this info would be helpful for others to know too.

THANKS!

Buzz and Bucky are not contagious. They live with many other cat's in Benton's Lobby in Cat World. If you are interested in adopting Bucky and Buzz we can have our vet provide an explanation of the situation as well as assure you they are not contagious. Please contact adoptions@bestfriends.org for more information.

November 18, 2009 : 10:48 AM ET
posted by: jdjoyce

Black Jack and Quentin are both really great, personable cats. Black Jack doesn't miss any opportunity to perch on your shoulders. It's great having him purring into your neck and rubbing your head with his. I had Quentin on a sleepover in October. It was his first and he was great. He got a little nervous once it was bedtime and the lights went out. He meowed a few times during the night. But I would just call his name and he'd hop up onto my chest for some comforting. He'll be great in his very own home!

November 18, 2009 : 10:34 AM ET
posted by: lisasal66

To mamccowan:

Hi - this is Lisa is adoptions. We have volunteers all over the country. We may be able to find some transportation from Denver to Montana if you are still interested in adopting Jackie. If so, please fill out an application at:http://adoptions.bestfriends.org/Application/AppCat.pdf and we can take it from there.

Thanks for your love and support of Jackie!

Lisa

November 18, 2009 : 7:09 AM ET
posted by: kmprods

Wow, I didn't know Jackie had so many fans out there!

Did you all know that her building, Kitty Motel, has its own Facebook page? You can follow how she and her Kitty Mo sister, Little Callie,and others are doing and exciting KM news and pictures everyday from your computer!

Go to Facebook.com and search "Kitty Motel" and enjoy!

November 17, 2009 : 2:07 PM ET
posted by: BarbWilliamson

Wow! Buzz and Bucky are very honored to be among the kitties highlighted for this feline flyaway.

If you'd like to read their diary entries and see their Catster page, please copy and paste this link:

http://www.catster.com/cats/788482

November 17, 2009 : 11:49 AM ET
posted by: chattykatty

Finally, a great photo of Zeb with his "phantom of the opera" mask. He's really come out of his shell now that he lives in the lobby of Benton's. Looking for a dramatic Tuxedo? He's your guy.

November 17, 2009 : 11:43 AM ET
posted by: mnkittycity

OMG Jackie is the BEST. She was also my favorite (besides Sedona)while I was out volunteering. I wish you alll the luck in the world getting her. She deserves a home of her own!

November 16, 2009 : 11:21 PM ET
posted by: mamccowan

Jackie is my sponsor kitty and I would love nothing more than to have her in my home for the holidays, but Denver is the closest pick up point, and it is still more than a 14 hour drive (one way).

I cannot get that far in the winter, from Montana. Jackie is my pc background and featured on my social website and change.org. She is my forever kitty...it will just take a while longer to come and get her.

If they could only stop in Montana....

Someone please stop and give Jackie a cuddle for me. She is in the Kitty Motel, Rm2. I miss her so much and want to adopt her into my forever home. I will find a way. I haven't forgotten you Jackie-girl. (Tears.)

November 16, 2009 : 7:02 PM ET
posted by: amyeliza

This a great ! I hope all those sweet kitties find a happy home!

November 16, 2009 : 3:01 PM ET
posted by: Owned by Pets

Good Luck to all of you.