Shelter cat acts like ‘small, furry person’ and needs a home. Meet Winston Churchill
A cat named after the former prime minister of the United Kingdom is on the hunt for a new home in Indiana and he only has one rule — no other pets.
Winston Churchill, a 7-year-old white cat who resembles his namesake and has the distinguished air of a former military officer, isn’t like other cats. The fact is, he doesn’t really … cat.
“Meet Winston Churchill, a cat who knows exactly who he is — a Furman,” the Humane Society for Hamilton County in Fishers said in a March 5 Facebook post. “He’s not just any cat, but a small, furry human who prefers the company of people over pets. Other animals? No, thank you. But humans, yes, especially those who understand cats.”
Mr. Churchill came to the shelter as a stray cat in 2022, his pet profile says.
“At that time, none of us knew how strongly I adhered to my belief in being a Furman. I have been adopted twice and surrendered twice due to my preference for humans,” his profile said. “Particularly adult humans and children over 10 years old.”
An owner who is extremely familiar with cats would be preferred by the prime minister since he can get overstimulated.
“I can become overly stimulated during petting sessions ,” his profile says. “Many cats have this reaction, and we count on our owners to read our body language well. Don’t get me wrong. I do enjoy being held, cuddling with you, and rubbing you for attention.
“It is just that, for some reason, my nervous system can get a little wonky or overly sensitive, and I need everything to stop. Babies, toddlers, and youngsters are not skilled in interpreting my nonverbal signals.”
Winston also has FIV+, known as the feline immunodeficiency virus, Pet MD said.
“As those names imply, infection with FIV weakens a cat’s immune system, which makes it much more likely that they’ll come down with bacterial infections, certain types of cancer, autoimmune diseases, or other secondary health problems,” Pet MD said.
The FIV virus can’t infect humans and is considered not “a big deal,” and cats can “live long, healthy lives when given the proper care, diet and veterinarian visits,” his profile says.
This is also the reason why Winston must be an indoor cat at all times.
“So, to the cat-savvy humans out there — this is your chance to adopt a cat who will truly get you,” the shelter said.
For more information on Winston Churchill, visit the shelter’s website.
Fishers is about a 20-mile drive north from Indianapolis.
This story was originally published March 6, 2025 at 2:52 PM with the headline "Shelter cat acts like ‘small, furry person’ and needs a home. Meet Winston Churchill."