I recently had the chance to learn more about Simba, one of the longest-tenured residents at Helen Woodward Animal Center, and what I thought would be a simple introduction to a hard-to-place cat quickly turned into something much more nuanced, and honestly, a little endearing.
Simba is a one-year-old cream-colored orange tabby who, on paper, doesn’t seem like he should still be waiting for a home. He doesn’t come with an especially tragic backstory compared to many shelter animals. He isn’t managing any medical issues that might complicate an adoption or create financial stress for a future family. He’s not even from a particularly unusual place—just Los Angeles County, like so many others.
And yet, he remains.
As Austin Hale, PR and Communications Manager at Helen Woodward Animal Center, explained to me, Simba’s uniqueness lies entirely in his personality—one that he described, with a laugh, as “very… opinionated.” According to him, Simba is incredibly particular about the people he allows into his world. He doesn’t like men. He doesn’t like a lot of women either. He doesn’t like being picked up, but he also isn’t content with being ignored. Even petting him comes with rules—too much is a problem, too little is also a problem. And when those invisible boundaries are crossed, Simba makes his feelings known.
But Hale was quick to emphasize that this isn’t the whole story. In fact, he leaned in on this point: when Simba decides someone is his person, everything changes.
“I cannot emphasize enough,” he told me, “when Simba chooses you, he is the absolute BEST kitty a cat lover could ask for.”
That transformation is best illustrated through Simba’s relationship with the center’s social media coordinator, Kate. In what Hale described as a “classic twist of irony,” Kate happens to be allergic to cats—meaning she can’t adopt Simba herself. But that hasn’t stopped Simba from making his choice very clear.
Through Hale’s account, it almost feels like watching the bond unfold in real time. When Kate enters Simba’s space, his entire demeanor softens. He presses his face into her hands with an affection that feels deeply intentional. He climbs into her lap and purrs so loudly that, as Hale described it, staff can hear it from outside the solarium. At one point, Simba even climbed onto her back just to nuzzle his face into hers—a small but telling gesture of trust.
He plays when she’s there, too—bringing his toys into the interaction, as if inviting her into his world rather than merely tolerating her presence. And when she leaves, the shift is immediate. He lingers by the door, pacing and waiting, visibly disappointed.
Hale didn’t hide his feelings about it either. With a grin, he admitted, “Why yes, I’m incredibly jealous of her—how could you tell?”
What stood out most to me was that Simba’s bond with Kate isn’t just a one-off fluke. The animal care team at Helen Woodward Animal Center has observed similar behavior with a small number of staff members. According to Hale, Simba has formed attachments with a few people—proof that his capacity for connection is very real, even if it’s selective.
That selectiveness, however, is exactly what makes his story so compelling.
Simba isn’t the kind of cat who will immediately charm every visitor who walks past his enclosure. He isn’t universally easy. But he’s deeply loyal once a connection is made—and that kind of bond, while harder to earn, is often the most meaningful.
The team at Helen Woodward Animal Center understands this, and they’re prepared to give Simba the time he needs. As Hale made clear, the center remains committed to caring for him for as long as it takes, just as they do with every animal that comes through their doors.
And somewhere out there, there’s a person Simba will choose next.
When that moment happens—when the right person walks in and earns his trust—it won’t be subtle. Simba will make sure of it. And according to everyone who’s seen that side of him, it will be worth the wait!
If you think you may be Simba's chosen person, click here to learn more!