Two 5-month-old sister kittens named Mocha and Maple have been waiting at the Newport Beach Animal Shelter since March, and staff want them adopted as a pair.
The medium-haired kittens arrived together, bonded early, and have spent roughly four months watching other animals leave for new homes, according to a Stu News Newport feature published Tuesday, July 28. Shelter staff called the sisters sweet and said they would love to see the pair go home together. Maple is the one with more orange coloring on her face.
Both kittens are spayed, vaccinated and microchipped. They are ready to go.
Why bonded pairs wait longer
Bonded animals often face longer shelter stays because adopters must commit to two pets at once. For Mocha and Maple, that math has meant four-plus months in a kennel during what should be their most playful, exploratory stage of life. Summer is also historically a high-intake season for shelters, as kittens born in spring reach weaning age and arrive in large numbers.
They are not the only long-stay residents. Jazzy, a 3-year-old, 55-pound dog, has been at the same shelter since Wednesday, February 21, 2024, more than two years with little adopter interest, according to a separate Stu News Newport feature published in late June.
A shelter built by neighbors
The city-run facility at 20282 Riverside Drive opened in early 2023 after the Friends of Newport Beach Animal Shelter spent five years raising $3 million to build it, then donated the property to the city, according to Voice of OC reporting from January 2023. The 1,500-square-foot shelter includes 21 kennels and a cattery that can host around 50 cats.
"Newport Beach should've had its own shelter years ago, but no one was doing anything," Jean Watt, then a board member of the Friends group and former city council member, told Voice of OC in January 2023 when the facility was donated to the city. "The community came together really well. People love animals, and it's a great feeling to see it done."
Other animals available
The shelter's Instagram account (@newportbeachanimalshelter) posted on Monday, July 27, that Apollo, a 4-month-old Rottweiler mix, is also available for adoption.
How to meet Mocha and Maple
Adoptions are by appointment only, according to the city's shelter page. To schedule a meet and greet, call 949-718-3454 or email [email protected]. The shelter is at 20282 Riverside Drive, Newport Beach.
Coming up in Newport Beach
- Saturday, October 17: Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire black-tie gala at Pendry Newport Beach.
