Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter is in the news following a visit from a local TikTok sensation

In an incredible display of community support, Arthur Jurzanovs, a comedian from Sunderland, has brought unprecedented attention to the Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter. Arthur’s unique and heartwarming TikTok has grown to over 300,000 followers. Arthur’s posts involved giving his 11-week-old kitten, Nadia, a stroke for every new follower and rapidly gained traction. This included interest from ITV News and ChronicleLive, who both published stories within the past week.

Arthur’s journey began with a simple yet creative idea on TikTok, aiming to grow his social media following by committing to stroke his kitten for each new follower. The response was nothing short of phenomenal. Within just ten days, Arthur’s account @arthur.j899 exploded to over 318,000 followers. His videos, capturing the affectionate moments with Nadia and later, visits to our shelter, have been watched millions of times, highlighting the joy and comfort pets bring into our lives.

@arthur.j899 Day 10 Nadia the cat gets a break and I give the strokes to the beautiful animals at @Newcastle Dog And Cat Shelter #cat #challenge #day2 #day10 #newyearsresolution #kitten #daily #75hard #catsoftiktok #fun #funny #trending #viral #explore #trend #catlover #fyp #shelter #newcastle ♬ original sound – Arthur J

Recognising the opportunity to extend this affection beyond his beloved Nadia, Arthur visited Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter on 22 February 2024, sharing the love with our cats awaiting adoption. Siblings Midnight and Binx, along with Bella, Jessie, Raven, and even Milo the puppy, received much-needed attention and cuddles from Arthur. This visit not only brought joy to these animals but also raised awareness about the importance of animal adoption.

The media took notice of this heartwarming story, with ITV featuring Arthur and cats from the Shelter, and ChronicleLive highlighting the significant increase in Arthur’s TikTok following and his generous act of sharing the love at our shelter.

We are immensely grateful to Arthur for his innovative approach to raising awareness about animal adoption and to the media for amplifying this story. Such support is invaluable in our ongoing mission to find loving homes for all our animals.

The Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter also extends a heartfelt thank you to ITV and ChronicleLive for the coverage, and shining a light on the Shelter. This remarkable journey underscores the impact of community support and the difference each person can make in the lives of animals in need.

Thank you, Arthur, and to all who have supported our shelter through this viral sensation. Your support helps us continue our mission to save lives across North East England.

Love this? Why not give a quid to help more cats at the shelter. Find out more here.