How about taking Zachariah to adoption events but telling people that they can only fill out the adoption questionnaire and must wait a week to see him again and finalize the adoption? Someone who seriously wants him will go along with this. The shelter I volunteer for would allow me to do this for any of my fosters, and Zach is a special case so yours should go along with it. Can you require a home visit or vet references? I know you are extremely concerned about him going to a home where they will appreciate him forever, I would be also with his history, but you do need to get him out there so that people can see him. No gain without some pain.

Calloway could do with losing some weight for the sake of his health so a cage with restricted food intake might be just what he needs. As Catnapper said, cats often show other sides of their personality when they are at the centers though it can take a few days or even a week. They really are good places for the shy cats to get used to being handled and come out of their shells in ways they didn't have to in our homes. That being said, I sent out one kitten who had been hell on wheels in my home, so much so that I called him Puck after the rather naughty character in "A Midsummer Night's Dream", only to see him become completely introverted at the center. He's all black and I was afraid he'd be there forever and then be adopted by someone who completely misread his personality, no matter what my bio on him said. I emailed his eventual adopter and told him about my concerns. I got a wonderful email back saying that yes, they'd been very surprised when Puck suddenly changed after a week in their home, but they adored him and didn't mind cleaning up the chaos he leaves behind - whew!

Is there someone you know near the adoption center so they can check on Calloway frequently and given you honest updates?