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No confirmed source says Robert De Niro adopted Jinx. Director Jay Roach recalled that De Niro asked what would happen to the cat and seemed likely to adopt it, but a later cast-reunion account identifies Teri Polo’s mother—not De Niro—as the person who adopted one of the cats that played Jinx.
What is actually confirmed about the adoption?
The strongest documented account says one of the Jinx cats went home with Teri Polo’s mother after filming. Roach remembered De Niro asking about the cat’s future and said he had always thought De Niro might adopt it. That recollection shows interest, not a completed adoption, so the claim that De Niro adopted Jinx should be treated as unverified.
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| Claim | Evidence level | What can safely be said |
|---|---|---|
| De Niro adopted Jinx | Unconfirmed | No reliable account in the available record documents De Niro completing an adoption. |
| De Niro asked what would happen to the cat | Recollection attributed to Jay Roach | He was interested in the cat’s fate and was thought likely to adopt it. |
| One Jinx cat was adopted by Teri Polo’s mother | Reported in a cast-reunion account | This is the documented post-filming adoption. |
Was Jinx one cat or two?
Jinx was a single fictional character, but two five-year-old Himalayan cats, Bailey and Misha, played the family pet. American Humane Society’s official animal-action report identifies both cats by name and notes that Jinx had several scenes with Robert De Niro.
The report also says the actors became “fast friends” with the animal performers. In one documented setup, a trainer handed a cat to De Niro immediately before a scene, after which he held and petted it.
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How the production handled the cats
The American Humane Society report places the film under its No Animals Were Harmed oversight. Two trainers and a veterinarian were on set. The cats were trained with cues and treats, while a safety harness was used for the roof sequence. For the shot showing the cat dangling, the production used a prop cat rather than putting a live animal in that position.
The report lists Meet the Parents’ release date as October 7, 2000. These details help explain why stories about the cat often mention De Niro’s rapport with Jinx: the relationship was visible during filming, even though an adoption by the actor has not been documented.
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What happened to the Himalayan cats after filming?
The available reunion account establishes an adoption by Teri Polo’s mother for one of the cats, but it does not clearly identify whether that cat was Bailey or Misha. It also does not provide a verified account of the other cat’s later home. Therefore, claims naming De Niro as the adopter—or asserting a complete post-film history for both cats—go beyond the documented evidence.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the De Niro story persists
Several facts are easy to blend together: De Niro worked closely with the cats, Roach remembered him asking about their fate, and one cat was adopted by someone connected to the cast. Over time, the possibility Roach described can be repeated as if it were a confirmed event. The precise wording matters: De Niro was interested in what happened to Jinx, but the record does not establish that he took the cat home.
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