Michelle, a 10 year old grey tabby cat, came into the Humane Society for Hamilton County as a stray in September 2011. While very shy, we knew she was once someone’s pet because she was already spayed and loved to be a lap cat. Timid in the shelter environment, Michelle repeatedly got overlooked by potential adopters. She was a very sweet cat that loved having her chin rubbed and attention; she would sit by your side all day if given the opportunity. Michelle was a delicate flower that could not bloom in the shade of shelter life. Despite all the love and attention she was given by our staff and amazing volunteers, 6 months in a shelter was more than she could bear. In April 2012, Michelle developed an upper respiratory infection (a very common illness in animal shelters). Instead, she seemed to regress. She became so depressed that she stopped eating. She would not leave her bed even when her cage was being cleaned. Lab work revealed that all her vitals were normal. No diabetes, no feline kidney disease, no hepatic lipidosis. The only conclusion was that Michelle was severely depressed from spending months in a cage. Eager to improve her wellbeing, she was moved into the office where staff and volunteers brushed and loved on her. Although responsive to the attention, she lost her will to get out of her bed. With no major signs of improvement, she was moved into a foster home. The next day Michelle was rushed to the vet clinic because she had become lethargic and continued her downward fall. Upon exam, the vet determined she had an ear infection; which would explain her wobbliness, but not her lethargy or depression. Another round of blood work left us with more questions than answers as everything remained within the normal ranges. When the vet staff returned to the clinic the next day, they found that Michelle had not made it through the night. She was found curled up in her bed. She passed away peacefully in her sleep. With no conclusive medical explanation, we say with great certainty that Michelle died of a broken heart. Six months in a shelter is more than any animal should ever have to bear. She fell into a deep depression and wasn’t able to climb back out of it. She lost her will to continue. She no longer had a reason to wake up each morning. She gave up, shelter life had defeated her. A week went by with employees and volunteers talking about how sad Michelle’s story was and how she was such a sweet girl that would have been the ultimate lap cat if someone would have just given her a home and the second chance she deserved. During one of these discussions, Michelle’s foster mom told about how she was the same lethargic, depressed cat until she was placed on a windowsill where she could look outside. Instantly, Michelle perked up with animation and alert ears as she looked out the window. She finally got to see and feel the sunlight on her fur for the first time in over six months. She was a completely different cat. She was happy and alive. She was a flower waiting for the sun to help her bloom. However, sadly, this state of bliss did not last. It was too late; this was the day before she was taken to the vet. Although it didn’t last, we know that for a few hours before her passing, she was happy and felt loved. That is what matters. It was this story that inspired our outdoor cat area in her memory. Michelle’s Catio is an outdoor space for our shelter cats to enjoy a little time in the sun. It is completely enclosed so the cats can enjoy some time outside, yet in a safe way. There are cat towers to climb on and benches for employees and volunteers to sit on with the cats on nice days to brush and pamper these precious creatures that deserve so much more than the four walls of their cages. The shelter is only their temporary home, but sometimes they do not understand that and lose hope, like Michelle did. Providing them with a break from their dark stainless steel cage even if only for a few minutes or an hour can make all the difference to a depressed cat. Soaking up the sun and basking in its warmth rejuvenates our cats. Experts have proven the importance of daylight on human emotional and psychological wellbeing. Michelle is all the proof we need to know sunlight effects cats in a similar way. Thanks to the support of several generous donors, the Humane Society for Hamilton County was able to build Michelle’s Catio in August 2012. Since then, numerous cats have felt the sunshine on their fur and the warmth of her loving memory inside Michelle’s Catio.
