GREENVILLE, S.C.– A blind and special needs cat was recently returned to a South Carolina shelter in a box, without any explanation or information from her previous adopters, leaving the shelter staff heartbroken.
The Greenville Humane Society reported that a box was discovered on their front steps in July, containing a familiar cat they had originally cared for months earlier.
The white-and-gray feline, named Elena when she first arrived at the shelter, was just 3 months old when she was initially brought in this past January. The runt of her litter, Elena was visibly scared and confused. After a thorough examination, shelter veterinarians determined she was completely blind. Further tests revealed that she also had hydrocephalus, a rare congenital condition that causes an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain.
According to the National Kitten Coalition, hydrocephalus can lead to a cat appearing wobbly, with uncoordinated, spastic, and clumsy movements. Despite these significant challenges, Elena’s sweet and loving nature shone through, and she was soon adopted into a home.
However, the shelter staff was devastated when they found Elena—now renamed Mabel—returned to them in a box, left without any note or explanation. The Facebook post from Greenville Humane Society described the cat’s confusion and fear upon her return: “We don’t know why she was brought back to us, why she was left. She was so confused. She didn’t know where she was.”
In spite of the unexpected return and the challenges she continued to face, Mabel began adjusting to life at the shelter again. She learned her way around the cattery and started to bond with the other cats. The shelter staff decided to rename her Mabel, symbolizing her newfound strength and resilience: “She’s no longer that scared, blind baby we used to know. She’s strong,” the shelter shared on social media.
Greenville Humane Society made a heartfelt plea to find Mabel a new forever home that could accommodate her special needs. Mabel requires daily medication for her hydrocephalus, an ongoing expense of about $25 per month. Despite these needs, the shelter emphasized that she is “completely worth it,” noting that Mabel has “so much love to give” and deserves a family that will love her in return.
In a positive update shared on Monday, the shelter announced that Mabel had been adopted again, bringing a hopeful conclusion to her challenging journey.
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