Senior Cat Left Outside Shelter With Heartbreaking Note Still Waiting For A Home

On a chilly November night, a senior cat named Lala sat trembling in the dark — alone in a carrier left on the sidewalk outside the Humane Society of Greater Miami.

Just hours earlier, she’d been safe in her home of eleven years. Now, she was surrounded by traffic noise and cold air, with only a note to explain her story.

“She has been a part of our family for eleven years,” the note read.

When shelter staff arrived the next morning, they were heartbroken.

“She was in the dark in a carrier by herself,” said Tiffany Hernandez, the shelter’s assistant marketing and social media manager. “Anything could have happened.”

At eleven years old, Lala was confused and shut down — unsure why everything familiar had disappeared overnight.

@humanemiami

In November 2023, Lala was abandoned in the middle of the night by her family, left at the shelter with only this heartbreaking note. No matter what they were going through, this was not the right way to say goodbye. We can empathize, but animals deserve better. Now, nearly April 2025, Lala is 12 years old and still waiting for a family to call her own. Sadly, the shelter environment doesn’t bring out her best side, making it harder for her to catch the eye of potential adopters. But in foster care, she’s been described as a loving, gentle girl—she just needs a chance to show it. Let’s find Lala the home she deserves in the time she has left, whether that’s months or years. She still has so much love to give, and we want her to spend her days in a warm, cozy home—not in a shelter environment that doesn’t let her true personality shine. #adoptme #adoptacat #adoptasenior #seniorpets #seniorcat #adoptdontshop #cat #adoption #humanemiami #humanesociety

♬ DIM – Yves

It took time for her to adjust to the shelter environment, where the sounds, smells, and stress of so many animals felt overwhelming.

That was back in 2023. And more than a year later, Lala is still waiting for someone to take her home.

“She’s just very fearful in a shelter environment, unfortunately,” Hernandez said. “People often overlook her because she seems shy.”

But those who’ve spent time with Lala know she’s not shy at heart — she’s just been hurt. When given patience and gentleness, her sweetness shines through.

A foster parent who cared for her for a short time said she quickly blossomed once she felt safe. And recently, a visitor at the shelter got a glimpse of the same transformation.

“Within a few minutes, I had her eating treats from my hand, licking me and letting me give her cheek and head scratches,” they shared.

Lala is looking for a quiet, loving home — ideally through a foster-to-adopt arrangement, so she can settle in at her own pace. Once she feels secure, her gentle personality and affectionate nature emerge, showing just how much love she has left to give.

“Once they see her come out of her shell, we know that they will fall in love,” Hernandez said.

After losing everything she knew, Lala deserves to spend her golden years surrounded by warmth, patience, and love.

If you’re interested in adopting or fostering Lala, you can submit an application here. To support other animals like her, consider donating to the Humane Society of Greater Miami.