At Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in London, most cats find new families in just over three weeks. But Monique, a sweet and spirited 2-year-old tabby, has been waiting far longer — over 120 days and counting.
Playful, affectionate, and curious, Monique would seem like the perfect companion. But her condition, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), has made finding her a forever home more complicated. While FIV is manageable and Monique is otherwise healthy, it means she should be the only cat in the home and needs a safe, enclosed yard so other cats can’t catch the virus.
Despite her vibrant personality, these extra needs have kept potential adopters away — even though Monique has so much love to give.
“Monique is a really sweet and affectionate young cat,” said Nikki Cummins, a communications officer at Battersea. “She was a bit shy when she arrived, but once she warmed up to us, her personality truly shone. Now, she greets us with so much love every day.”
Wanting to give Monique a little extra attention — and maybe catch the eye of a future adopter — the staff decided to throw her a birthday party. Her special day just happened to fall on Valentine’s Day, making it the perfect occasion to celebrate love in all forms.
The shelter decorated her room and hoped visitors would be drawn in by the festive setup and inspired to meet the birthday girl. Staff quietly crossed their fingers that this would be the day Monique’s luck would finally change.
But when the big day came, no one showed up.
The decorations stayed untouched, and Monique celebrated her birthday surrounded only by the staff and volunteers who already loved her. Still, she didn’t seem to mind.
“We were disappointed that no potential adopters stopped by for her birthday,” Cummins said. “But Monique was spoiled with extra cheek rubs and cuddles from all of us. She got plenty of love that day.”
Monique may not realize she’s become something of a local celebrity, but the shelter knows her forever home is out there — somewhere — with someone willing to look past the letters “FIV” and see the wonderful companion she truly is.
“She’s slowly settled into life here,” Cummins said. “She enjoys watching everything from her perch and spending time with our staff and volunteers — but what she really deserves is a home of her own.”
Monique is looking for a family without other pets, one that can offer her a safe yard to explore, and patience as she adjusts. She’d do well with children who understand how to give her space — and, most of all, with someone who sees her not for her condition, but for the affectionate, quirky cat she is.
If you think you could be the one Monique’s been waiting for, contact Battersea Dogs & Cats Home to learn more.
