When cats arrive at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, most only stay a few weeks before someone takes them home.
For Monique, things have been heartbreakingly different.
Instead of being adopted within a month, this lively 2-year-old has watched more than four months pass by from behind the shelter’s glass walls.
A Lonely Birthday At The Shelter
Monique is gentle and loving, with a playful streak that makes her a joy to be around.
She craves attention and thrives on human company, yet she has been overlooked time and time again. The reason isn’t her personality—it’s her diagnosis.
Monique carries feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), a condition that requires her to be the only cat in the house.
The virus itself can be managed, but the restrictions make families hesitate.
Her ideal future would include a safe outdoor space where she can explore without risk of spreading FIV to other cats, but those specific needs have made finding the right match painfully slow.
Staff members have fallen deeply for her.
They describe her as a bright spirit who once hid in the corner, shy and uncertain, but who gradually blossomed into a cat who now greets everyone who passes by with curiosity and warmth.
Watching her sit patiently, day after day, has inspired them to try every idea possible to give her the happy ending she deserves.
A Valentine’s Day Celebration That Ended In Silence
With Monique’s adoption chances slipping further away, staff at the shelter wanted to do something memorable. Her birthday, which falls on Valentine’s Day, seemed like the perfect chance.
Valentine’s is already a holiday about love, and the team thought highlighting Monique that day might finally connect her with the family she longed for.
The idea grew quickly. They decorated her space with cheerful touches, placing Monique front and center in the hopes that visitors would stop and see her shining personality.
Everyone was excited. The thought was simple: if people saw her on such a special day, maybe one person would recognize that she wasn’t just a cat with a condition—she was a cat with endless love to share.
When the big day came, Monique sat waiting. Her toys were ready, the decorations hung neatly, and staff held their breath as the doors opened.
But as hours passed, hope slowly began to fade. No one came for her.
It was crushing for the people who had worked so hard to make the moment magical. The party had been full of optimism, yet ended with empty seats and untouched decorations.
Still, Monique didn’t sulk. She purred, leaned into the hands of volunteers, and soaked up the affection of those who had planned the event for her.
While she didn’t get a forever family that day, she did receive extra cuddles and gentle cheek rubs from the people who already loved her dearly.
Holding On To Hope For A Forever Home
The shelter staff refuse to give up on Monique.
They know the perfect family is out there—someone who won’t see her diagnosis as a problem, but instead as a small detail in the life of a wonderful cat. Until that day comes, she is showered with affection by the people who care for her daily.
She enjoys her perch, watching the world unfold around her, and welcomes every volunteer who stops by to say hello.
Monique would flourish in a home where she is the only pet, with children who can understand her need for patience while she adjusts. An enclosed yard would give her the chance to explore safely, letting her playful nature shine without risk.
What she truly craves is simple: a family who will love her for who she is, offering her the security of a real home.
Even though her birthday party didn’t lead to adoption, Monique’s story has touched hearts far beyond the shelter walls.
To the people who know her best, she is not defined by her illness or by the number of days she’s waited.
She is defined by her affection, her resilience, and her quiet hope that one day someone will look into her eyes and say, “You belong with me.”
Until that moment, Monique will continue to be adored by the Battersea team.
But everyone there dreams of the day she no longer needs their care—because she will finally be where she was always meant to be: in a forever home of her own