Ivy is four years old and prefers to keep to herself. Most days, you’ll find her curled up in a cat tree, just watching—quiet, still, barely moving. She doesn’t call out or press her face against the glass like some of the other cats. She just waits. Not for attention, but maybe for someone to notice her anyway.
She wasn’t always here. She used to have a home—one she knew well, but when her owner left for university and couldn’t bring her along, Ivy landed at the Humane Society of Broward County in Dania Beach, Florida. Life shifted quickly, and so did Ivy’s world.
Shelter staff describe her as sweet but cautious. When Ivy arrived, she didn’t lash out or panic—she simply withdrew. Her cat tree became her sanctuary, and she rarely stepped out, especially when unfamiliar faces filled the room. Yet that same behavior, meant to protect her, now hides her from potential adopters.
"She still spends a lot of time in her cat tree because it gives her comfort," said Kaitlin Pechin, manager of digital marketing for the shelter. “But with a little time and patience, she warms up quickly and shows off her affectionate and playful side.”
Ivy may seem distant at first, but once she feels secure, she responds with quiet love. Staff have seen her stretch into laps, purr softly, and play with toys—proof of the warmth waiting just beneath her shy exterior.
Sometimes Ivy will reach out, just a little—nudging her head out for a treat or pawing at a toy before slipping back into her safe spot. These are the quiet glimpses the shelter staff hope visitors won’t miss. They may be subtle, but they speak volumes.
There’s science behind this, too. A study from the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno found that shelter life—loud noises, irregular routines, and unfamiliar animals—can overwhelm cats, even the outgoing ones. For Ivy, retreating wasn’t withdrawal—it was her way of coping with the stress around her.
Yet, studies also reveal something surprising: shelter cats may long for human connection more than most people assume. They often seek out toys and interaction. In Ivy’s case, she simply needs a safe chance to show that side.
Facebook | browardhumane | The noise and unpredictable routines of shelter life make it hard for cats, like Ivy, to cope.
She has now spent more than a month at the shelter. The staff continues to hope that someone will take a moment longer, lean in, and really see her.
“She might hang back in the beginning,” the shelter wrote, “but give her a little time, and she turns into a total sweetheart.”
The response online was huge. Dozens of people chimed in with similar stories—quiet cats who just needed patience.
“I adopted a cat that wouldn’t come down from a tree for two weeks,” one person said. “Now? He’s glued to my side. Most affectionate cat I’ve known.”
Others have chimed in too, some recalling their own shy pets who turned into cuddle bugs, while others simply wished Ivy luck. Many say they hope more people realize that sometimes the quietest pets have the loudest love to give.
Though Ivy may seem invisible to passing eyes, her heart is ready. All it takes is one person willing to slow down and look a little closer.