An adopted blind shelter cat was returned months later in a box which was left on the front steps, and staff have paid her tribute, telling Newsweek she is stronger and more resilient than ever.

Elena came to Greenville Humane Society in South Carolina aged just three months, a terrified 3-month-old kitten. The runt of her litter and blind in both eyes, had initially struggled with the shelter environment. Her blindness left her in a constant state of fear, hissing at every sound and living in a perpetual state of anxiety.

But despite these challenges, Elena was adopted shortly after her story was shared, and the shelter staff were overjoyed for her new beginning.

That was until late July, just months after Elena was adopted, when shelter staff arrived to find the box abandoned on their front steps, with Elena inside.

The staff were devastated, not understanding what could have led to her being returned in such a way.

“No note was left with her. We had no communication with her previous owner regarding any issues they were having or concerns with surrendering her,” Emily Zheng from the Greenville Humane Society told Newsweek.

When they brought her inside, they realized that in addition to her blindness, Elena had another condition, and it turned out she had developed Hydrocephalus, which causes an accumulation of fluid in the brain.

The shelter decided to rename her Mabel, giving her a new name for her newfound resilience and strength. “She’s no longer that scared, blind baby we used to know. She’s strong. She’s learning her way around Cattery,” the Greenville Humane Society said on Facebook. The other cats in the cattery began to bond with Mabel, helping her gain confidence as she adjusted to her surroundings.