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A shy ginger cat has been left with a US animal shelter, along with a heart-warming note from her deceased owner.
The two-page letter, addressed to "the adopter of Susie", movingly depicts a four-and-a-half year relationship between the former owner and her "friend".
In the letter Susie, who is thought to be about five years old, is described as "afraid of everyone and everything".
The letter says: "I have tried for a long time to get her [Susie] to go outside. She won't do it unless I go with her.
"Perhaps if I could go for walks with her she would get used to going outside but I am too unstable to leave my front porch. She will go on the porch as long as I go with her. The best she will do is walk along the garden next to the front porch."
Susie was dropped off at the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Centre in May by the son of her former owner.
His mother, Susie's owner, had died and he was unable to look after the cat because of restrictions on pets in his home, according to The Huffington Post .
Staff at the centre plan to give the letter to Susie's next owner.
The text of the letter in full:
Dear friend
Thank you for adopting my friend, Susie.
She was one of three cats in a litter.
November 15, 2010, is her approximate birthday.
She moved in with me on December 1, 2010.
Until I felt sure she knew where her home was, I kept her in the house.
After she was left out, she disappeared for four days. I thought I would never see her again.
On the fourth night we had an unusually loud thunderstorm. There was no rain, just noise.
That morning when I went out to call her, I did not expect to see her, but she came a running. She came in the house with me and has not been willing to go out again unless I go with her.
She became an indoor cat.
Susie is afraid of everyone and everything. It took her six to eight months to realise I am her friend.
I have tried for a long time to get her to go outside. She won’t do it unless I go with her.
Perhaps if I could go for walks with her she would get used to going outside but I am too unstable to leave my front porch. She will go on the porch as long as I go with her. The best she will do is walk along the garden next to the front porch.
I believe she would follow me if I could go for a walk.
It would be nice if she would make friends with our dog. They get along together but Susie keeps some distance from the dog. I never worry about them when I leave them in the house together.
Susie is unusual but I enjoy her company. She is a good snuggler but she likes to be the boss. She enjoys being petted. She spends much of her time on my bed but always seems to know where I am.
I hope you enjoy Susie as much as I have.
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Leesedanielle/YouTube
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Facebook/Bekah Miles
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Benida Pillitary Bonville via Facebook
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@OxLightBlues/Twitter
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St Gemma's Hospice
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Getty
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AP
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Facebook
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https://www.facebook.com/symon.spencer.9
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ChrisBenRoy
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Samantha-Jayne Brady
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Reuters
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Mjuad/Reddit
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Global News
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Reuters/Humane Society of Tampa Bay
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Reuters
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IndiGoGo/Humans of New York
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PA
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absofaluminium
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Rex
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