Sometimes, help arrives when it’s needed most, and if you’re brave enough to accept it, life can turn out better than you ever imagined.
When Daphne first arrived at the Cape Breton SPCA shelter as an eight-week-old kitten, she was already blind due to complications from feline herpes and needed surgery to remove both of her eyes. After a month-long recovery and lots of care from staff, Daphne was ready to find her forever home and was posted on the Nova Scotia SPCA adoption webpage.
Maya, a busy university student, wasn’t actively looking to adopt another cat. But in her spare time, she enjoyed scrolling through the SPCA’s adoption page and that’s where she first laid eyes on Daphne. “I saw this photo of her with a really cute bumblebee bandana, which I later found out was donated by a local crafter, Handmade by Sarah Jean,” says Maya. “It pulled at my heartstrings and I immediately filled out an adoption application.”
After receiving a call from the SPCA and learning that Daphne had received a lot of interest but was still available, Maya and her partner made the drive from Bedford to Sydney the following morning. “There were moments of doubt on the way over,” says Maya. “But as soon as I met her, all that doubt melted away. It felt like it was meant to be.” 
From the start, Maya knew Daphne was blind and had both eyes removed. “At the time, I was working at a long-term care facility and cared for a woman who was blind,” she says. “She inspired me a lot, so I didn’t see Daphne’s blindness as a limitation to a life full of joy.”
That didn’t mean there weren’t concerns. Maya worried about Daphne’s safety – how she would navigate stairs, hard surfaces, and find her food and litter box. And how their other cat, Oreo, would react. Still, those worries weren’t enough to deter her. “I grew up with cats, and I knew how resilient they were. I knew it would take time, but I trusted that we’d find our rhythm.”
When Daphne first came home, she stayed in the bathroom while slowly being introduced to Oreo. They had supervised playtime, and Daphne explored the house while Oreo stayed in another room. “Eventually, I trusted that Oreo would be gentle enough with Daphne and didn’t need supervision.”
Looking back, Maya says she was probably more nervous than necessary. “Daphne was truly a force,” she says. “Everyone jokes that she has echolocation because she chirps sometimes when she walks around.”
Daphne adjusted quickly, learning her surroundings within days. “She bumped into things a couple times, but after a few days she had the whole place mapped out,” says Maya. “She did fall into the toilet twice when people forgot to close the lid, but she adapted, and it hasn’t happened since.”
Not only has Daphne learned to navigate life indoors, but exploring outdoors has quickly become one of her favourite things. With patience, Maya trained her to wear a harness and ride in a stroller. When her first spring arrived, Daphne became even braver by exploring on a leash.
“She has her moments,” Maya says. “Sometimes she gets spooked by unfamiliar noises or doesn’t want to leave the stroller. But for the most part, she enjoys our walks, hikes, and road trips.”
Maya experienced a moment that changed everything when they were visiting her family out of town. “My mom has two cats that are best friends with Oreo. The three of them would spend the summer days outside running and climbing trees in the yard. Daphne knew she was missing out because she’d sit near the front door and try to get out.”
Without telling Maya, her mom let Daphne out to play with the cats without her leash but with close supervision. “She took a video and only showed it to me later because she knew I wouldn’t have agreed to it. But that video made me realize just how capable Daphne was as I watched her having fun chasing after the other cats and basking in the sun,” says Maya. “If you didn’t know she was blind, you’d think she had eyes. That was the moment I realized that Daphne’s only limitation was me.”
Today, Daphne lives a life full of adventure. “I rarely do things without thinking about how I can incorporate Daphne into it,” says Maya. Road trips, beach and lake days, walks, hikes, sleepovers, and even playing fetch – Daphne does it all. She also loves her cat wheel, water fountains, burrowing in blankets, and taking off on her wheel at 2 a.m.
Daphne shared a special bond with her cat brother, Oreo, who sadly passed away last year. “He was the best big brother she could’ve had,” says Maya. “He was so patient and loving. Even when he seemed uninterested, Oreo always made space for Daphne by sharing beds, grooming her, and quietly looking out for her. After we lost him, Daphne grieved deeply and became very clingy. Nearly a year later, she’s found her footing again.” 
Looking back, Daphne has taught Maya some lasting lessons. “She’s shown me that love truly knows no bounds,” she says. “She taught me that trust is built through patience and consistency, and that resilience isn’t about changing your surroundings, but it’s about finding your own way within them.”
For anyone considering adopting an animal with special needs, Maya offers this advice: “It can bring some of the most amazing love into your life. It’s incredibly rewarding, but it also takes learning, patience, and understanding what their care really involves.”
Daphne’s story is a reminder that sometimes a little help and a lot of love can change a shelter pet’s life – and their owner’s life – for the best.