WASHINGTON — Before Susie the cat’s owner died, she left a letter for the person she hoped would adopt the orange tabby.

Fifty-five days after being dropped off at a shelter, Susie was adopted.

Katherine Zenzano, community outreach coordinator for the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center in Derwood, Maryland, says it’s one of the more bittersweet shelter stories.

In May, a man delivered Susie to the Montgomery County shelter, explaining his mother had passed away, and cats were not allowed where he lived. His mother had written a note before she died, he explained, anticipating that Susie would have to find a new place to live.

In the note, Susie’s owner explained the tabby cat was shy. Zenzano says the woman who eventually decided to adopt Susie had experience with shy cats in the past.

“And she just felt she had the ability to work with Susie and wanted to give her the home that she needed,” Zenzano said.

Among the quirks Susie’s past owner described: The cat doesn’t like to go outdoors, and while tolerant of the family dog, never really enjoyed spending time close to dogs.

Zenzano didn’t name either the past owner of the cat or the new adoptive owner, but the shelter did include a snapshot of Susie in her carrier, ready to be taken to her new home with her new friend for life.

WTOP’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report.