For nearly 13 years, an orange cat lived behind walls that most of us can hardly imagine. She was not known by a sweet name, nor was she treated like a family pet. Instead, she carried a number #11-245 tattooed inside both of her ears. That number was her only identity in a world where she was viewed not as a living, feeling companion but as a subject of research.
Her story could have ended there, quietly fading into obscurity within a laboratory at the University of California, Davis. But instead, her life took a breathtaking turn. Thanks to advocacy, compassion, and the belief that no animal should live only as a number, she found her way into the arms of a man who saw her for who she truly was. Today, she is no longer just a number. She is Marigold.
A Life Lived in Shadows
For almost 13 years, Marigold’s world consisted of sterile cages, medical experiments, and the daily routines of a testing facility. The lab where she lived was part of a breeding colony where kittens and cats were kept for research purposes. She was just one of many, stripped of individuality and referred to only by her assigned code.
She never had a soft bed, a toy to bat at, or a hand to stroke her fur with affection. Even mealtimes were not about enjoyment but necessity. For so long, she was denied the simple pleasures every animal deserves. When rescue groups like White Coat Waste worked to shut down the lab, Marigold was one of the lucky ones left in need of a forever home.
When volunteers entered, they found her frail, nervous, and refusing to eat. She had spent her whole existence under bright laboratory lights, and freedom felt foreign to her. But even in her fragile state, she carried a quiet resilience — a spark that was waiting for the right person to notice.
The Meeting That Changed Everything
Anthony Bellotti, the president and founder of White Coat Waste, was one of the people deeply involved in shutting down the lab. Having already adopted another rescued cat, Petite, who sadly passed away, Anthony felt strongly about welcoming another survivor into his family. Still, he wasn’t sure which one.
But fate had its own plan.
As Anthony entered the adoption space, surrounded by several cats in need, one particular orange cat caught his attention and in return, she fixed her gaze right on him. Despite her fear, something clicked between them.
“It’s true what they say,” Anthony explained later. “You don’t choose the cat. The cat chooses you.”
In that moment, #11-245 stopped being just a number. She had picked her person.
Becoming Marigold: A New Identity
Anthony knew that she needed more than medical care, food, and shelter. She needed something she had never had: an identity.
So he gave her a name Marigold.
The name wasn’t chosen at random. Her orange coat reminded him of the warm, golden petals of the marigold flower. Just like the flower, which blooms brightly even in less-than-perfect conditions, this cat had endured hardship yet still carried beauty and life within her.
The transformation began almost immediately. With time, patience, and love, Marigold started to eat again. She put on weight. She learned what it meant to feel safe. And little by little, she began to trust the hands that fed her, the voices that called her, and the family that promised she would never again be just a number.
A New Life of Firsts
Today, Marigold is thriving in ways she never could have imagined. After months in her new home, she is healthy, confident, and perhaps most endearingly a little bit spoiled.
“She’s doing amazing,” Anthony shared proudly. “She’s gained all her weight back, and now she’s food-crazy. She’s constantly asking for treats!”
This year, Marigold celebrated her first birthday outside the lab her 13th, but her first with cake, toys, and a family who loves her. She even got her very own KitNipBox, filled with catnip toys that she wasted no time claiming.
Her favorite hobbies now include rolling around with catnip, kneading biscuits on soft blankets, and reminding her family when it’s snack time. For a cat who once knew nothing but clinical walls, these simple joys are treasures.
More Than Just a Cat
Marigold’s story is not only about one cat’s rescue it is a reminder of resilience, of the importance of animal advocacy, and of the deep connection humans share with animals. She spent nearly 13 years unseen, unnamed, and uncelebrated, yet she still had the courage to trust when kindness was finally offered.
For Anthony and his family, Marigold is more than a pet. She is a symbol of hope and a daily reminder of why it’s important to fight for those without voices.
“Every time I see her happy and demanding treats, I think about how far she’s come,” Anthony reflected. “She’ll never go back to that life, not ever. She’s home now.”
A Forever Home at Last
Marigold’s days in the lab are now just a distant memory. She is no longer #11-245, a forgotten figure in a testing facility. She is Marigold a beloved cat, a cherished family member, and a survivor who finally knows what it means to be loved.
As she curls up in her sunny spot by the window or bats at her favorite toys, she proves something powerful: every animal deserves a chance to live, to love, and to be recognized as more than a number.
Marigold’s journey is proof that even after years of hardship, healing and happiness are possible. And for her, this new chapter is just the beginning.
