When Camille Minchin wheels a stroller down the halls of Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH), people often do a double take.
Peek inside, and you won’t find a baby—or even a dog. You’ll find a tuxedo-clad cat named Mister Mistoffelees, looking every bit as polished and theatrical as his Broadway namesake from the musical, Cats. But while he may look like the famous stage performer, his personality is anything but theatrical. In fact, he’s far more therapist than thespian.
With a calm demeanor and an undeniable love for belly rubs, Mister has become a beloved member of the TMH Animal Therapy team. Alongside Camille, he visits patients and staff throughout the hospital, creating comfort, smiles and the occasional burst of surprised laughter.
Together, the pair has been honored with the Stella Award, presented annually to a volunteer who truly embodies the spirit of service. The award is named for Stella Furjanic, whose passion for volunteering helped shape the TMH Animal Therapy program and whose legacy continues to inspire volunteers today.
“I’m just honored and grateful,” Camille said. “We love sharing Mister with people. It’s such a joy to see how much happiness he brings.”
But Mister’s journey to becoming a therapy cat was filled with unexpected turns, and what Camille believes are moments gently guided by a higher purpose.
From Farm Cat to Therapy Star
Mister Mistoffelees was born on a farm in Maryland in July 2017. As a kitten, he was adopted by a woman named Paige who worked as a dog trainer.
Even though she wasn’t originally a cat person, something nudged Paige to begin training the kitten the same way she would a dog. She taught him to walk on a harness, ride comfortably in the car and tolerate just about anything—even costumes.
Her friends thought the idea was ridiculous.
“They would laugh and say, ‘Why are you training a cat like a dog?’” Camille said.
But Paige couldn’t shake the feeling that she was supposed to do it anyway.
“At the time she didn’t know why,” Camille said. “She just felt led to do it.”
Looking back, Camille sees that moment very differently.
“We’re both Christians, and I really believe God had His hand in that,” she said. “None of us knew then what Mister would eventually become.”
In early 2019, Paige suddenly had to move to Arizona. When her last-minute plans for Mister fell through, she posted him online in a final attempt to find him a home.
That’s where Camille entered the story.
The Cat Who Found His Person
Camille still isn’t sure what made her stop on that listing.
“There weren’t a lot of details,” she said. “He just looked like a cool cat who needed someone.”
At the time, Camille was going through a difficult season of her own.
“I remember thinking, ‘Yeah… I could probably use a cat,’” she said.
The connection was immediate.
“The moment I got him home, he was in my lap purring,” she said. “He became my little shadow.”
For years, Camille simply thought she had adopted an unusually well-behaved cat.
It wasn’t until recently, after reconnecting with Paige, that she learned the full story behind his training.
“She shared all the things she had taught him,” Camille said. “I had no idea.”
Those early lessons—the harness, the car rides and the patience with new situations—were exactly what made therapy work possible.
“Paige was so thankful,” Camille said. “Because now those skills are being used to serve people.”
A Cat With a Calling
Camille has always loved animals and connecting with people. Over time, she realized Mister had a special way of doing both.
“I started to feel like I was being selfish keeping him to myself,” she said. “He just loves people.”
After moving to Tallahassee about three and a half years ago, Camille discovered the TMH Animal Therapy program and immediately knew it was the perfect place for them. Mister officially joined the team in October 2023.
While therapy dogs are more common, Mister’s calm personality quickly made him a standout.
“He’s incredibly chill,” Camille said. “You can move him from one spot to another, and he’ll just settle right in.”
His favorite ploy with patients and clinicians? Rolling onto his back and inviting belly rubs, something many people never expect from a cat.
“People always ask, ‘Is that a trap?’” Camille said, laughing. “And I say, ‘Not this time.’”
Camille says she couldn’t do any of it without the support of her husband, Bob, whom she has been married to for more than five years and who has been a constant supporter of the work she and Mister do.
“I would say that Mister Mistoffelees is the best thing I ever got off the internet—but I met Bob online too,” Camille said, laughing.
Bringing Comfort When It Matters Most
Every visit is different, but some moments stay with Camille forever.
One of those moments came during a visit to the intensive care unit, where a young man’s family had gathered to say goodbye.
“There were so many people there to celebrate his life,” Camille said. “We were able to go in and just be part of that moment.”
Mister sat calmly as family members gently stroked his fur.
“It was such a peaceful, intimate moment,” she said. “That’s something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.”
Other visits bring joyful surprises—like the cardiac patient who spent nearly an hour with Mister after nurses encouraged the team to stop by.
“She had once owned a cat and immediately recognized where his name came from,” Camille said. “She was crying happy tears. It was such a sweet connection.”
Changing Minds and Lifting Spirits
Not everyone knows what to think when they see a cat strolling through the hospital.
Sometimes people cautiously ask, “Is he going to bite or scratch me?”
But those worries usually disappear within minutes.
“Some people only remember being scratched by a cat once when they were little,” Camille said. “So, part of our job is a little bit of cat awareness.”
Soon, even hesitant visitors are reaching out to pet him.
“If you’re ever going to pet a cat,” Camille jokes, “this is the one.”
Whether someone chooses to hold him, pet him or simply admire him from across the room, Mister almost always leaves behind a smile.
“I honestly can’t think of a time someone didn’t smile,” Camille said.
A Gift for Caregivers, Too
While patients benefit from the visits, Camille says hospital staff often need the break just as much.
“They give so much of themselves every day,” she said. “Sometimes we’ll hear, ‘You just made my whole day better.’”
One nurse even rearranged her schedule so she could see Mister during their regular Thursday visits.
Moments like that remind Camille that small acts of kindness can ripple outward in ways we never expect.
The Joy of Volunteering Together
After their visits, Mister usually curls up in Camille’s lap and sleeps for hours—worn out from all the attention.
“I think he loves the car rides and the treats the most,” she said with a laugh. “But he’s definitely learned the routine. When we stop at a patient’s door, he looks up like, ‘Are we going in?’”
For Camille, the experience has been just as meaningful.
“If you’re thinking about volunteering, it’s the most amazing experience,” she said. “It will change both of you for the better.”
Join the Animal Therapy Team
The TMH Animal Therapy program continues to bring comfort, companionship and joy to patients, families, staff and other community members every day.
Volunteers and their animals help create moments of connection, whether through a wagging tail or, in Mister Mistoffelees’ case, a gentle purr.
Interested in supporting the Animal Therapy program?
Learn more about how you can make a difference by visiting TMH.ORG/AnimalTherapy.
