A new life

The animals at the Cat Shed definitely reflect some of the emotions felt by Huang Xiaoxiao (not her real name), who said that she only feels really relaxed at school, her family home and the underground facility.

The only child said she rarely sees her parents, because they are almost always at work or undertaking the two-hour round trip to their jobs in northwest Beijing. Privacy is also an issue because the family lives in a traditional alley, so most of their public space is shared with other people.

In September last year, Huang was diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder, which led her to quit school a short time later.

However, regular visits to the Cat Shed and caring for the animals has provided a new life for Huang, who has started to reconnect with society and make friends with her peers. Three months ago, she returned to high school.

The 15-year-old has loved looking after stray cats since early childhood, and she also helped to care for her aunt's ginger cat for more than 10 years.

Having learned about the many strays at the shelter, she decided to become a volunteer and help care for the animals.

"The place seems like heaven to me because so many cats live there. I often felt sorry for stray cats when I saw them on the road. Now, I can do something for them," she said.

During an evening walk in her neighborhood two years ago, Huang came across a black kitten with a broken leg. She looked after the cat until it was fully recovered and adopted by a local family.

Sun Quanhui, a scientist with the international NGO World Animal Protection, said many young cat lovers are "empty nest youths"-unmarried people who live alone in big cities. "This group is one of the beneficiaries-the love of cats has cured their problems," he said.

A lack of emotional trust, and relatively poor living conditions in big cities can intensify feelings of loneliness, and looking after cats can fill an emotional need, he added.

"The cats fill a spiritual gap, offering some kind of compensation for the problems these young people encounter in life," Sun said.