Tidbits from House/Wilson past - not sure how you tie them into something in the 'present' but somebody might have some ideas :)

From 7.12 You Must Remember This - House: After divorce number two, he fell into a committed relationship with a three-legged Siamese. He stopped answering his phone, redecorated his place like Grey Gardens. He wasn't able to come back to humanity until a window was left suspiciously and heroically open. How that cat opened the window, I will never know.