Yes, @kain0wnz79 has the gist of it. The cat is a mental example of two strong theories in quantum physics: The Copenhagen interpretation and the Uncertainty principle (Heisenberg). It might be a bit hard to explain it without the maths, but basically, information (the "cat") doesn't exist until you measure it (observe it). What's in the box is then a blob of information - a function of the available knowledge in the system. In fact, what's in that box is everything that you could ever know to be in that box. When you pop the lid open, though, the universe is forced to decide - is the cat alive or dead? Once it decides, and once you measure (observe) what's inside, all other possibilities are lost for ever - and that includes the likelihood of those possibilities too. To celebrate this, the story will have two endings! And you get to play the role of the universe and decide which you decide to observe.

Your story had a Schrödinger's cat vibe about it this chapter, that is why I jokingly asked. Have you ever played the game 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors or Zero Escape: Virtues Last Reward? Both use the theory of Schrödinger's cat as the main premise of the game. Very fun and interesting.

I heard about them, gotta check them out then :3 [spoiler]After I pass all my exams.[/spoiler]