<img loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-4007 size-large" src="https://petsmagazine.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/frer-1024x512.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="512" srcset="https://petsmagazine.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/frer-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https://petsmagazine.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/frer-300x150.jpg 300w, https://petsmagazine.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/frer-768x384.jpg 768w, https://petsmagazine.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/frer.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
This adorable shelter cat’s melancholy eyes hint to a life filled with sadness and anguish — yet that sad look only tells half the tale.
<figure id="attachment_4008" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4008" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" src="https://petsmagazine.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/1-7.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" class="size-full wp-image-4008" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4008" class="wp-caption-text">CREDIT: LOLLYPOP FARM, THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF GREATER ROCHESTER </figcaption></figure>
Nutmeg, as he’s now known, was found as a stray and brought to Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester, New York. The cat, thought to be 5 years old, had definitely been through a lot of hardship; he was underweight, his ears were injured, and he had a sinus infection.
His continually anxious expression indicated that he’d run out of hope.
<figure id="attachment_4009" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4009" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" src="https://petsmagazine.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2-4-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" class="size-medium wp-image-4009" srcset="https://petsmagazine.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2-4.jpg 300w, https://petsmagazine.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2-4-150x150.jpg 150w, https://petsmagazine.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2-4-80x80.jpg 80w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4009" class="wp-caption-text">CREDIT: LOLLYPOP FARM, THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF GREATER ROCHESTER </figcaption></figure>
“When we first saw Nutmeg, he seemed like the saddest cat in the world,” Paige Doerner, the shelter’s communications expert, told The Dodo.
<figure id="attachment_4010" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4010" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" src="https://petsmagazine.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/3-2.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" class="size-full wp-image-4010" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4010" class="wp-caption-text">CREDIT: LOLLYPOP FARM, THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF GREATER ROCHESTER </figcaption></figure>
Although Nutmeg had given up hope, his rescuers had not.
Despite the lingering grief on his face, the tiny cat’s health gradually recovered and his charming nature began to peek through. What Nutmeg really needed was a lifelong home to call his own, but potential adopters kept passing him by.
He was cared for by Lollypop Farm and foster homes for the following nine months. But that has just changed.
<figure id="attachment_4011" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4011" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" src="https://petsmagazine.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/4-3.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" class="size-full wp-image-4011" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4011" class="wp-caption-text">CREDIT: LOLLYPOP FARM, THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF GREATER ROCHESTER </figcaption></figure>
The “saddest” cat finally got what he’d been looking for: a family that would accept him for who he is.
“Nutmeg was adopted by a young couple who instantly fell in love with him when they saw his face!” Doerner explained. “The adoption consultant who arranged Nutmeg’s meet-and-greet with his new family stated that they were overjoyed with Nutmeg and couldn’t wait to take him home.”
A few days later, Nutmeg’s family posted a photo of their new pet at home, and the look on his face says it all.
<figure id="attachment_4012" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4012" style="width: 169px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" src="https://petsmagazine.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/5-1.jpg" alt="" width="169" height="300" class="size-full wp-image-4012" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4012" class="wp-caption-text">CREDIT: LOLLYPOP FARM, THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF GREATER ROCHESTER </figcaption></figure>
“We simply liked the photo his new family gave us with Nutmeg’s little smile!” Doerner said. “Everyone who knew Nutmeg at the shelter saw what a wonderful, unique kitten he was — so seeing him comfortable, happy, and adored in his new home was perhaps the finest reward of all.”
Nutmeg’s face may be distinctive, but the grief he felt was not. There are many more cats at shelters looking for adopters, much like the couple who took Nutmeg in.
“We know they’ll have a lot of fun with their new feline family member, and we hope that more people will choose to adopt and begin their own journey with a shelter pet,” Doerner said.