Cat Travels 12 Miles to See His Left Behind Family

The cat’s family sent Toby away to a new home in February.

He was being forced to leave his family, but he had no idea why, and he was sorely missing them.

So he made the decision to flee. He finally made it to his former family’s door after a 12-mile trek. But when he returned, he was treated in the worst possible way.

“They took him to a shelter and asked them to euthanize him,” Tara Lynn, communications director for the SPCA of Wake County, told The Dodo. “It was just so heartbreaking to know he made it all the way back to his family, and that was their response.”

The public shelter refused to put Toby down, and instead contacted the SPCA, which took him in right away. The SPCA started giving him the medical care he needed to get him ready to find a new home.

“He tested positive for feline immunodeficiency virus, and also had an upper respiratory infection,” Lynn said. “We got him treated for the infection, which took a little while.”

While he no longer had his family, Toby quickly warmed up to the shelter staff.

“He was very friendly,” Lynn said. “Just your sweet, typical cat — they want to get love and to love you.”

After the rescue posted about Toby on social media, the calls started pouring in. Raleigh, North Carolina resident Michele Puckett hurried over to the shelter to meet him, and the rest is history.

Regarding Puckett, Lynn remarked, “She had absolutely no reservations.” “She just abandoned everything to come here when she was on a job site.”

After Toby was legally adopted last Friday, he didn’t take long to become a part of the family. Toby now has two new human siblings to play with in addition to two new cat siblings.

Puckett told The Dodo, “He is just so nice, cuddling and loving. He has practically taken over our bed and acts as though he has been here forever. He enjoys unwinding by lying on our pillows.

Puckett is forced to reflect on the unfortunate fate that Toby’s previous owners had planned for him after observing how at ease he is with her family.

She remarked that it was “very difficult to comprehend how someone could have dropped him off to be put to death way they did.” Although startling, we are really glad that he was saved.

Lynn shares these sentiments and hopes that Toby’s tale may help other animals find second chances via rescues, just like he did.

Many animals are just abandoned by their owners or a breeder, according to Lynn. “I sincerely hope he encourages others to adopt,”