The couple Gerard and Karyn Poplin are volunteers at the Kitty Adventure Rescue League & Sanctuary, located in Houston, Texas, in the United States. Together they have rescued hundreds of cats, providing them with temporary homes until they find loving families.
In 2017, Nobbs arrived, an elderly cat who made them realize that his place was by their side, so more than a temporary home, he became their family. The 12-year-old cat was completely deaf and also very affectionate.
Before being rescued, the feline lived neglected in a garage. Karyn was the one who rescued him, and on the day of the rescue, when the feline saw her, the first thing he did was climb onto her legs, as if asking for help.
“From the moment I met him, we’ve been inseparable. He adores me and my husband, he literally tells us that every moment,” Karyn told Love Meow .
The kitten became very attached to the couple, as he had never known love before; Gerard and Karyn were the ones who showed him this pure and divine feeling. That’s why he always insisted on being by their side. “He’s the most affectionate old dog I’ve ever known,” she declared.
After years of mistreatment, the elderly man now only wants to give and receive attention. And it wasn’t always like that; even though he went to his rescuer, he was very wary. But thanks to the couple’s affection, little by little Nobbs came to understand that the world isn’t just sadness.
“He gets along well with all the other cats. He’s a breath of fresh air. He’s so grateful and affectionate that I can hardly stand him.”
Now, the cat helps other felines that arrive at the shelter in the same situation. In addition to comforting the hearts of their owners, who are saddened by the condition they find the cats in during rescues.
Every day, when his humans arrive home from work, Nobbs runs to them seeking affection. “He’s a little rough around the edges and totally deaf, but he’s the best thing on the planet,” said Karyn.
Sadly, six months after the rescue, the kitten passed away. Heartbroken, Gerard got a tattoo as a tribute to the feline.
“I only had him for 6 months, but he changed my heart. And I miss him so much. So, naturally, I had to memorize him as best I could. Now he can continue to go everywhere with me,” she said in a Facebook post .
What is comforting is knowing that Nobbs can live out his final days in peace and surrounded by love.
