Stewart, a three-legged orange tabby in North Carolina, recently gained a new loving family after losing his leg and nearly losing his life.
Stewart was found on the side of the road after being hit by a car. His injury was so severe that the person who picked him up brought him to a veterinarian to be euthanized, according to Newsweek.
Fortunately, the vet was able save Stewart’s life. His leg, however, had to be amputated.
Meanwhile, a family in Raleigh, North Carolina, was mourning the loss of their 14-year-old cat who had recently died of cancer.
They weren’t the only ones hurting.
“We have another cat that was her best friend, and we knew it was going to be a rough journey for him,” one of the members of the family told Newsweek. “We knew he needed another friend.”
Cats and other animals often mourn the loss of their companion friends — manifesting grief in tangible ways such as eating less, sleeping more, increasing vocalizations, or hiding and refusing to come out, among others.
The family searched for a companion for their grieving cat, but struggled to find the right match…until they saw Stewart’s picture and bio posted online at their local rescue.
They “immediately fell in love,” as one of Stewart’s guardians put it. Upon meeting Stewart, they knew he was the right cat for their family. They took Stewart home that same day.
“He is so sweet and purrs like crazy, rolls over on his back, and loves pets and scratches,” Stewart’s guardian told Newsweek.
Stewart is learning to walk again with three legs. He is still recovering from his surgery but is healing nicely — as is his new family.
Lady Freethinker wishes Stewart a lifetime of happiness with his new forever family.
