Toby the cat’s family handed him away to a new home in February.

He didn’t understand why he was being forced to leave his family, but he desperately missed them.

As a result, he chose to flee. He arrived at his old family’s doorway after trekking 12 kilometres back to their house. Instead of being greeted warmly, he was confronted with hostility.

“They took him to a shelter and asked them to put him down,” Tara Lynn, the SPCA of Wake County’s communications director, told The Dodo. “It was sad to know he made it all the way back to his family and that was their reaction.”

Toby was refused at the public shelter, so the SPCA was notified, and he was taken in immediately away. The SPCA began providing him with the medical attention he required in order to prepare him for a new home.

“They took him to a shelter and asked them to put him down,” Tara Lynn, the SPCA of Wake County’s communications director, told The Dodo. “It was sad to know he made it all the way back to his family and that was their reaction.”

Toby was refused at the public shelter, so the SPCA was notified, and he was taken in immediately away. The SPCA began providing him with the medical attention he required in order to prepare him for a new home.

The calls started pouring in after the rescue posted about Toby on social media. Michele Puckett of Raleigh, North Carolina, ran over to meet him, and the rest is history.

Lynn stated of Puckett, “She had no reservations at all.” “She was working on a construction site when she decided to come here.”

Toby was officially adopted last Friday, and it hasn’t taken long for him to settle right into the family. In addition to two new cat siblings to play with, Toby has two new human siblings.

“He is just so sweet, cuddly and loving,” Puckett told. “He’s also pretty much taken over our bed, as if he’s lived here forever. He loves to relax and lay under our pillows.”

Puckett can’t help but think about Toby’s unfortunate ending with her family when he sees how at ease he is with her family.

“It’s difficult to comprehend how someone could have abandoned him to be executed in this manner,” she said. “It’s startling, but we’re thankful he’s alive.”

Lynn shares Toby’s sentiments, and hopes that his tale may inspire other animals to find second chances through rescues, as he did.

“There are a lot of pets that are readily dumped by their owners or breeders,” Lynn explained. “I sincerely hope that he motivates others to adopt.”