Every now and then, a miracle happens— and for one orange tabby named Nigel, a miracle is just what he needed.
In July 2017, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, a guardian angel found Nigel’s tiny, injured body next to a dumpster outside. He was only 6 weeks old and in urgent need of care.
Nigel was promptly taken to MSPCA-Angell, a shelter that treats injured animals. MSPCA thought Nigel was suffering from a standard infection and started him on pain medicine and antibiotics. While he was there, staff provided him with round-the-clock love and care— but then something happened.
What happened next shocked everybody, and the shelter has no explanation for it.
“His nose and much of his face seemed discolored but that appeared to be a standard infection for which we started him on pain medicine and antibiotics,” MSPCA adoption center manager Alyssa Krieger said in a statement (via Boston.com).
“We were shocked to discover later just how seriously injured Nigel was.”
Shortly after being taken for proper medical care, part of Nigel’s little ginger face and button nose detached and fell off.
There are theories on what could have happened, but nobody knows what Nigel went through during his first 6 weeks of life. Mike Pavletic, head of surgery at the MSPCA’s Angell Animal Medical Center, told Boston.com:
“Unfortunately, this little stray cat got into something, it could have also been bitten in the face, sustained serious injury, gotten infected, and then a different part of the lip and part of the nose just became devitalized.”
A tiny, missing nose didn’t stop MSPCA from helping Nigel, though! The special kitty was dubbed ‘No Nose Nigel’ and medical staff immediately started on a plan to help fix his furry face.
Nigel was still a baby and needed to grow bigger and stronger to be able to have surgery. During this time, MSPCA tracked his progress through an Instagram account and began the tentative search for the purrrfect furever home.
Nigel’s big day was November 2nd, 2017: reconstructive facial surgery.
In the days following Nigel’s reconstructive surgery, the shelter received more than 50 inquiries from local cat lovers hoping to adopt the adorable, little kitty.
The surgery was (mostly) a success, except Nigel needed one more follow up procedure for his teeth. But after that, this little guy was in the clear!
“He seems to otherwise be a fairly healthy cat,” Mike Pavletic, head of surgery at the MSPCA’s Angell Animal Medical Center, told Boston.com
“It’s got a personality to itself, and he is rather a little precocious and likes to play hard. But that’s being a kitten, so I think with correction of this, the cat will resume a fairly normal life.”
After Nigel’s rough patch, he finally found a home and a new mom just in time for Thanksgiving. His new human even promised to keep his Instagram account active with regular updates and adorable pictures for the kitty’s 6,000+ adoring fans.
No Nose Nigel got his miracle and it was all thanks to an amazing human that noticed a tiny kitty clinging to life. Despite Nigel’s medical issues, nobody ever gave up on him, and he finally found a place to call home.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
