A volunteer with Longleaf Animal Rescue in Hillsborough, North Carolina, picked up an elderly tabby from a shelter and found a handwritten note tucked inside his paperwork. The woman who left him had not expected anyone to care enough to read it.
The cat’s name is Merlin. He is a former street cat with a cauliflower ear and serious dental problems that left him unable to swallow. After months of declining health, his owner could no longer manage his care on her own.
What the Note Said
The woman who surrendered Merlin was an elderly widow caring for a colony of 26 cats, all neutered and vaccinated at her own expense. When Merlin’s dental problems became too severe and too expensive to treat, she made the decision to surrender him and left a note behind.
The note described him as gentle and affectionate, said he could no longer swallow without choking, and that she would have cared for him forever if she could.
What Happened Next
Rescue volunteer Alexa Chapman collected Merlin from the shelter, found the note while sitting in her car, and called the woman the same day. According to Chapman, the woman had not expected anyone to reach out.
Chapman told The Dodo that Merlin is “one of the sweetest cats” she has ever met. He was placed with a foster family while the rescue arranged veterinary care.
Vets recommended a full tooth extraction. Merlin had the surgery and within a few days was clearly doing better. He still loves being picked up and kneads the air with his paws.
Why This Happens More Than People Realize
Stories like Merlin’s are not rare. According to the ASPCA, about 3 million cats entered U.S. shelters and rescues in 2025, and roughly 30 percent came from owner surrenders. Many of those surrenders happen because owners cannot afford veterinary care, not because they stopped caring. She wrote a note because she wanted someone to know who he was.
Owner surrenders involving older cats and medical needs are among the harder cases for rescues to place in foster homes, but they are also the cases where a foster family makes the biggest difference.
What Comes Next for Merlin
Longleaf Animal Rescue is now accepting adoption applications for Merlin. The rescue is looking for a retired person or someone who works from home, ideally with a catio. He has come through surgery and is recovering well.
Cats waiting for adoption with a complicated history often sit longer than others, but Merlin’s story has already reached people who otherwise never would have heard of him. The woman who left that note did not know if anyone would find it. Someone did.
Conclusion
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This article is for informational purposes only.