Copyright Newsweek
A senior cat who was overlooked at the shelter because of her age has completely transformed since being adopted, as her owner jokes that she’s now “queen of the house.” Two cats, Nicki and her sister Bailey, were surrendered to Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control shelter in 2023 after their owner sadly passed away. For several weeks, they went back and forth between the shelter and different foster homes. At the age of 14, Nicki certainly wasn’t everybody’s first choice of rescue pet. However, a social media post about her caught the attention of Katie Carroll, 28, and her boyfriend Mark Lappin. From the moment she saw the picture of Nicki, Carroll told Newsweek that it was clear “she was meant to be part of the family.” The couple visited the shelter to meet Nicki and Bailey, who were so timid and shy. Nicki refused to leave her cat carrier, but Carroll, of North Carolina, knew she could give the senior sisters the best golden years. Nicki and Bailey were both adopted in October 2023, but Bailey sadly passed away in September 2024. “At the beginning, Bailey was much friendlier and more outgoing,” Carroll said. “Nicki immediately found her favorite spot under our bed and would cuddle in there to feel safe and protected. We let her work on her own schedule, and she started to come out of her shell about two months into adopting her. “Once Bailey passed away, Nicki really started to show us her personality. She began jumping up on my desk while I worked to show off her meowing and chatterbox energy. We really started to see Nicki's full personality about a year and a half after adopting her,” Carroll continued. Now, at the ripe old age of 16, Nicki has become the life and soul of the household. She loves to sleep on her owners’ pillows, is often found sunbathing in Carroll’s office, and is always happy to indulge in a treat or two. It’s been so heartwarming for Carroll to see Nicki’s transformation over the last two years. They’ve been fortunate not to experience any health problems with Nicki, so they hope to make many happy memories in the years to come. “Nicki loves to get lots of pets and chin scratches. She meows at you when she wants a treat or attention. She is truly a diva and the queen of the house now,” Carroll said. After seeing how comfortable Nicki is in her home now, people often think Carroll and Lappin got her when she was a kitten. But the reality couldn’t be further, which is why Carroll felt it important to share her adoption story on social media. Taking to Nicki’s dedicated TikTok account (@nicki_purrs), Carroll shared images of Nicki from when she was at the shelter, and it’s gone viral with over 166,600 views and 29,300 likes at the time of writing. The online response is beyond anything Carroll imagined. She hopes it will inspire others to consider adopting and to give a senior animal a second chance. Carroll told Newsweek: “Our message is truly being able to provide a comforting and loving household for animals that might have been skipped over due to age. Just because a cat is 14 doesn't mean that they don't have any more love to give. There are so many animals that just need the time and space to open up to be their loving and adorable selves. “Nicki has been such an amazing addition to our home. Everyone should consider going to their local shelter and be open to the idea of fostering or adopting the pets that aren't the number one choice,” she continued. Since Nicki’s story went viral on TikTok, the post has generated over 380 comments already. Many social media users praised the owners for rejuvenating Nicki with their love and kindness. One comment reads: “She looks soooo healthy and young! Forever young queen Nicki.” Another TikTok user wrote: “Thank you for adopting a senior pet!” While another person replied: “Thanks for loving a senior baby. I’m sure they’ll be the best years of her life.”
