Kelly Nugent flew to New York from Florida two months ago to care for her father. And she brought her cat, Sweet Potato, to help her.
Nugent’s father was undergoing bone marrow cancer treatment, she wanted to be with him. “He started having extremely difficult times moving and doing things and he needed nearly 24 hours of care while he was recuperating,” Nugent said. “My dad is my best friend and I realized I had to be there for him.”
CREDIT: KELLY NUGENT
Her 2-year-old cat isn’t a certified therapy animal, but he’s a close second.
Nugent described him as “the cutest cat in the world.” “He loves everyone and wants to be with them. He has a dog’s personality.”
While Nugent’s father loves animals, he is more of a dog guy. He had never had a cat and did not consider cats to be especially caring or supporting creatures. Sweet Potato, on the other hand, made certain to change all of that.
“As soon as we arrived there and Sweet Potato got used to it, he became a maniac about my dad,” Nugent said. “He didn’t want to leave him, and they’re still just joined at the hip to this day.”
“It’s the cutest thing you’ve ever seen because I know [Sweet Potato] can sense something is wrong and that he’s needed,” Nugent continued. “So he walked up to the bat and said, ‘That’s my job now. “I will help you heal. It’s as though he knew.”
CREDIT: KELLY NUGENT
The cat and her dad have been inseparable for two months since Nugent and Sweet Potato arrived, and they do everything together.
“So my dad has a recliner that he sits in, and every time Sweet Potato would jump up and nestle in the tiny nook in his arm and snuggle with him,” Nugent said. “He’ll sleep in his room or in his bed.” [Sweet Potato] will jump on my dad’s keyboard while he is using his computer. Sweet Potato will sit on the paperwork whenever my father sits at the table to do any paperwork. He only needs to be on top of him.”
CREDIT: KELLY NUGENT
Nugent started uploading videos of Sweet Potato and her dad to TikTok, and the adorable clips got a huge following. “It was really awesome for him to have so many weird people drawing for him when I read all the comments to him,” Nugent added.
But Nugent and his father’s favorite joke is that he and Sweet Potato are nearly identical. “What I love the most is how many people think they look alike,” Nugent added. “My dad has a white mustache and Sweet Potato has a white mustache… and it makes us laugh so hard.”
Nugent’s father’s health has substantially improved since nurse Sweet Potato took over. And she can’t help but assume it has anything to do with her cat.
“I really think the emotional support from Sweet Potato, the hugs and just being there – it had a significant impact on him,” she added.