The cat’s family sent Toby away to a new home in February.

He was being forced to leave his family, but he had no idea why, and he was sorely missing them.

So he made the decision to flee. He finally made it to his former family’s door after a 12-mile trek. But when he returned, he was treated in the worst possible way.

“They took him to a shelter and asked them to euthanize him,” Tara Lynn, communications director for the SPCA of Wake County, told The Dodo. “It was just so heartbreaking to know he made it all the way back to his family, and that was their response.”

The public shelter refused to put Toby down, and instead contacted the SPCA, which took him in right away. The SPCA started giving him the medical care he needed to get him ready to find a new home.

“He tested positive for feline immunodeficiency virus, and also had an upper respiratory infection,” Lynn said. “We got him treated for the infection, which took a little while.”

While he no longer had his family, Toby quickly warmed up to the shelter staff.

“He was very friendly,” Lynn said. “Just your sweet, typical cat — they want to get love and to love you.”

After the rescue posted about Toby on social media, the calls started pouring in. Raleigh, North Carolina resident Michele Puckett hurried over to the shelter to meet him, and the rest is history.

Regarding Puckett, Lynn remarked, “She had absolutely no reservations.” “She just abandoned everything to come here when she was on a job site.”