Kelly Nugent moved from Florida to New York two months ago to care for her father. She even brought her cat, Sweet Potato, along to assist her.
Nugent wanted to be near her father, who was undergoing treatment for bone marrow cancer. Nugent told The Dodo, “He started having an extremely hard time moving around and doing things and pretty much needed 24-hour care while he was recovering.” “I knew I just had to be there with my dad because he is my best friend.”
Her 2-year-old cat isn’t a certified therapy animal, but he’s a close second.
Nugent described him as “the nicest cat in the planet.” “He simply adores everyone and longs to be in the company of others. He’s got that dog-like demeanor.”
While Nugent’s father adores animals, he is more of a dog guy. He’d never had a cat before and didn’t think of them as especially affectionate or helpful creatures. Sweet Potato, on the other hand, made sure to alter everything.
“As soon as we arrived there and Sweet Potato got used to it, he turned into a maniac for my father,” Nugent said. “He wouldn’t leave his side, and they’re still connected at the hip to this day.”
“It’s the nicest thing you’ll ever see because I know [Sweet Potato] senses something’s wrong and that he’s needed,” Nugent said. “So he just kind of stepped up to the bat and said, ‘This is now my job.’ ‘I’m going to assist you in your recovery.’ It’s as though he already knew.”
The cat and her father have become inseparable in the two months since Nugent and Sweet Potato came, and they do everything together.
“So my dad sits in a chair and puts his arm on the recliner, and Sweet Potato will jump up and sit in the tiny nook in his arm and snuggle with him every single time,” Nugent said. “He’ll sleep on his bed or in his room,” says the narrator. [Sweet Potato] will jump on my father’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. All he needs to do is stay on top of him.”
Nugent began uploading videos of Sweet Potato and her father on TikTok, and the adorable videos have amassed a big following. “It was very wonderful to him when I read him all the comments because so many strange people were pulling for him,” Nugent added.
However, Nugent and her father’s favorite joke is that he and Sweet Potato are almost identical twins. “The fact that so many people remark they look alike is my favorite part,” Nugent added. “My dad has a white mustache, and Sweet Potato has a white mustache… and it makes us giggle so hard.”
Nugent’s father’s health has considerably improved since nurse Sweet Potato took over. And she can’t help but believe her cat played a role in it.
“I truly believe Sweet Potato’s emotional support, hugs, and just being there — it’s had a big influence on him,” she added.
