Anyone who has ever had to say goodbye to a beloved pet knows just how emotional it can be.
But one shelter volunteer recently came across something that made an already difficult moment even harder to forget.
A cat named Bootsie arrived at the Simpson County Animal Shelter in Franklin, Kentucky, with something that most shelter animals never have.
Alongside him was a handwritten letter from the child who loved him.
The touching note quickly found its way onto Reddit after a shelter volunteer shared photos of all seven pages.
The post, titled “This Letter from a Child Surrendering Their Cat Broke Me Today,” struck a chord with thousands of people online, collecting more than 30,000 upvotes in less than a day.
The letter did far more than explain who Bootsie was. It painted a picture of a cat who had clearly been cherished every single day.
According to the shelter volunteer, reading through the pages was a bittersweet experience.
She later explained that the child had filled the letter with love, carefully describing Bootsie’s personality, favorite things, and the little details only someone who knew him well would think to include.
One request stood out above everything else.
The child simply asked whoever adopted Bootsie to “please take good care of Bootsie.”
That single sentence was enough to leave many readers emotional.
The handwritten guide explained that Bootsie had plenty of nicknames and was incredibly food motivated.
It also revealed that he could become friends with almost any animal except other cats, even refusing to get along with his own brother.
Instead, Bootsie preferred the company of the family’s German Shepherd and Golden Retriever mix.
The young owner also included practical advice for Bootsie’s future family.
Apparently, the white and tortoiseshell cat loved sitting on laps and being carried around in someone’s arms. Even sweeter, the child said Bootsie would hug people back.
There were even hand drawn illustrations showing exactly where Bootsie enjoyed being stroked and where he did not.
The note warned people not to touch his back because he had previously suffered from a wolf worm infection, a parasite that can affect cats and must be treated by a veterinarian.
It was the sort of detail that showed just how much thought had gone into making sure Bootsie’s next family would understand him.
As if that was not enough, Bootsie also had a few impressive talents.
The clever cat had learned how to give his paw and even high five, making him far more than an ordinary shelter cat.
The letter ended on another emotional note.
“I will miss him but if he’s happy, I’m happy,” the child wrote before adding that Bootsie’s dream was simply to become “a loving, fat cat who stays indoors.”
For many readers, those final words were impossible to read without feeling something.
The shelter volunteer later explained that Bootsie had been surrendered through no fault of his own. The family simply found themselves in a situation where giving him up was the only option available.
She said the letter showed just how deeply the child cared for their pet and hoped it would help Bootsie find another loving home.
She also believed the heartfelt message had set a very high standard for whoever adopted him next.
The emotional story also highlighted a reality many animal shelters face every day.
Research published in the journal Animals, which examined more than 2,800 cats and dogs surrendered to shelters, found that behavioral issues accounted for 28 percent of cases.
Housing or moving challenges made up 18 percent, while 16 percent of owners said they could no longer care for their pets.
For Bootsie’s family, it was simply a heartbreaking decision rather than a lack of love.
Reddit users were quick to flood the comments with support.
One person said they hoped every potential adopter would be shown the letter because it perfectly captured who Bootsie really was.
Another wrote that people cared so deeply because the child had introduced them to Bootsie as an individual rather than just another shelter cat.
Others admitted they were brought to tears by the thoughtful drawings and careful instructions.
Many said the final request to “take good care of Bootsie” was the line they simply could not get out of their heads.
Although saying goodbye was clearly heartbreaking for the child who wrote those seven pages, thousands of strangers are now hoping the touching letter helps Bootsie find exactly what his young owner wished for all along.
A safe home, plenty of love, and maybe enough treats to finally become that happy indoor cat of his dreams.