The COVID-19 pandemic has brought immense respect for healthcare workers, with doctors, nurses, and frontline staff working tirelessly while the rest of us stayed in quarantine.
It appears that even animals have recognized their heroism, as a cat made a heartwarming visit to an exhausted nurse during his break.
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Ahmed Flaty, a nursing intern at a hospital in Egypt during the pandemic, took a brief break from his hectic duties in September 2020 to chat with a friend outside.
Unexpectedly, he was greeted by a friendly stray cat.
“This little cat walked up to me,” Ahmed told The Dodo. “[She] didn’t meow or anything – just gazed at me, then climbed into my lap, looked at me for a while, then fell asleep.”
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The cat nestled in his arms for 20 minutes. While it is common for stray animals to approach people in Cairo, Ahmed was deeply moved by the cat’s gesture and saw it as a source of encouragement during his long shift.
“I had worked 12-hour shifts for 20 consecutive days, but because of that cat, none of that seemed to matter,” Ahmed said.
“Honestly, it was truly the best moment of this whole year so far.”
Ahmed’s demanding schedule doesn’t allow him to have a pet cat, but he clearly adores these animals and appreciates their companionship.
“What greater gift than the love of a cat,” Ahmed wrote in the caption of the photo, quoting Charles Dickens.
What a heartwarming moment! A salute to all the COVID-19 frontline heroes – and to the feline friends too!
