Back in 2010, Sarah Juracich was just another college student trying to make ends meet in Minnesota.
Life felt ordinary, predictable — until a quiet afternoon at a local pet adoption fair. She had no plans to bring home a new pet that day.
Her heart and wallet were already committed to the cat waiting for her back at her apartment. But fate had other ideas.
A Chance Encounter That Changed Everything
Among the rows of cages and curious faces, one tiny kitten caught her eye.
His fur was uneven, his head a little too round, his eyes impossibly large — and somehow, he looked straight into her soul.
When she lifted him into her arms, he pressed a small paw to her chin, tilted his strange little face upward, and gently licked her nose. In that instant, everything changed.
Sarah laughed through tears, realizing that no amount of logic or responsibility could compete with that moment. “Oh no,” she whispered to herself, knowing her heart had already decided. She spent nearly all the money she had to cover his adoption fee. The little creature didn’t know it yet, but he had just found his forever home.
The Little Alien Who Stole Hearts
Sarah named him Nermal, partly as a joke and partly because it suited him. He was far from a typical kitten.
With his odd, flat face and wavy fur, he looked more like something out of a sci-fi movie than a Minnesota shelter.
Friends teased her that he might not be entirely from Earth — and sometimes, she half-believed them.
From the very beginning, Nermal carried himself with an unapologetic charm. He was fearless, calm, and full of personality.
When Sarah accidentally rolled over him in bed one night, he didn’t even flinch — just purred louder, as if reminding her that he belonged exactly where he was.
Nothing startled him. Nothing seemed to bother him. He was the definition of contentment.
Though his past wasn’t an easy one — rescued from a place where too many animals were neglected — Nermal blossomed under Sarah’s care.
His health improved, his fur grew thicker, and his confidence soared. People would stop by her apartment and stare in amazement at the unusual cat lounging like royalty on the couch.
His wild curls framed his face like a mane, and his golden eyes seemed to sparkle with mischief.
He became known in the neighborhood as “the little alien cat.” Sarah didn’t mind.
To her, Nermal was family — a gentle, hilarious soul who taught her that love doesn’t always come in perfect shapes.
Fifteen Years Of Love And Laughter
As time passed, Nermal filled Sarah’s days with both chaos and comfort.
He had a mischievous streak that kept her on her toes — like the night he broke into a drawer and discovered a box of lemon Girl Scout cookies.
By morning, every single cookie had the powdered sugar licked off, leaving a trail of white crumbs and one very satisfied cat. Sarah could only laugh and shake her head.
Even in his moments of trouble, Nermal’s affection never wavered.
Every night, he curled up beside her pillow, purring so close that his whiskers brushed her cheek.
He always wanted to be touching her — a paw on her arm, a head against her face, a heartbeat close to another heartbeat.
Now, at fifteen, Nermal has slowed down only slightly. His eyes are still bright, his fur still soft, and his spirit still playful.
The vet calls him a miracle, a cat who’s somehow both fragile and invincible.
For Sarah, the years with Nermal have been more than companionship — they’ve been a lesson in unconditional love.
The kitten who once reached for her chin that fateful day has held on ever since.
When she looks at him now, stretched out in the sun like he owns the world, she smiles. “He’s one of a kind,” she says softly. “Maybe he’s part alien. Maybe he’s just my best friend. Either way, I wouldn’t trade him for anything.”
And though no one can prove where Nermal truly came from, one thing is certain — he found exactly where he was meant to be