In one Canadian animal shelter, there was a cat who looked sadder than any other.
His name was BenBen. With deep lacerations, a mangled ear, and a damaged spine, he had already been through more than most pets ever would.
But that was not what made him look so heartbreakingly unhappy.
credit: @benbencatcat / instagram.com
The truth was a bit more unusual. BenBen’s constant frown was caused by extra skin on his face.
It gave him a permanently downturned expression, and the staff at the shelter started calling him “the saddest cat on the internet.”
Still, people passed him by every day. Visitors came, glanced into his cage, and kept walking.
Days turned to weeks, and the odds of him finding a home seemed to fade.
credit: @benbencatcat / instagram.com
Then one day, a family decided to take a chance on him.
They brought him home, hoping to give him the peace and care he deserved. But that hope was short-lived.
After consulting with vets, they were told BenBen would likely need pain medication for the rest of his life and would never be able to walk again.
It all sounded too overwhelming, and with heavy hearts, the family returned him to the shelter.
credit: @benbencatcat / instagram.com
That return came with devastating consequences.
The shelter, unable to find a permanent solution and faced with his extensive medical needs, scheduled him for euthanasia.
BenBen, the cat no one seemed to want, had just one more day left.
But then came a twist no one expected.
credit: @benbencatcat / instagram.com
A woman heard about BenBen’s story and decided she could not let it end this way.
Together with her husband, she rushed to the shelter. They arrived just in time, just a day before the procedure.
The couple knew exactly what they were signing up for. They had been warned about the injuries, the pain, and the limited mobility.
But none of that mattered. They saw something in BenBen that no one else had.
They brought him home and gave him a second chance.
credit: @benbencatcat / instagram.com
At first, it seemed the vets might have been right. BenBen refused to eat.
He would not move or even drink water. It was as if he had already given up.
But something changed once he realized he was no longer in a cage.
The couple gave him his own room so he could slowly adjust without pressure. There were other cats in the house, but they gave BenBen his space and time.
And soon enough, he began to show signs of life. He started to move around. He became curious.
He watched the world around him with wide, cautious eyes. And then, one day, he purred.
credit: @benbencatcat / instagram.com
It took just one hour after arriving in his new home for him to start responding.
It was as if he had been waiting for someone to believe in him. Now, BenBen explores his house freely.
He is particularly fond of watching people eat, fascinated by the simple things he had once missed out on. He has even learned to walk again.
While he still cannot jump very far or very high, his progress has stunned everyone who had once thought he would never get back on his feet.
credit: @benbencatcat / instagram.com
Nine months have passed since his adoption, and while BenBen still wears the same sad expression, his heart tells a different story.
He is a loving, happy cat who greets his owners with cuddles and purrs.
The sorrow in his face is only skin deep. Inside, BenBen is full of life.
credit: @benbencatcat / instagram.com
His story is proof that sometimes, all it takes is the right person to see past appearances.
This little ginger cat who was once days away from being put down now has a home, a family, and a second shot at life.
And despite the odds, he continues to surprise everyone.
BenBen may still look like the saddest cat in the shelter, but those who know him understand the truth.
He is living the life he always deserved, and his eyes, though heavy-lidded, are full of peace.
