This is the emotional journey of a cat who, despite severe facial trauma and a painful past, found hope, healing, and love in the heart of New York City.
When Meagan Licari, the compassionate founder of Puppy Kitty NYC, first met Figaro, her life changed forever. The tiny cat was staying in an emergency animal hospital, suffering from unimaginable facial injuries. The moment Meagan saw him, her heart broke.
“He was so tiny and was missing basically half of his face. It brought me to tears to see this little guy with such horrible injuries,” she shared.
A Tough Start in Life
Figaro was born on the unforgiving streets of New York City. A local rescue group contacted Puppy Kitty NYC for help after finding the frightened kitten with a face full of scars. No one knew exactly what had caused the injuries—perhaps a fight with another animal, or maybe a run-in with a live wire.
Terrified and almost feral, Figaro needed more than just medical help—he needed love. Determined to give him the best chance, Meagan stepped in.
Figaro underwent two difficult reconstructive surgeries. One side of his mouth had to be cleared of most of its teeth. He stayed in the hospital for over a month after the first surgery, and returned briefly for the second.
From Fear to Love
During his hospital stay, something amazing happened. Figaro slowly began to trust the humans caring for him. He transformed from a scared, angry kitten into a sweet and affectionate companion.
When he was finally well enough to leave, Meagan brought him to her home in Queens. At first, he stayed in a crate with an E-collar to protect his healing face.
A Joyful Recovery
Over the next four months, Figaro blossomed. Though he disliked medication—understandably so—he found joy in simple things. He was no longer in pain and could eat both dry and soft food, though he preferred soft meals. He especially loved human food and was always trying to sneak a bite!
“He is first to the food bowl and will growl at the other cats,” Meagan laughed. “He also loves bird-watching from the windowsill and snuggling up on my pillow.”
A Forever Bond
Despite the original plan to find him a new home, Meagan soon realized that Figaro had already found it—with her.
“He means the world to me! He represents why I rescue and is a testament that rescue works!”
Figaro’s journey from a wounded street kitten to a happy, playful cat in a loving home is proof that every animal deserves a second chance. Meagan now hopes more people will consider adopting pets with needs.
“I wish more people would adopt the harder to adopt kitties instead of kittens or purebreds,” she said.
Figaro’s story reminds us all that beauty isn’t just skin deep—and that the most broken souls often have the most love to give. Follow his adventures on Instagram and be inspired by his resilience every day.