Back in 2010, Sarah Juracich was a broke college student living in Minnesota when a chance encounter completely changed her life. It happened at a pet adoption event she wasn’t even planning to attend — and certainly wasn’t planning to leave with another cat.
“I already had a cat at home,” Juracich told The Dodo. “But I was holding this absolutely ridiculous-looking kitten. He reached up, placed a tiny paw on my chin, looked me dead in the eyes — and then licked my nose. That was it. I thought, ‘Aw, crap.’”
Just like that, she was smitten. Juracich dug deep into her limited funds to cover the adoption fee and brought him home. She named him Nermal — a name that would soon become a badge of honor for a very not-normal cat.
“As a kitten, he looked like something from another planet,” she said. “Huge eyes, this flat little face — honestly, I’m still not convinced he’s entirely feline. He might have alien DNA.”
Whatever his origins, one thing was clear: Nermal was a character.
“He’s a total weirdo,” Juracich laughed. “I’ve literally rolled over onto him in bed and he just keeps purring. Nothing fazes him. He’s the chillest cat I’ve ever known, and also the weirdest.”
Nermal’s early days were tough — he was rescued from a hoarding and backyard breeding situation — but with care and time, he grew into a fluffy, regal-looking cat with a personality to match his unusual looks.
“People remember him,” Juracich said. “He’s just… unforgettable.”
Of course, he’s also had his mischievous moments. One standout: the Great Cookie Caper.
“He once got into my nightstand, found a box of lemon Girl Scout cookies — the powdered sugar kind — and managed to lick every single cookie clean. Not one was spared,” she said. “I’m pretty sure he had help from my other cat, Marley, but Nermal was definitely the ringleader.”
Despite his quirks, or maybe because of them, Nermal is incredibly affectionate.
“He’s a total lovebug,” Juracich said. “He has to sleep right next to me — sometimes half on my face. He’s glued to me.”
Now around 15 years old, Nermal hasn’t slowed down much.
“He’s still healthy and goes to the vet regularly. They all adore him there,” Juracich said.
All those years ago, she took a leap on a strange little kitten with an even stranger face — and never looked back.
“I honestly wouldn’t trade Nermal for anything,” she said. “He’s one of a kind. Completely irreplaceable.”