Man battling cancer got to pet a nursing home visitor’s cat in his final days — then his simple request had everyone wiping away tears
Animals have a way of bringing warmth and comfort to those who feel isolated, simply by being present. When mom of three cats, Briana (@almondandcashie) paid a visit to a nursing home, she never knew that her ginger cat Almond would develop a special bond with a resident named Dennis. During one of her visits, the man who was battling cancer had one request for her. That small request left her in tears, especially after she recently learned about his passing. Sharing the last video of the elderly man with her cat on January 3, 2026, the TikTok user revealed that she felt happy about capturing a heartfelt moment before his death.
@almondandcashie Knowing that Almond brought him so much happiness in his final days just warms my heart more than anything ❤️ #catsoftiktok #catlover #nursinghome #wholesome ♬ original sound - Jwlpiano_🎹 - 🎹Jwlpiano_🕊️
TikTok user Brianna and her ginger cat stopped by a nursing home. However, her visit to the place became instantly heartwarming when a resident named Dennis bonded with her ginger cat, Almond. Dennis was terminally ill with cancer when he met them, but his love for cats remained unfaded. Describing himself as a "cat person," he immediately began petting Almond as she lay on his lap. A while later, his one request moved everyone in the room to tears. Briana revealed that he wanted a photo of himself with Almond to show to his family. "He was just somebody's baby," she wrote.
In the video captured by the TikTok user, Dennis asked her to tell him about her cat. The TikTok user said that Almond is a female cat, and described her as a sweet and "lover girl." She revealed to him that Almond had been with her for over 7 years, as he listened to her with great enthusiasm. The man petted the cat gently and called her a "sweet tabby." "You can tell this is exactly what he needed. And it's like Almond knew," she wrote.
The duo clicked a picture together, and Dennis truly looked happy in the moment. Apparently, the video was shot just days before his passing. Although she expressed her sorrow over his death, she was happy about making him smile through her cat's presence during his last days. "Knowing we were able to provide this happiness in his last days really warms my heart," she wrote.
Soon after her video went viral, many users stepped forward to react to the emotional clip. Many users were moved by his gesture and were heartbroken learning about the elderly man's death. @Your mom expressed, "Oh, I can't take this. His big old smile. I'm so glad y'all gave him this moment of happiness." @Melly_J mentioned, "Thank you for what you do. Seeing Dennis this happy before he passed was just so sweet. His smile says it all. You brought joy to that man, thank you!" @kelly penned, "This is why therapy animals are so important. I'm happy Dennis was able to have this moment before he passed."
For more such fun and interesting content, follow @almondandcashie on TikTok.