An owner who rescued a senior cat shared a nonjudgmental message with the 80-year-old man who tried helping the feline but ultimately had to surrender him: He is "happy, well-loved and always has a full belly."

Emma, known on TikTok as @pepandplants, told Newsweek that her orange cat, Pep, used to live with a family, but the family had a baby and was not taking good care of him. As an outdoor cat, Pep wandered the area and eventually came across the 80-year-old man. The two befriended each other and Pep continued to visit daily as the man drank his coffee.

"The man fed him and sat on the porch with him every day, but the man was around 80 and in bad health," Emma said. "I was working at the spay/neuter clinic when he brought Pep in and was upset because he was scared something would happen to him and he could not care for the cat."

Emma wanted to take Pep home that day, but after speaking with her mom, the time wasn't right. Thankfully, a few months later, she recognized Pep at an adoption event and he went home with her immediately.

She remembered how broken the man felt about surrendering the cat. He tried caring for and saving Pep, but given his health, he knew the best option was for Pep to go to a new home. He ended up surrendering the cat to the humane society.

Her message to the man who tried to help Pep was not to paint him in a bad light—quite the opposite. She wanted to update him on how Pep is thriving. He's been the best and most snuggly cat. Since adopting Pep eight years ago, the two have been inseparable.

"He has been through everything with me, and even went to college!" she said. "I feel so connected to him and even his old owner to this day."

The TikTok video amassed more than 977,300 views, 261,300 likes and 668 comments as of Monday. Hearing that the cat is well-loved and living the life he deserves touched people.

"Stop! This is too sweet!! He's such a pretty baby!!" commented a viewer.

Another added: "I work at an animal shelter and I hate when I see others online judge people for surrendering their pets. For some people surrendering is the most difficult and selfless decision they could make."

A third echoed: "I hope he knows too. I work in elder care and they always, always remember their babies and want the best for them."

Thankfully, the man knew Pep was in good hands before he died a couple years after giving him up. Emma said she got the word to the man through a friend who worked at the humane society that she was the one who adopted Pep and that there was no need to worry, Pep was well taken care of and will be for the rest of his days.

"Not everyone who surrenders is a bad person," she said. "Sometimes they are giving pets an opportunity to live their best life."