Ugly was a stray tomcat known in the apartment complex for fighting, eating garbage, and finding love. He was scarred and missing parts of his body. The children were warned not to touch him and adults threw things at him. One day, huskies mauled Ugly badly. As the narrator tried to help Ugly, the dying cat suckled on their ear, showing only love despite his pain. In his final moments, Ugly taught the narrator about compassion.