Back in 2005, a mother and daughter team were happily volunteering at their local shelter in Saint Pauls, North Carolina.
A man approached with a young 6-week-old cat named Louie. Louie was blind.
If the shelter wouldn’t take Louie in, the man admitted he was just going to abandon him in the parking lot! The women were shocked and knew they couldn’t leave the sweet cat to that fate.
They welcomed Louie into their home and he showed them just how “normal” blind cats can be.
Photo Courtesy: Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary ~ Louie, the cat that started it all
From there, their lives were fur-ever changed.
One blind cat turned into two, turned into three, then finally 4. They discovered there were no dedicated resources or shelters for blind cats.
Sadly, most of them were euthanized in shelters simply because of their misconceived handicap.
It was then they founded the Blind Cat Rescue and Sanctuary, building a fur-ever life time care center for the cats.
Photo Courtesy: Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary
Upon learning of the plight of blind cats, they found that FeLV+ (leukemia positive) and FIV+ (feline immunodeficiency virus) cats also desperately needed their help.
In 2011, they added to their sanctuary by building a dedicated FeLV and FIV home as well.
Now in 2018, they fondly remember the hundreds of cats that have crossed their threshold over the years.
One such cat that epitomizes exactly why they do what they do, is Gabriel.
Arriving from Florida in September 2017, Gabriel was a miracle survivor of Hurricane Irma.
He had taken refuge from the destructive storm by living under a car.
Gabriel was spotted by a woman named Davica, an experienced trapper who refused to leave him in harms way.
She braved the storm battering the state and set her mind to catching him.
Numerous others had tried to trap him but were unsuccessful by the time the winds and rain beat down upon them.
Photo Courtesy: Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary
Davica never gave up though and finally succeeded around 4:00 a.m. in the morning!
She rushed him to the vet. The poor boy was about 8 years old at the time and sadly, just skin and bones.
He was covered in multiple wounds, either from the hurricane, being attacked by other animals on the streets…or more likely both.
Photo Courtesy: Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary
Gabriel was suffering from a bad upper respiratory infection, had an eye infection that left him with little sight if any, and tested positive for FeLV.
Instead of leaving him at the vet’s office to end his suffering, Davica was determined to help him survive.
She posted his story on Facebook to attempt to find a home for him.
Photo Courtesy: Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary
Blind Cat Rescue stepped in and agreed to help knowing the poor cat was visually challenged.
When they learned he had also tested positive for FeLV, they opened their hearts and sanctuary doors to him.
Gabriel would live out the rest of his days in the care of the sanctuary.
Davica works for an airline and after having him neutered, was able to fly him to Raleigh, North Carolina. Another of Gabriel’s “angels” then drove him the rest of the way to Blind Cat Rescue.
c ~ Transport Angel to the rescue
The poor boy was very frightened, still unwell and badly needed dental work when he arrived.
His infected eye was eventually removed.
They were able to provide him with all the medical attention he required and today he’s a totally different cat.
“Gabriel today is a very handsome, happy and healthy nine-year-old cat who no longer has to live in harm’s way on the streets. He is enjoying his life and all the love an attention he gets from BCR staff and volunteers.”
https://www.facebook.com/BlindCatRescue/videos/10156175086260166/
“With all he’s been through and where he is now, Gabriel is why BCR exists – to be the forever home for our neediest cats.”
Photo Courtesy: Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary; Gabriel chilling with his buddies
The sanctuary is currently home to 105 beautiful felines.
However, with this headcount estimates to run the facility average about $1,000 a day! Because they are a 501(c) organization they are run solely on donations.
Photo Courtesy: Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary
One woman has made it her goal to help the sanctuary any way possible. Blind cats hold a very special place in her heart.
That woman is Gwen Cooper, mom to the unforgettable Homer, the Blind Wonder Cat!
Photo courtesy: Gwen Cooper and Homer The Blind Wonder Cat
When Homer was only three weeks old, he had a terrible eye infection. A kind vet had to surgically remove his eyes to save my life.
After that, he was put up for adoption but was passed over due to his “limitations”. A lot of people even told the vet that he should be euthanized!
When Gwen met Homer, she fell in love with him immediately. At 24 years old and already a human servant to two other felines, females Scarlett and Vashti, she happily adopted Homer.
Gwen even wrote a book about her beloved black cat called “Homer’s Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat.”
According to Homer:
“The book tells all about the amazing things I can do (like catch flies in mid-air), the time I saved my mom’s life when I chased off a burglar (true story!), how I survived 9/11 even though I was trapped alone in an apartment near Ground Zero (my mom fought every city official in New York just so she could get back to our apartment and rescue me!).”
Photo courtesy: Gwen Cooper and Homer The Blind Wonder Cat
Sadly, in August of 2013, it was time for Homer to earn his wings after a long, happy and wonderful life with Gwen.
His story has changed the way people all over the world view blind cats now.
“I celebrate Homer and the life that he lived, the love that he gave, the odds he overcame to grow into a house cat with a lion’s heart who touched so many people and saved the lives of so many other cats like him.”
Now Gwen doing her best to spread awareness again…with her new book entitled “My Life in a Cat House: True Tales of Love, Laughter, and Living with Five Felines”.
Photo courtesy: Gwen Cooper
She is happy to donate a portion of her sales to Blind Cat Rescue and Sanctuary, including 100% of her first week sales! (Ends 11/3)
Please be sure to check out Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary and Homer, the Blind Wonder Cat. The world needs to know these gorgeous felines are just as wonderful as any other cat and deserve the same opportunities!
REMEMBER: ADOPT, DON’T SHOP; FOSTERING SAVES LIVES & SPAY AND NEUTER!
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