For the fifth installment of our Special Cat series, we are highlighting the adorable and courageous Wesley! Wesley has facial deformities that cause him to have a few limitations with his vision and mobility, but that does not stop him from being a force to be reckoned with! We are so grateful to have had the pleasure of speaking to Wesley’s lucky human, Rheanne!

A Sheltered Start

Wesley’s story begins at Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter in Fairfield, IA. Rheanne says, “there were quite a few kittens at the time, and all of them were cute, but when I saw Wesley I was instantly smitten. Everything about him was adorable. His crooked jaw, his fluffy brown coat, his playful personality—everything,” However, Rheanne was not able to adopt him. As time continued, however, she could not stop thinking about the beautiful little brown cat. “In March of 2015, I finally went to the shelter and asked about “the pirate cat.” The staff knew exactly who I was referring to and informed me that he still hadn’t been adopted. I was stunned, but also relieved, because I had decided that if he was still available that I was taking him home with me,” The rest his history!

Home Is Where The Fur Is

Despite Wesley’s facial deformities, he has very few limitations. His main struggle is his ability to judge distances, but besides that he is a cat full of love, fun, and a ton of energy. At home he enjoys playing with his furry sibling, Ojas.

“Wesley adjusts to change very quickly. He wanted to be friends with my other cat almost right away, but it was my other cat that wasn’t having it. Wesley is an immediate friend to everyone.”

Even considering his busy playing schedule, Wesley still makes time to be an Instagram celebrity (you can also find him on Facebook); he has amassed a following of over 65k followers! Rheanne tells us of another interesting activity that Wesley enjoys doing in his spare time- perching on his human’s shoulders, “My favorite thing about Wesley is the way he perches on my shoulders while I’m doing chores around the house. It’s his favorite thing in the world. He would stay on my shoulders all day if I let him. But trying cleaning the house with a cat draped around your neck—it’s not easy!”

A Pirate Cat’s Human

Wesley’s human Rheanne is an amazing mom to Wesley and Ojas. She is also an advocate for adoption. Rheanne tells us that she has only ever adopted her pets from shelters, or taken in strays. She tells us, “There are so many incredible animals just waiting for homes. I’ve never regretted adopting from a shelter,” she continues,

Urging Adoption

“Wesley has so much love to give and he brings so much joy to my life. I can’t speak for all special needs animals, but my special needs kitty has been just as wonderful as any other pet in my life. Some special needs animals will require a little more time and patience, but I believe they are completely worth it and will enrich your life in more ways than you can imagine.”

We, along with Rheanne, urge you to choose adoption. All kitties deserve a loving home, and you could be the human who provides a lonely cat with a forever family.