with Diane McIntosh from Roberts Creek, British Columbia
Text and Photos: Northern PeninsulaPets
I don`t understand why, but black cats have a lot of difficulties being adopted. They are the ones staying behind at the shelter. Is it because people are superstitious – in our day and age?
When I was in British Columbia, I met an extraordinary woman who adopted a cat that was not only black but had only one eye. And she fell in love with the cat. I wanted to find out why some lovely people fall for the underdog, sorry, the undercat.
Hi Diane, why did you get a black cat with just one eye?
First, let me tell you how I got my cat. I went to a private shelter called Happy Cat Haven in Gibsons to donate for their yard sale. I had no intention of getting a cat! While I was there, a black cat came up, put his paws on my shoulders and snuggled his nose under my chin. Then I saw that he had only one eye.
How did you react?
I asked the shelter manager what the story was behind this little guy. She said, oh, this is Pawmer, he’s been here for eight months. Nobody seems to want him because he’s black and only has one eye.
He was brought to the shelter by a man working on a building site. He was leaving for the day and checking that everything was secure. But he kept having the feeling he was missing something.
What did the man discover on the building site?
He found a black cat caught in some barbed wire fencing. The cat was in shock and had lost one eye. Luckily, the man had a wire cutter in his truck. He freed the cat and wrapped it in a towel. It was Sunday, which means you have to pay an emergency fee at the vet’s. But the shelter manager decided this beautiful young cat should be rescued and went ahead with the surgery.
So how did you end up with this poor cat?
Pawmer picked me! He was so affectionate when I met him. The shelter manager expected him to be a “lifer”, a cat that nobody wants and never leaves the shelter. So I said: I`ll take him. And I’m so glad I did. I couldn’t imagine him being there his entire life.
Why did you not choose a “perfect” cat?
Well, remember I wasn’t even looking for a cat, but when I heard his story I knew I could be the one to give him a loving home. And he’s perfect for me! He looks like an adorable pirate cat, and he has a lot of character. He loves people and comes when I whistle. He follows me like a dog. You should see him bouncing in the grass – like a dolphin! And when he’s hungry, he drops his stuffed squirrel into his bowl to show me he wants food!
So a “physically challenged” cat makes you happy?
Oh, yes. There are enough people who adopt beautiful cats, but disadvantaged cats are often overlooked. I don’t even notice his missing eye and it doesn’t seem to affect him very much. I was quite lonely before he came into my life. Pawmer gives so much, he’s so loving. I’m so happy we found each other!
