Noelle was browsing Instagram when a post by Beth Stern caught her eye. The post featured Callie, a partially blind foster kitten that immediately captured Noelle’s attention due to its resemblance to Fluffy, their 15-year-old cat. Both cats shared similar markings and coloring, which drew Noelle to Callie.
The truth is, the little cat bore a striking resemblance to Fluffy, which Noelle pointed out to her spouse towards the end of 2019 by showing him Callie’s photo. Although he agreed with Noelle’s observation, he didn’t appear to be too keen on adopting the younger kitty.
As a result, Noelle was taken aback when he inquired if she had reached out to Beth Stern regarding the special needs kitten a few days later. She recalls being shocked and almost falling over at the thought of him agreeing to adopt another cat.
Well, the couple was already blessed with a few feline companions, among them the striking black and white visually impaired Wilson. Nonetheless, Noelle couldn’t help but take notice when her husband showed a genuine interest in adopting Callie. She quickly turned to Beth Stern for more information about the adorable three-month-old kitten.
According to Noelle, Callie was born with a deformed eye and a scarred one, which resulted in complete blindness in her left eye and partial vision in her right eye. Callie was one of eight puppies, but unfortunately, three of them passed away shortly after birth. The other five puppies had various eye conditions, including being born without eyes, having only one eye, or having eyes that were not fully developed.
Callie was the only sibling left without a home, and there was a risk that she might be sent to a shelter. Luckily, Alisse Russell, who is in charge of PUFF Cat Rescue, stepped in and found a temporary home for the kitten, who has special needs. Alisse got in touch with Beth via email and asked if she knew any foster families who could take in Callie. Beth replied that she would take care of Callie herself, and they made plans to transfer her the following week.
The photo from @wilson_and_his_family on Instagram shows Callie, a one-eyed cat who was adopted by Noelle. Noelle found out that Callie ended up in foster care and would need to get her left eye removed due to a high risk of infection. However, Noelle wasn’t discouraged by the idea of having a cat with limited vision. She prefers the cats that others might overlook, emphasizing that she isn’t looking for a “perfect” kitten.
Noelle and her spouse were delighted when their request to adopt was accepted. Callie, the feline, was welcomed into their residence on the Jersey Shore on December 3, 2019. Noelle reminisces holding and smooching the kitten as soon as she emerged from the carrier. Noelle felt ecstatic and teary-eyed while Callie began to purr contentedly.
Noelle was not alone in shedding tears of happiness when Callie finally found her permanent home. Alisse from PUFF Cat Rescue also admitted to getting emotional upon discovering who adopted her. She believes that Callie could not have ended up in a better home than the one she found.
Noelle was immediately infatuated with the tiny kitten with unique needs. As she spent more time with Callie, Noelle realized how determined and lively the kitten was. Callie’s resilience amazed Noelle, and her affection for the feline grew stronger. Noelle recalls how Callie adjusted to her new surroundings in a matter of hours and began darting around the house with ease. The kitten seemed to adapt quickly, surpassing the speed at which other cats would usually acclimate to their surroundings.
At first, the idea was to postpone Callie’s eye surgery for three months while also scheduling her spaying procedure at the same time.
According to Noelle, the owner of @wilson_and_his_family on Instagram, Callie became fit enough for her medical procedures by March 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic was wreaking havoc in the United States, particularly in New Jersey and surrounding regions. As a result, the surgeries were postponed for several months, necessitating that Callie’s spay and eye surgeries be conducted separately.
Thankfully, Callie bounced back rapidly from both surgeries and is now thriving! Despite having limited vision in her remaining eye, this beautiful feline refuses to let it impede her joyful and energetic lifestyle. According to her owner Noelle, Callie participates in all the same activities as her two-eyed feline companions, including running up and down stairs, leaping onto elevated surfaces, and exploring her surroundings. It’s truly amazing to witness how resilient and determined Callie is!
Callie is just like any other cat, she enjoys playing around with her brother Winston, who is visually impaired, and her favorite toy. This cute calico feline loves to run around her house as fast as she can, but because of her limited vision, it can sometimes be a little difficult for her to move around and reach things. According to Noelle, Callie’s owner, her sight is quite restricted, which poses as a hurdle for her when she tries to navigate.
Fortunately, Callie doesn’t allow her condition to hinder her from enjoying life. Moreover, she experiences no discomfort and her existence is brimming with joy, excitement, and affection. Despite this, Noelle has observed that when individuals encounter Callie for the initial time, they tend to sympathize with her. Nonetheless, Noelle emphasizes that there’s no need to commiserate with this stunning lady. She firmly states that there’s absolutely no reason to feel sorrowful about Callie.
Noelle intends to raise awareness about the adaptability of animals and break the stereotype that blind and partially sighted cats are different from their normally sighted peers by sharing Callie’s story. Noelle believes that if you show affection to these animals, they will reciprocate it just like any other pet.
Thankfully, Callie has the love and affection of both her parents, and it’s clear that this charming and warm-hearted girl loves Noelle and her spouse just as much. According to Noelle, “I have two kids and five cats. Callie is our darling baby, and I tend to pamper her more than the others. How can you not adore her?”
