Two One-Eyed Cats Are Looking Forward To New Lives

Cy is a 12-week old kitten with a surprising zest for life, considering he was rescued from a rough environment by LifeLine Animal Project and came to them with an upper respiratory infection that could have killed him before he was two months old. He's bold, sweet, and loves the company of other cats. He's a gorgeous silver tabby who promises to grow into one fine looking feline. And yet he's a little different. Cy only has one eye.

Duffy is an beige loverboy who is about a year old. He will literally throw himself in front of people hoping to catch their attention so he can give, and receive, affection. He also has only one eye.

Severe respiratory illnesses from living on the street and not being vaccinated caused both of these cats to develop infections that ended up with each of them losing an eye.

Once an eye is so radically affected by infection, it is extremely painful for the cat and only gets worse until they are treated, the eye is removed and the area sewn up. It's not a completely uncommon problem and, fortunately, once healed, cats take it in stride and it's only a cosmetic issue, not a health problem any longer.

Mickie Blair, cat adoption counselor at LifeLine, refers to Duffy and Cy as "one-eyed wonders" because they have adapted so well to what would surely be a handicap for many people or other animals.

Indeed, Duffy playfully rolls around and swats at other cats who walk by him in LifeLine's cage-free Kitty Motel. He demands attention from humans and rubs up against his feline motel mates.

He really enjoys playing with his best friend, another homeless cat named Taylor.

Taylor loves two things: playing with Duffy and playing with spoons and not necessarily in that order.

"He just wants to be somebody's baby," said Blair of the buff colored Duffy, "He is very much a lap cat."

He originally came in to LifeLine with some siblings who all soon got adopted. Duffy has been consistently overlooked by potential pet parents because he has only one eye.

"LifeLine helps the animals that no one else will take on," explained Blair, "But there's no reason now that both of these sweet cats should go without having a real home."

One-eyed cats can do everything cats normally do, but sometimes a little differently. Their depth perception is affected and although they adjust, they don't have quite the acrobatic ability to jump to and from high places that two-eyed cats have. Without turning their head they can't see what comes up on their blind side, and for that reason they need to be indoor cats.

Like Duffy, Cy likes other cats and either one will settle nicely into a home with other felines. They are both healthy and well-adjusted, well behaved, loving and active.

They both are neutered and up-to-date on their vaccinations.

Those who have room in their home and their heart for a cat that is just a little bit different might consider adopting their own "one-eyed wonder".

For information or to fill out an adoption application for Cy or Duffy, contact mblair@atlantapets.org