Animals, much like humans, can have physical differences that make them stand out, yet these unique traits do not lessen their beauty or worth. This sentiment is wonderfully demonstrated by the story of a rescue kitten who lost an eye due to an infection. Initially, his owners worried that his altered appearance might frighten people, but what unfolded was truly heartwarming.
A young boy living nearby was captured on security cameras visiting the one-eyed kitten almost every day. This daily interaction showed that the boy and the kitten had developed a special bond. Despite the cat’s unusual look, the boy demonstrated that appearances should never be the basis of judgment. This touching story has resonated with people worldwide.
Ace, the cat, was rescued as a kitten from the streets. Unfortunately, he had a severe eye infection that led to the removal of one eye. Despite this, Ace grew into a happy and healthy cat. While Ace doesn’t see himself as different, his appearance often causes others, especially children, to be wary.
“He can sometimes seem scary, especially to children,” said Norma Maikovich, Ace’s owner, in an interview with The Dodo. “People are often hesitant to greet him.”
Ace enjoys lounging on the front porch, where he encounters new people regularly. Among these encounters, a little boy with a kind heart began forming a special friendship with Ace. Norma first noticed the boy’s frequent visits through the security camera she had installed to monitor Ace’s outdoor activities. What she saw warmed her heart.
“When looking at the footage, we noticed one particular boy tends to visit almost every single day,” Norma said. “It melted our hearts, not just seeing how much Ace loves this boy, but how familiar they were to each other!” She added, “Sitting by the front door, as soon as Ace sees his friend, he rushes out to greet him. It’s awesome, this bond they share.”
The video footage shows the boy arriving on his bicycle. As soon as Ace spots him, he runs down the driveway to greet his friend. The boy, without even removing his helmet or gloves, spends several minutes petting Ace, who rolls over to show his tummy—a clear sign of trust and affection.
The National Park Service has a plan to potentially euthanize up to 170 feral cats under the guise of nuisance control. Demand a policy that protects these cats!
Norma was deeply touched by the boy’s visits and welcomed him to visit Ace whenever he wished. “A friend of Ace’s is a friend of ours,” she said. “Once we realized that they were fast friends, it made us really happy.”
This story teaches us a valuable lesson: we should not judge others based on their appearance. “Ace isn’t a scary guy, and it just goes to show that appearances aren’t everything,” Norma said. “Seeing the footage of Ace and his buddy really proves that when given the chance of life and love and a family, animals with special needs and handicaps are worth it too.”