It’s been a few years since Wesley “the Dread Pirate Roberts” was adopted by his biggest fan, and this rescued cutie is still hijacking hearts on Instagram with more than 60,000 followers.
Wesley was a tiny 5-week-old kitten when he arrived at Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary in Fairfield, Iowa. His left eye was missing and his upper lip curled into a mischievous sneer. Rheanne Taylor fell in love with just one look.
Unfortunately, she was not in a position to adopt a pet at that time in her life, but she felt sure that the special cat with the signature fang-exposing snarl would have no trouble finding a loving home.
How Wesley came to possess his unique facial features is unknown, but aside from the vision impairment of having only one eye, he is perfectly healthy. Plus, the scowl adds to his “bad boy of the high seas” reputation!
“Some have suggested that he was born this way, and that his face is a simple deformity,” Taylor told Catster. “Others have said that he could have been stepped on as a kitten. A bystander found him wandering around a parking lot and took him to the animal shelter right away. He has sported his scallywag grin from the moment he was discovered.”
Somehow, 6 months after she first met him, the Dread Pirate was still languishing at the shelter. Taylor decided that it was a sign, and jumped in headfirst to adopt the charming chocolate swashbuckler!
She named him after the beloved character from the popular novel and cult movie favorite, The Princess Bride.
Taylor then created an Instagram account for Wesley in order to “share his unique look” with the world. In just 15 weeks, the happy little pirate kitty had more than 5,000 followers. Two years later, that number has more than quadrupled!
People find Wesley endearing and inspirational. They love him for his imperfections, not in spite of them.
Taylor has received fan art and a slew of touching messages as the page’s popularity continues to grow. She told Catster that her favorite correspondence was from a veteran who explained that Wesley’s flaws made it easier for her to accept her own.
“I guess if he’s taught me anything, it’s that the things that make us beautiful are often the things that set us apart and make us different too,” Taylor says. “In the end, Wesley has reminded me to have fun and to appreciate the little things in life, which is something we can all use a little more of now and then.”
Don’t forget to follow Wesley “the Dread Pirate Roberts” on Instagram for a treasure trove of additional photos!
H/T to Catster
Featured Image via Instagram/Wesley_The_Pirate_Cat
