Fellow homeless kitten becomes blind cat's buddy, guide

Homeless kitten Jett (left) was brought to a no-kill shelter in Redwood City the same day as Celica (right), a blind kitten found under an abandoned car. A Sacramento woman adopted them. Homeless kitten Jett (left) was brought to a no-kill shelter in Redwood City the same day as Celica (right), a blind kitten found under an abandoned car. A Sacramento woman adopted them. Photo: Kelvin Yue Photo: Kelvin Yue Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Fellow homeless kitten becomes blind cat's buddy, guide 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Imagine being alone in a strange place with peculiar scents, frightening noises, and no food, water or shelter. One might have a sense of real abandonment. In the case of a kitten named Celica, this experience was not only real but compounded by the fact that she was born blind. Joe Fama, a Nine Lives Cat Shelter volunteer, tells the story of Celica and her "seeing-eye cat," Jett.

Little Celica's dire start in life changed when she was found in the East Bay huddling under a rusty old Toyota Celica, hence her name. She was brought to the Nine Lives Cat Shelter in Redwood City, where the shelter's founder and veterinarian, Monica Rudiger, treated her. She found that, blindness aside, Celica was a normal, healthy and amiable 5-month-old kitten.

Jett, another 5-month-kitten, was found abandoned in Los Banos (Merced County). He was also brought to the no-kill shelter the same day that Celica arrived. Initially, the beautiful black kitten stayed away from the other cats, as is frequently the case with a new arrival. However, this changed when Celica was placed in the same living space with him. The little male immediately approached the blind kitten and snuggled against her. In the days that followed, the two became inseparable as Jett became not only Celica's companion but her "eyes" as well.

When I visited Nine Lives, Celica was exploring her living area by touch and stopping for an occasional nibble in her dish or a few rounds of ball-batting. Jett was taking a break with - of course - a catnap. Volunteers who worked with Celica were touched by the sweet, affectionate little cat who loved laps and perching on shoulders and, despite her blindness, displayed the typical playful behavior of a curious kitten. Jett was also a "people person," gentle and affectionate. Both soon became favorites of the Nine Lives staff and volunteers.

Like other blind pets, blind cats are able to lead happy, normal lives. This is made easier when they have a companion animal, like Jett, who acts as their guide. In return, a blind cat can be just as affectionate and lovable as any sighted pet. There are, of course special accommodations that need to be made. For example, blind cats must always be indoor pets. Once the animal has acclimated to its new home, however, life carries on in a normal manner.

Thanks to social media, the moving story of Celica and Jett caught the attention of a Sacramento woman who recently made the long drive to Redwood City to adopt the bonded pair. The two kittens have come a long way from their cold and hungry days on the streets and today are healthy, happy, and loved in their new forever home.