Ivar is quite the grump, as if he was born old. For a long time, he wasn’t adopted because he was aggressive.
Ivar was found alone in a field on Galveston Island, likely abandoned by his mother or left by people.
At just two or three weeks old, he was without any littermates or other cats around. Ivar was very feral, having had no socialization or companionship. Thankfully, Yvette visited the shelter and decided to adopt him.
Ivar is blind, which gives him a perpetually shocked expression. He’s also mute and doesn’t make any sounds.
Yvette didn’t fully understand how rare and precious Ivar was until she started his Instagram page. She wanted to connect with other blind cat owners and join cat groups to learn more about him.
Over time, she realized just how special he is and how unique his gaze is for a blind cat. When Yvette first met Ivar, he bit her hard. Her husband was astonished when she expressed her desire to adopt him, asking:
“What are you doing adopting this cat?”
However, she was determined to give Ivar a better life and was confident he would adjust just fine.
For the first six months, Yvette only touched him while wearing oven mitts. It took about a year for Ivar to settle in and become comfortable in his new home.
Ivar is a very guarded cat, and Yvette is full of understating. In a video, she explains that while she doesn’t know what happened to him before she adopted him, she knows that now he’s her baby.
Yvette has three other pet cats. One of them, Toad, has tried to befriend Ivar, but Ivar has been unresponsive, acting as if to say, “You’re not my friend. You just live in my house.”
Another kitty named Alice tried playing hide and seek with Ivar, but he showed no interest. Ivar remains indifferent to his feline siblings living alongside him.
Despite this, Yvette has seen significant positive changes in him, even if he doesn’t interact much with the other cats. Ivar is much better now than when she first brought him home.
The shelter had offered Ivar for just $20, and Yvette still can’t believe how little she paid for such a special cat. She’s thrilled to have him and her other three cats by her side.
All of Yvette’s cats have some sort of disability, but she believes this only makes them more unique. Ivar excels at nearly everything.
During playtime, Yvette often creates puzzles with treats, and despite his blindness, Ivar always manages to find them all and win.
Yvette is continually amazed by him, saying, “He’s extremely smart. He shocks me sometimes that he’s so smart.”
Though Ivar isn’t fond of his feline siblings, he has a deep affection for his Bun Bun, a plush toy bunny. He snuggles with it and grooms it several times a day, or simply checks to make sure no one else has touched it.
Ivar also loves to sleep next to Yvette, enjoying her warmth. He’s not pleased when the other cats try to join them in bed. Yvette is confident that Ivar is happy, as she ensures he eats well and has everything he needs:
“He has all the meals in the world. He’s never had a dirty litter box. He gets pets when he wants pets, and it’s all on his terms, and that’s what makes him happy.”
Yvette doesn’t mind the occasional scratch as long as Ivar is happy. She can’t understand why people shy away from animals with disabilities. She loves her four felines and believes they’re just as wonderful as any other cat.
Every cat deserves a chance, and their disabilities often make them even more unique and special!
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