Stray Cat Was Deemed “Too Ugly” To Live But A Kind Teacher Saw The Beauty In Her
Not every hero shows up in a cape—some are just everyday cat lovers whose kindness makes all the difference with a single greeting.
Meet Lori Farris, a special needs teacher from Florida with a heart of gold. One day, she made a life-changing decision for a cat no one else wanted—a sweet kitty who was scheduled to be euthanised simply because someone decided she looked “ugly.”
Hard to believe, isn’t it? As if any cat could ever truly be ugly.
Lori was leaving one of her student’s homes when she spotted an unusual cat on the side of the road, no more than five weeks old.
She greeted the tiny feline and gave her a few gentle pats on the head, then continued walking towards her car. However, the cat decided to follow Lori!
Touched by the cat’s plight, Lori took her home, gave her a nice bath, and some yummy food to eat.
She named her new feline companion Willow, after the street she was found on, and within a few days took her to what was probably her very first vet visit.
After a thorough check-up, the vet found that Willow was battling intestinal parasites and a serious eye infection.
On top of that, she had been born with facial deformities—including low facial muscle tone and a flat nasal bridge. The vet explained that her condition was extremely rare in cats and bore some resemblance to Down Syndrome in humans.
Lori wasn’t sure at first if she could take Willow in permanently, but the vet gently warned her that if she handed the cat over to the local shelter, there was a high chance they’d put her down.
Because of her unique appearance—often unfairly labelled as “ugly”—Willow likely wouldn’t stand much of a chance at finding a home.
Lori’s heart sank. But deep down, she already knew what she had to do. She made the decision then and there to give Willow the loving home she deserved.
Willow adapted quickly to living indoors. She adored her new forever home and her mom, Lori, who made sure her little purrincess had everything she could imagine from day one.
However, what may come as the biggest surprise is the fact that from the very beginning, Willow didn’t seem to mind the company of her canine sister, Ella, Lori’s adorable boxer.
Recalling their first encounter, Lori said:
“When I first brought Willow to the house, Ella was so interested in her and eventually built up the guts to come see her. Willow gave her a bit of a swipe and a spirited bite, and they have been inseparable ever since.”
Willow and Ella instantly became besties, enjoying fun outdoor activities like running around Lori’s yard or simply playing inside their home.
Sadly, Willow lost her bestie a couple of months ago when Ella crossed the Rainbow Bridge. She mourned her beloved friend for a while, and then her mom Lori got her another boxer pup to help her cope with her loss.
When talking about Willow’s appearance, Lori says she doesn’t mind people saying her cat looks “weird” or “silly.” She knows Willow’s got a unique look and wants people to appreciate it.
However, what really gets under Lori’s skin is when people call Willow ugly – because that’s just not true for this gorgeous feline. Don’t you agree?
Like many proud cat parents, Lori created an Instagram account just for Willow—and it’s taken off in a big way, with over 260,000 followers and a beautiful message of embracing differences.
As a devoted special needs teacher from Florida, Lori uses the platform to spread positivity. Her posts are filled with encouragement, reminding people to love themselves and believe in their power to make a difference.
And the best part? It’s working. Scrolling through Willow’s feed, it’s hard not to smile. Even something as simple as a photo of her in a flower hat can leave you feeling a little more confident and a lot more hopeful.
I truly hope Willow’s story inspired you as much as it did me. For your daily dose of motivation, be sure to follow her Instagram account. She’d be a purrfect addition to your feed!
