He’s not a lemur, he’s a cat 😻
Earlier this month, a tiny kitten in California caused a huge stir — in more ways than one. First, staff at Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) discovered him hiding in the shelter’s laundry room as they were closing up for the evening.
“We are located in a bit of an industrial area,” Jules Hooper, marketing specialist at VCAS, told The Dodo. “Sometimes, community cats wander onto our property and hide out.”
The shy kitten eluded the staff but couldn’t resist the delicious food they set out for him that night. By the next morning, he was secured in a humane trap and sent to the vet team for evaluation.
The real commotion began when VCAS added a picture of the 4-month-old kitten, whom they named Owl, on their website’s adoption page. Questions started coming in about Owl. People wanted to know: “Are his eyes really that big?”
To assure their supporters that Owl’s eyes were real and that they hadn’t doctored the photo at all, VCAS posted more pictures and a video of the kitten on Instagram.
Commenters went gaga over Owl’s “bulbus orbs,” comparing him to “Victorian Tim Burton characters,” “Gollum” and “a lemur.” One person even suggested that Owl’s eyes were so large they could see into the future.
https://volume.thedodo.com/embed/74588e7f0?autoplay=true&loop=true&placement=article&player_type=chorus&tracking=article:lede&privacy_consent=allVentura County Animal Services
Hooper said VCAS’ veterinary team thoroughly examined little Owl when he first broke into the shelter. While his eyes are definitely bigger than normal, Hooper said the vets didn’t find anything wrong with them. Owl’s eyes work perfectly well and don’t seem to bother him at all.
However, Hooper added that big eyes in kittens could be caused by more serious illnesses or lead to complications later. VCAS recommended that his adopter line up future vet checkups to monitor Owl’s eyes regularly.
“[His eyes] may need treatment down the line,” Hooper said, “but for now he is a happy little kitty.”
Lilliana B., a VCAS supporter who asked that we not use her last name, spotted the shelter’s post about Owl and “fell in love immediately.”
“He was the cutest thing,” Lilliana told The Dodo. “The minute we saw him, we just had to have him. I mean look at him!”
Many people inquired about adopting Owl, but Lilliana showed up bright and early as soon as the shelter opened. Though a little shy, the small kitten hardly flinched when she picked him up and cradled him in her arms.
Owl went home with Lilliana later that day.
She renamed the kitten Bobble and said he’s settling into his new home nicely. Exploring and finding his favorite nap spots, Bobble purrs constantly and is a sweetheart.
“Bobble is starting to come out of his shell every day,” Lilliana said. “At night he’s playful and cheeky and loves introducing himself and interacting with our other cats.”
After his big moment of fame online, this tiny kitten is enjoying some peace and quiet. Though several people commented that they’d like to see an Instagram account dedicated to Bobble and his enormous eyes, it’s unclear if that’s going to happen.
Whatever’s next for Bobble, he has a family who loves him, and that’s all that matters. Or, as one commenter put it: “Wide eyes, big heart, can’t lose.”