Gordon Ramsays don't just come in British-TV-chef-sized packages – they also come in the form of a three-year-old cream-colored kitty with no eyes.
Gordon Ramsay, known at APA! as Blinky, was born with undeveloped eyes. While in our care, Gordon received daily eye drops for his goopy eye sockets, but after a while, he would climb to the highest spots he could find to avoid exams. A complete eye removal surgery cleaned out the troublesome eye sockets and Gordon was soon back to himself – no longer in pain and ready to live comfortably in a furever home.
Lenita recalls the moment she knew Gordon, affectionately called Gordo, was the one: "I was afraid of cats but as soon as he came to me, I picked him up, and he snuggle-drooled all over me … the rest (is) history." Tears of love for this blind feline compelled Jess to sign the adoption papers right away.
The couple had been looking for a kitten, but, as their first pet, APA! staff suggested an older cat. Lenita and Jess didn’t expect to bring home one with special needs, but there was no way they could leave without Gordo. "Staff had advised us that he will need more consistency in his life as far as where his food and our furniture is, (but) sometimes I swear he can see. There is nothing he can't do that a seeing cat can … maybe with less grace, but nonetheless, he is fearless," shares the couple.
Gordon learned how to maneuver his home from day one, jumping over baby gates, dominating kitchen counters, even getting into some, let’s say, sticky situations. One of his recent shenanigans resulted in him being covered in maple syrup.
Gordon wasn't the only one doing some major adjusting, though. Lenita still had a slight case of feline-phobia when Gordon came home. "I would text Jess when I was home alone with him telling her that Gordon was chasing me around." Lenita quickly figured out the problem: “He just wants to be cuddled at all times.” You can tell he’s especially content when he sticks his tongue out. But don't be fooled – Gordon didn't go through eye surgery just to snuggle. Jess and Lenita were surprised to see that having no eyes wasn’t stopping Gordo from hunting down string, headbands, you name it. Watching him play for the first time is their favorite memory. "It's a relief that he gets to enjoy playtime just like any other cat. He only sometimes mistakes our wicker hamper as his scratching post."
Jess and Lenita's lifesaving story didn't stop with Gordon. Since last August when they decided to adopt the blind kitty, they have expanded their family. They adopted another APA! feline, a kitten named Ina Garten, and a 90-lb lab-pit mix puppy fondly named Garbanzo Bean. The furry trio complete Jess and Lenita’s family.
Lenita credits APA! staff as being integral to her finding Gordon: "They have formed a bond with a lot of these animals, and not only want the best for you but the best for the animals too!" Having support from a community willing to take chances on at-risk animals like Gordon Ramsay is crucial to our mission. Amplify Austin celebrates this support, and is a moment for us all to feel good about the work we’re doing in Austin to save lives. Giving to our #AmplifyLifesaving goal allows other vulnerable animals to get the care they need to live their best lives – just like Gordon is doing now. Give today, and save a life!
