Every cat at Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) is memorable in their own way. But when Wonder showed up, he stood out instantly with the flattest airplane ears the shelter staff had ever seen.
It all started 70 days ago, when NYPD officers delivered a downtrodden tabby cat to ACC’s Queens location. The cat had recently become homeless after his owner passed away, and his demeanor when he arrived at the shelter broke everyone’s hearts.
“He initially displayed a high level of FAS (fear, anxiety, and stress), hissing with a tense face and body, ears flat to the side each time his kennel was approached,” ACC’s Alec Rusnack told The Dodo.
Instagram/@cswilik
As the days passed, Wonder settled into his kennel, and his body became less tense when people approached. But his ears remained flat, refusing to perk up no matter the incentive.
Thankfully, ACC’s feline behavior team had experience with anxious cats like Wonder, so they knew just what to do earn his trust.
“With time, patience, positive interactions, and lots of love from our feline behavior team and dedicated cat volunteers, he has made wonderful progress,” Rusnack said. “I’m sure an excess of squeeze-up treats certainly didn’t hurt either!”
Instagram/@cswilik
Despite the progress Wonder was making with his anxiety, his ears stayed flat like airplane wings. On the outside, his ears made him seem unapproachable. But the shelter staff knew he was secretly a sweetheart, so they decided to place a note on his kennel door to let others know.
“I am actually a sweet old boy with resting airplane ears — I’ll greet you with a hiss, but I actually just want pets!” the note read. “Say hi slow [and] I’ll love you.”
Instagram/@cswilik
One volunteer, Chelsey, noticed Wonder’s airplane ears immediately upon meeting him. Every time she’d stop by his kennel when he first arrived, she’d find him crouched on the top shelf and would receive at least one hiss.
Chelsey gave Wonder the space she thought he needed at first, hoping not to stress him out any more than he already appeared to be. But after reading the note on his kennel, she decided to offer him some pets — and he happily obliged.
“Wonder is a true softy,” Chelsey told The Dodo.
You can see that moment here:
As a shy senior cat with anxiety, Wonder’s time at the shelter has been challenging. But thanks to volunteers like Chelsey and the dedicated behavior team, the sweet boy is becoming more confident each day.
And as one of the shelter’s longest residents, he’s hoping someone will fall in love with him — airplane ears and all — and finally take him home.
Instagram/@cswilik
The ACC staff are smitten with Wonder and will miss seeing him around, but they can’t wait for him to find the perfect family that understands and accepts him.
“Wonder would do best in a calm, patient home with an experienced cat adopter who understands that shy cats sometimes need a little extra time to open up,” Rusnack says.
For now, Wonder remains at ACC with his airplane ears deployed and his heart open to love. And the team couldn’t be more obsessed with him.
“Despite his expressive ears, Wonder is a sweetheart once he feels comfortable!” Rusnack said.
To inquire about adopting Wonder, you can fill out an application here.
To help cats like Wonder get the care they need, you can donate to Animal Care Centers of NYC here.
