HOMER'S ODYSSEY

I have been reading the most fascinating, charming book. NPR thought the same and devoted an entire program to it. The full title is: "Homer's odyssey, a fearless feline tale, or how I learned about love and life with a blind cat." The author, a writer, was asked by a shelter she had dealt with to come see a handicapped cat. Since she already had two healthy, lively ones, she thought what would I do with another who couldn't move or defend himself? When she spoke with the vet, it was explained that the 3 week old black kitten had been brought in, eyes still shut, with obviously severe optic infections. Taking pity on him, it was decided to perform the surgery to remove the eyes to save his life. (Remember, the cat had never "seen" since it's infant eyes had never opened.) Gwen Cooper described her first sight of him as daunting, to say the least, since he had a huge cone, or lampshade, device around his tiny head to prevent him from clawing at the two x stiches on the lids. What instantly bonded her to him was the fact that he immediately started purring and snuggling, and that surprisingly his face did have a lot of expression to it since the muscles around the eyes were still functioning. Once home, the author had to plan how to introduce the kitten to his new surroundings. She hit upon a series of steps, which she still follows if they move or are visiting. First, place the litter box and let him orient from that; then food and water, toys, etc. It is commonly known that people deprived of one sense overcompensate with others. Indeed Homer has extraorinarily acute smell, touch-whiskers- and memory of what is where, e.g. furniture. (He will sometimes circle the walls first). The only thing she must never do is MOVE anything. In the NPR interview she said if she had left her slippers out and he tripped on them, for days he'd avoid that area of her bedroom.....The great lesson of this fabulous tale is that facing life's challenges with little fear is daunting, but a hurdle we must not be afraid to confront. having Homer around as a fabulous example must be pure delight!
Final note: Friends had urged the author to name him Sammy (after Sammy Davis), or Ray (after Ray Charles). It just came to her one day to name him after the blind poet who wrote so beautifully about life's voyage (The Odyssey), from which she quotes frequently.