Comments on: You've gotta hope / That there's someone for you / Strange as you are

You've gotta hope / That there's someone for you / Strange as you are

Sticherbeast — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:57:25 -0800

A cat with no face is nonetheless loved very much. Let's be blunt, Chase the cat is a surprising creature. When she was only a few weeks old, she lost her face in a car accident. While this link isn't exactly NSFW by any use of the term, she is a disfigured cat - no face, no eyelids - and at first she's a little hard to look at. However, she is in no pain and she is obviously well loved and well taken care of. Chase is currently "employed" as a therapy cat, so that people can "feel just as great about themselves and realize that not everyone looks perfect and that is OK."

By: Afroblanco

Afroblanco — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:01:03 -0800

This is gonna be like toenailhands, isn't it?

By: schroedinger

schroedinger — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:03:43 -0800

Huh, not all kitties are cute. How about that. can't sleep no-face kitty is watching me

By: Miko

Miko — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:04:42 -0800

Thanks. This is nice. The will to survive and thrive is serious stuff. I bet she's a big help as a therapy cat.

By: Artw

Artw — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:07:09 -0800

Aw. Poor thing. This makes me go a little gooey inside.

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:07:15 -0800

Isn't the will to press on with life after catastrophe interesting? It seems to be the exactly the same force in humans and animals alike, although humans can abstract and re-focus it in ways animals don't have the circuitry for. Faceless cat will hardly ever conceive of self-pity.

By: Optimus Chyme

Optimus Chyme — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:08:00 -0800

Jesus. :(

By: friendlyjuan

friendlyjuan — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:08:18 -0800

Wow. That is just....wow. Also, I like the "creepy" tag just above the "sweet" tag. Nice touch.

By: lekvar

lekvar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:08:41 -0800

While I appreciate your bringing this to my attention, and it's obvious you've put some time and thought into this post, I regret to say, Sticherbeast, there ain't no goddamned way in Hell I'm going to click on that link.

By: Ugh

Ugh — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:08:54 -0800

Aw, reminds me of Ugly Kitty.

By: Astro Zombie

Astro Zombie — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:09:14 -0800

This isn't going end like that "ugly" story did, is is?

By: agress

agress — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:09:17 -0800

I know I should be utterly ashamed (or maybe disgusted,) but that actually brought tears to me eyes. So glad that she was saved and is actually being cared for by someone who understands and cares.

By: Miko

Miko — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:10:12 -0800

Good point, Burhanistan - I guess the interesting thing is that the cat herself really doesn't have any issues. Not in pain, and doesn't comprehend her own image in a mirror, or have any expectations for how she ought to look. The reason her face is noteworthy is the reaction from people. Why should I be surprised at her will to survive, after all? It's what we all do after big accidents. The really surprising thing would be if she entered some kind of deep depression because of her ruined self-image and engaged in self-destructive behavior. Again, this simple acceptance of and persistence with life is probably a great thing in a therapy cat.

By: agress

agress — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:10:22 -0800

er, make that "my" eyes. I'm neither scottish, nor a pirate.

By: GuyZero

GuyZero — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:13:08 -0800

While it is nice that there is someone taking care of the cat I have to admit that when I saw that first picture I literally recoiled. Man, that was one nasty accident.

By: PeterMcDermott

PeterMcDermott — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:14:13 -0800

That cat is completely off its face.

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:15:30 -0800

Miko, FWIW, I didn't preview so didn't see your comment before I posted so we're pretty much on the same wavelength here. I actually typed out a longer comment about how that will to survive is probably the same exact force that a tree manifests when it recovers from a major setback but that might seem a bit too spiritual for this crowd.

By: furtive

furtive — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:16:05 -0800

Needs a kitty comb-over.

By: infinitywaltz

infinitywaltz — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:17:44 -0800

Oh my god, I think there's something wrong with that cat!

By: Miko

Miko — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:18:05 -0800

After you look at a bunch of the pictures, she starts to look kinda cute.

By: Saxon Kane

Saxon Kane — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:19:34 -0800

*sniffle*

By: stifford

stifford — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:21:26 -0800

The LOLCAT potential is....staggering.

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:24:16 -0800

INVISIBLE FACE!

By: stavrogin

stavrogin — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:24:43 -0800

This is the sort of post that makes me hunt down my cats in their "secret" hiding places and pet them until they bite me.

By: turgid dahlia

turgid dahlia — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:24:46 -0800

I'm sorry Amy Winehouse...I didn't REALLY mean it when I laughed at your emphysema! :'(

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:27:29 -0800

I don't know much, but I know that it's really bad form to mock disfigurement like this.

By: blue_beetle

blue_beetle — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:28:54 -0800

A Man without a Face

By: krinklyfig

krinklyfig — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:33:41 -0800

In this hat, I imagine the only thing missing is a sardonic look. This cat is missing the ability to express her extreme displeasure and embarrassment, and that is something of a handicap for a cat. Somewhere in there is a Michael Jackson joke, but I'm not going to touch it. Chase is pretty amazing, but still probably takes a little while to get used to that face poking at yours first thing in the morning. It does look painful. I take their word that it's not. The cat can see, right? She acts like she does in the pictures. That's pretty crazy in itself. How did she lose her face and not her sight?

By: tkolar

tkolar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:33:42 -0800

Isn't the will to press on with life after catastrophe interesting? Oh wait, I get it. "cat"astrophe...

By: tkolar

tkolar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:34:34 -0800

On a more serious note, I'm glad the kitty is doing well but I can already tell her face will be appearing in my dreams tonight.

By: stifford

stifford — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:36:29 -0800

I doubt a cat would wear it, and I guess it would go against the idea of the blog, but the idea of a cat wearing some type of Dr Doom-esque mask would be pretty bad-ass.

By: krinklyfig

krinklyfig — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:38:39 -0800

Burhanistan writes "I don't know much, but I know that it's really bad form to mock disfigurement like this." It's OK, cats don't need to save face.

By: cortex

cortex — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:45:06 -0800

Faceless cat will hardly ever conceive of self-pity. Exactly, which is kind of neat when you think about it. This is a cat that had a bad, bad day but is just doing his thing now. Go cat. This isn't going end like that "ugly" story did, is is? Hopefully not. After all, this cat - doesn't live in Geo City, - has a nice blog and attentive owners, and - actually exists. INVISIBLE FACE! itym "faceless cat is faaaaaceless"

By: [expletive deleted]

[expletive deleted] — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:46:01 -0800

Krinkylyfig, that is the worst pun ever. God bless you sir.

By: DarlingBri

DarlingBri — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:46:40 -0800

You guys are such suckers. That isn't a cat. That's Gizmo.

By: jamaro

jamaro — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:47:18 -0800

Well, crap. Now I have a Billy Idol song stuck in my head.

By: amyms

amyms — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:49:34 -0800

After you look at a bunch of the pictures, she starts to look kinda cute. She looks like a Furby. :)

By: adamdschneider

adamdschneider — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:53:48 -0800

that will to survive is probably the same exact force that a tree manifests when it recovers from a major setback but that might seem a bit too spiritual for this crowd That's funny, I agree with you and it pretty much seems like the opposite of spiritual to me.

By: homunculus

homunculus — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:56:51 -0800

Cat without a face, Got no feline grace, Cat without a face.

By: pearlybob

pearlybob — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:09:47 -0800

Gives a whole new meaning to "cats got your tongue?"

By: vorpal bunny

vorpal bunny — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:13:49 -0800

Don't get Gizmo wet!

By: real_paris

real_paris — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:23:27 -0800

Anyone who wasn't moved to tears and made a joke, I hope that face haunts your dreams forever.

By: infinitywaltz

infinitywaltz — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:30:48 -0800

Anyone who wasn't moved to tears and made a joke, I hope that face haunts your dreams forever. Sometimes a tasteless joke is a self-defense mechanism against helpless wracking sobs.

By: cortex

cortex — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:32:50 -0800

Also, some people just don't fucking cry very often. Can we get away from this binary helpless-sobbing-or-Hitler thing, please?

By: Artw

Artw — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:34:13 -0800

In case that face does haunt your dreams forever heres some youtube videos of cats with faces, songs about cats, cats dancing. Actually, that last one haunts my dreams forever.

By: zarah

zarah — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:53:09 -0800

I can't look, but I am so glad that faceless kitty has a loving home & is doing well. I know that if my cat lost his face that I would love him just the same, no, I would love him even more. I'd be so happy that he was alive and not in pain & he would still be beautiful to me. But this isn't my kitty, and I just can't bear to see the results of the awful thing that happened to him. runs off to find own kitty to kiss it and pet it and call it george until it tries to kill me with it's back feet and puts a hole in my shirt

By: freshwater_pr0n

freshwater_pr0n — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:56:21 -0800

Animals amaze me by their sheer resilience. My foster cat had to have one of her forelegs amputated, and as soon as the stitches came out, she threw herself right into the task of re-learning how to jump and climb and bat at the dogs. The only way you'd ever guess that she wasn't born without that leg is that when she wants attention, she'll waggle her stump at you. She was 10 when she had the operation. I'm sure she and her mom make a great therapy team.

By: jamaro

jamaro — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:58:02 -0800

Anyone who wasn't moved to tears and made a joke, I hope that face haunts your dreams forever. Oh, get off your high crapping unicorn. Some of us (well, me) have owned pets so unsightly no one else wanted. After you've spent a few years living with a dog missing most of her lower jaw or a bucketful of diabetic amputee hamsters, a noseless, lidless cat looks like she'll fit right in.

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:59:03 -0800

Anyone who wasn't moved to tears and made a joke, I hope that face haunts your dreams forever. How's that wishing-harm-on-others thing working out for you? Think there's any sort of karmic irony gonna come along and bitch-slap you for wishing harm on fellow humans? Does it sit right with your god? ---- That cat's eyes make my eyes dry and itchy. All bugged-out and eyelidless. Shudder. If I ever lose my eyelids, I want my eyeballs scooped out with a melon-baller.

By: arnicae

arnicae — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:37:51 -0800

What a wonderful person (Melissa) to have opened her home and her heart to this cat. I find the cat difficult to look at, too, but she seems really well-loved and happy.

By: sonic meat machine

sonic meat machine — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:43:53 -0800

This cat is going to give me a nightmare. Thank you, faceless cat. Imagine waking up with it looking at you. oh god

By: mrbill

mrbill — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:32:50 -0800

how does she sleep with no eyelids?

By: Ambrosia Voyeur

Ambrosia Voyeur — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:45:52 -0800

The cat has lots of "purr"fectly snorgleable catfur left. ittybittypitykitty wantsKEEEEEESES No one saw me say that.

By: PeterMcDermott

PeterMcDermott — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:56:09 -0800

What a wonderful person (Melissa) to have opened her home and her heart to this cat. Not to mention her pocket book. The vets bills for a faceless cat like that can't be cheap.

By: PeterMcDermott

PeterMcDermott — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:57:05 -0800

Though perhaps she writes them off as a business expense in her faceless cat therapy programme?

By: orthogonality

orthogonality — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 03:15:46 -0800

jamaro writes "a bucketful of diabetic amputee hamsters" Metafilter: a bucketful of diabetic amputee hamsters.

By: mrzer0

mrzer0 — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:35:18 -0800

omg, They Live

By: Sparx

Sparx — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:12:16 -0800

how does she sleep with no eyelids? In the article (for those who scared to click) it says she sleeps fine but prefers darkened rooms or under beds. Which is kind of interesting, but in no way leads to a faceless cat joke.

By: konolia

konolia — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:34:09 -0800

Therapy cat? Poor thing... but some of us would NEED therapy after seeing that. But it is wonderful that the kitty has a good home and is loved and cared for.

By: 235w103

235w103 — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:50:54 -0800

My foster cat had to have one of her forelegs amputated, and as soon as the stitches came out, she threw herself right into the task of re-learning how to jump and climb and bat at the dogs. God, I know this is exactly how my cat would feel if injured. I will overcome this- in order to kill again!

By: xthlc

xthlc — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:57:51 -0800

Hmm, her fur is looking kinda bedraggled. She probably has difficulty grooming herself because her sight is limited. Otherwise she looks a hell of a lot healthier and happier than several overweight, diabetic and depressed cats I've seen. Faceless Cat is watching you hungrily from The Direction That Cannot Be Pointed To.

By: hecho de la basura

hecho de la basura — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 06:27:37 -0800

Thanks for posting this!

By: Debaser626

Debaser626 — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 06:32:47 -0800

DO NOT WANT.

By: Goofyy

Goofyy — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:21:23 -0800

When you wake up in the middle of the night, certain that something is there, be afraid! Be very afraid. It is Faceless Cat, come to steal your eyelids!

By: lupus_yonderboy

lupus_yonderboy — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:22:03 -0800

I love cats, and animals in general, but I actually don't see what's so horrid here. I'm sure the accident was very bad, but apparently the cat recovered well and is in no pain, and, I have to break it to you, cats don't really care so much what they look like. I don't see any reason to feel sorry for the cat: he(?) has a good home and a loving family, I'd imagine that by now the accident and hospital stay is a distant, unpleasant memory. I adore animals, but people are more important. However, most Americans don't see it that way: most Americans care more about pets than other people. I can kind of see it - animals are innocent - but I think it's a bit crazy anyway. (Talk to a newspaper reporter if you don't believe people care more about animals than other people. My friend who worked on a newspaper community desk said that when they had articles about people, even kids, who had had terrible things happen to them, they'd sometimes get a few dollars sent to the newspaper, but if it was a dog, they'd always get a flood of donations.)

By: Miko

Miko — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:34:19 -0800

most Americans care more about pets than other people Yeah, but I think that's because we don't get all mixed up with questions of deservingness and personal responsibility where animals are concerned. It's pretty clear that mistreated or sick animals have brought nothing on themselves and haven't deserved their treatment. People are far more complicated. Yes, we want to help, but there are questions of pride, privacy, appropriate degree of involvement, whether or not we agree with the needy people on issues, whether they could have prevented the negative occurrence, whether it was a result of their own choices (as in not treating illnesses for religious reasons), etc. etc. etc. I'm not forgiving this, just saying it's not so strange. When people get involved with one another in a helping relationship, there can be tremendous psychological and social implications. When they get involved with animals, the helping relationship is simple and not likely to demand quite as much introspection or as many value judgements.

By: Artw

Artw — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:39:38 -0800

When my cat woke me up this morning I did ended up thinking about how glad I was he had a face.

By: Greg Nog

Greg Nog — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:49:47 -0800

I think my favorite thing about having a faceless cat would be having company over for the first time. You could tell everyone about how sweet and loving your cat is, how snuggly and cute little Chase is around strangers, and then you bring someone over to your house for the first time and get to watch what they do. There's gotta be a good five minutes of your guest stammering and shivering and staring while you maintain a puzzled look, and Chase does the standard cat "What's up, I'm a cat, just chillin'" thing. If the other person gets up the nerve to ask what's wrong with Chase, you can be all, "Oh, sorry! I know! I know! I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the shedding! She sheds everywhere! I just didn't know how you'd react to all this fur all over my furniture!" A cat like that would be a hella fun companion if you felt like Rorsach-Testing new acquaintances.

By: cortex

cortex — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:53:49 -0800

Man, imagine if Chase had a brother. Forget Rorscach, let's talk gaslighting.

By: Greg Nog

Greg Nog — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:15:45 -0800

Man, imagine if Chase had a brother. "Yeah, I had this girl over at my place last night. She freaked out about Chase, The Cat Without A Face, but after like a half-hour, she pretty much calmed down and seemed like she would be cool with it. She didn't take off running until we were halfway through our risotto, and Carlton, The Cat With Four Butts, walked into the room. We didn't even get to the part of the evening where she met Vanessa, The Cat Who Curses In Quebecois Slang."

By: CynicalKnight

CynicalKnight — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:08:30 -0800

Metafilter: helpless-sobbing-or-Hitler thing.

By: yhbc

yhbc — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:13:04 -0800

Talent: Never lost a staring contest Okay, I laughed when I read that.

By: sandraregina

sandraregina — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:55:52 -0800

Helps to remind you just how small some cats are underneath all that fur. And skin.

By: dasheekeejones

dasheekeejones — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:37:10 -0800

Wow. I don't even know how to feel Sad Horrified Confused Mortified Empathy Pain and somehow a little warm that it's all fine in that cat's world. Damn it. Animals suffering or lasting effects of thereof just puts me into total despair. Thanks a lot. Off to give each of my animals (2 cats, 2 dogs) a huge hug and kiss. I let them know every day how much I love them. Off to go get some Kleenex.

By: Joey Michaels

Joey Michaels — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:16:39 -0800

Holy cats! Since Kitty seems to be perfectly happy and healthy, I think he is awesome. Plus, he has a job which rocks - and a better job than my cat's job, which is to sit on my chest and jab at my face until I wake up in the morning. Tell you what, it isn't the cat in my house that is starting to look disfigured. Oi.

By: wildcrdj

wildcrdj — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:50:11 -0800

most Americans care more about pets than other people That isn't even close to true... Do most Americans euthanize their friends or family members because the alternative is too expensive? That's pretty routine for pets (I'm not talking about unendurable suffering, I'm talking about $20,000 surgery for your cat). Not to mention all the pets dumped, left in cages most of the time, etc. A handful of Americans do go to extreme lengths to pamper their pets, but "most" Americans either don't care at all or value them much below people. The number of unwanted/mistreated pets is much higher than the corresponding number of humans. BTW, I'm not saying this because I think pets == people, I fully agree that people are more important, if only because we're people too. But the idea that pets have some privileged position beyond humans is laughable when you look at the reality. The pets that do have those lives are the minority.

By: Joey Michaels

Joey Michaels — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:29:12 -0800

Upon further reflection, I have been thinking that I should not be allowed to ever own a cat with this sort of injury. I would take wonderful care of it (because I love kitties), but I would take demented pleasure in not warning my guests about the cat's situation before they reached down to pet it. I could have hours and hours of really warped fun, followed by treats for kitty.

By: airways

airways — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:15:56 -0800

I can ha.... Nope, can't do it. Poor kitty.

By: batmonkey

batmonkey — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:17:32 -0800

My goal is to eventually be as sanguine as that cat.

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:12:12 -0800

Worse than a cat with no face is a dog with no body.

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:10:26 -0800

Worse than a dog with no body is a man with a detachable face.

By: Ambrosia Voyeur

Ambrosia Voyeur — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:02:25 -0800

Great. Now I've got King Missile and Ani DiFranco vying for earworm space in my brain.