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This kitty ready for his close-up

SCRANTON — George’s skewed smirk and crossed yellow-green eyes labeled him less adoptable.

Kaitlin Zezeski gave him a home anyway.

“I saw his face … and I fell immediately in love,” she said.

The 2-year-old tuxedo cat from Scranton recently joined the leagues of animals made popular by the internet. Since George’s Instagram debut, he’s garnered almost 30,000 followers, sponsorships from pet companies and an article on the Dodo, a website specializing in animal content.

Zezeski adopted George in August 2015 from the Griffin Pond Animal Shelter in South Abington Township. She created his Instagram in September 2015 and shortly after entered George in a photo contest with Meowbox, a monthly subscription company for cat owners. He won the contest and pounced to internet fame.

“Two weeks after, I jumped on Instagram and he just blew up,” she said. “I thought maybe a couple hundred people or something but I’m at 29,300 right now, which is small in comparison to a lot of others, but for a little cat from Scranton, I mean …”

“People are just really curious what happened to him,” she added.

George was a homeless kitten who vets believe was attacked by an animal. He had facial surgery and the results left him with scars hidden beneath short black fur, a few bared teeth and “half a mustache,” said Zezeski, 32. He was either born with crossed eyes or suffered an early trauma, she said.

The tuxedo cat’s unique face is part of his charm, said Zezeski. “I think it’s a combo of just the way he looks because he looks happy and goofy,” she said.

While he’s considered special needs, George requires little extra attention, said Zezeski. He has no difficulty eating; however, his eyes need to be cleaned, he snorts just a little and his depth-perception is off but he still loves chasing shadows and cuddling.

“He’s really cautious with his footing,” she said.

Griffin Pond calls George their “local celebrity,” said Anastasia Daniels, shelter development and fundraising manager.

“His story is unique to a point,” she said. The shelter hosts many animals who were injured or need medical attention. When the animals are adopted they’re given a chance for better health care in a loving home, Daniels said, adding the shelter is happy knowing people like Zezeski are willing to take a chance on those animals.

Zezeski’s other cats, like George, carry the stigma of “less adoptable” or “special needs.”

“They so often… they don’t have much of a chance,” she said.

Zezeski’s cat, Mr. Belveder, is a smoky-gray Russian Blue mix with a heart murmur. She adopted Thumbs, a plush, tan polydactyl cat, his paws have extra toes, in Washington, D.C. His light fur made him less adoptable because it doesn’t mix well with dark business suits.

And her other cats, Queen Latifah or and Blue are sleek-short-haired-black cats, who are often passed over because of their dark fur.

Less adoptable or special needs animals are just like any other pet, said Lisa Azizian, co-director of In Pursuit of G.R.A.C.E., a local non-profit that provides assistance to pet owners.

Often times people don’t look past the disability or are scared to adopt an animal who needs medical attention, she said. “They will show you the same love,” adding that Zezeski is an inspiration for the organization.

George’s online fans are form all over the world. His red collar with “George” embezzled in diamonds was gift from an Australian fan. The walls of Zezeski’s apartment are also adorned with fan-art of George.

The black and white cat is featured in a Willow Creek Press 2017 calendar, is an influencer for Chewy.com, an online pet store; and an ambassador for #Cute4Kind, a non-profit that helps animals in need, among other sponsorships including the Petcube App. Users can log on and play with a laser pen with George.

Zezeski hopes George’s fame encourages others to give homes to less adoptable and special needs animals.

“They’re often overlooked just because they’re different but most times, from my experience, they are extra lovable,” she said. “They are gracious. I know George, especially, he’s just grateful, I can feel it, I can tell and I love that.”

George is on Facebook at My Cat George and Instagram, @mycat_george.

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