Bruce the Cat [4]

Last November a woman from Auckland, New Zealand, was walking home from work in a rainstorm when she saw a tiny furry bundle by itself on the footpath. It looked like a mouse, but when she picked it up she realised it was a tiny new-born kitten. Its eyes were still closed and it even had its umbilical cord still attached. After checking that it didn’t belong to any of the neighbours, she took it home.

The woman and her husband named the kitten Bruce (in honour of Batman’s Bruce Wayne, who is also an orphan). They raised Bruce by hand, bottle-feeding him around the clock. Poor Bruce spent a lot of time at the emergency veterinary clinic (the vet thought Bruce was left on the ground by his mother, a stray, as she was moving her litter). He was very small and weak, and no one was sure if he was going to make it. .

The family cat, Bruce’s big sister Jager, was not very impressed when Bruce first arrived. Eventually they became friends, and Jager taught Bruce essential cat skills like how to lick yourself properly.

Bruce’s story went viral, and messages of support poured in from all over the world. People in countries from America to Singapore watched as Bruce went on his first adventures – and opened his eyes! With his big blue peepers and grey fur Bruce had exotic good looks. There was a lot of speculation as to what breed he was. British Blue? Siamese?

Just as Bruce finally seemed like a normal, healthy kitten, something mysterious happened. His fluffy grey fur started changing colour, and before long he was totally black! Finally Bruce’s breed was revealed – he was a moggie! The likely cause of Bruce’s colour change was due to a condition called ‘fever coat’, which is when kittens are born lacking pigment in their fur due to their mothers being sick or stressed during pregnancy.

The adventures weren’t over for Bruce – he moved to the other end of New Zealand, and got to fly in a plane! He loves living in Dunedin where he has lots of room to run around. He hasn’t caught a mouse yet, but he’s working on it.

Bruce recently celebrated his first birthday. A crowd of people gathered to sing him happy birthday, and he received cards from all over the world. A local cake-maker even made him a Bruce-shaped cake in his honour! Looking at the early photos of Bruce, you’d never believe he would come so far, or turn into such a handsome cat.

You can follow Bruce on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. Bruce also has his own website where he shares his adventures.