Darling one-eyed ginger kitten is now spoilt rotten after leaving shelter as a favourite

At only five weeks old, poor Possum had no choice but to endure surgery. His right eye was so infected that it had to be removed – but that didn’t bother him, nor did it stop him from quickly becoming everyone’s favourite at our Lonsdale shelter.

It’s now been over a year since this gorgeous boy lost his eye, and he’s loved every moment since with Linda and Lee at their foster haven in Port Noarlunga South.

Absolutely besotted family can’t help but have a ‘foster fail’

A dedicated RSPCA South Australia cat foster carer, Linda first took Possum home along with five much smaller kittens – but little did she know that Possum’s foster home would turn into forever.

“Fostering is a selfish pleasure of mine because I love it so much,” Linda admits.

“I sit on the floor in the kittens’ room each day and attempt to read while they climb over me. Possum was adorable from the start and so lovely with the small kittens.”

Having fostered hundreds of kittens over the past five years, Linda says she and husband Lee had never before given in to the temptation to adopt any of the babies … until Possum came along.

“We had been tempted to keep a kitten a couple of times but stayed strong,” she says.

“Then we fostered Possum. We were besotted.”

‘He’s just one of those extra special cats’

As much as she adores her precious boy, Linda can’t help but laugh at how much everyone at our Lonsdale shelter doted on Possum.

“It was almost pathetic how happy everyone at RSPCA was that their darling Possum would have a home where he was spoilt rotten,” she says.

“People still ask after him when I visit the RSPCA vet with my other fosters. He’s just one of those extra special cats.”

Possum required a second surgery on that same eye after one month of fostering, but Linda says the angelic boy was quick to accept the surgery and his recovery, and was nothing but well-behaved. No wonder he was a shelter favourite!

Unique kitty has unique fascination with straws and loud noises

For Possum, life with Linda, Lee and their many foster kitties is just full of love.

The adored ginger must know he’s unique – because he’s developed an unconventional love for playing with straws!

“Every night for 15 minutes he plays fetch with his straw,” Linda tells us. “Lee sits on the floor and throws it dozens of times. Possum races after it and feels so clever.”

Luckily, Linda was able to find a recycled plastic straw replacement – so this kitty’s hobby doesn’t have to hurt the environment!

In addition to straws, Possum seems to have developed an infatuation with the noise from the lawnmower. As an inside cat, he just loves listening from afar.

“Possum is such a pleasure,” Linda says.

“Having one eye doesn’t bother him at all, and he absolutely knows all humans are here to adore him.”

How cute is the story of one-eyed Possum’s foster fail? If you’re considering opening your heart and home to a rescued animal, head over here to see all our animals currently available for adoption.