Cross-Eyed Belarus Raises Thousands For Animal Charities

Meet Belarus, the lovably cross-eyed rescue cat making a big impact.

Davy

• Published in Animal Stories
• March 18, 2024

In the heartwarming world of animal rescue, one feline has captured the hearts of thousands with his endearing cross-eyed gaze. Belarus, the adorable rescue cat, has not only won over countless admirers with his charming appearance but has also raised significant funds for animal charities.

With his goofy yet utterly captivating look, Belarus proves that even the quirkiest of features can make a difference. Join us as we delve into the story of Belarus and his remarkable journey of spreading joy and raising awareness for animal welfare causes.

A cross-eyed rescue cat has raised thousands of dollars for adoption charities by selling t-shirts featuring his adorable 'googly eyes'. Belarus, a Nebelung feline at San Francisco Animal Care & Control (SFACC), has captivated the hearts of many with his endearing expression.

His bright yellow eyes, affected by a condition called strabismus, face in separate directions, giving him a permanently confused look. Since a viral post featuring Belarus in June 2018, animal lover Rachel Krall felt compelled to meet the charming rescue cat in person.

Despite not considering herself a huge cat person, Rachel had her heart stolen by two-year-old Belarus, who has been charming people worldwide with his adorable antics. With over 254,000 followers on his Instagram account (my_boy_belarus) Belarus has become a social media sensation.

Rachel, hailing from San Francisco, California, recalled her initial encounter with Belarus, stating, "When I first saw him, I just thought he was the most hilariously adorable cat ever. I had never really been a cat person before, but I thought he would be the perfect cat." Rachel shared Belarus's adoption picture with her family, and they had similar reactions, encouraging her to meet him in person.

Describing Belarus's favorite pastimes, Rachel said, "His favorite hobbies include juggling, waiting for his food machine, and looking in two directions at once." Despite his unique appearance, Belarus's charming personality has won over countless admirers, including those who may not have considered themselves cat enthusiasts before meeting him.

Rachel had grown up in a household bustling with animals, including rabbits, parrots, and hamsters. However, she had recently made the difficult decision to relocate her six-year-old dog to live with her family, believing it would be a better environment for him than her one-bedroom apartment. It was around this time that she stumbled upon the post featuring Belarus, who had been left at the SFACC due to his previous family's issues with their landlord.

Recalling the moment she first laid eyes on Belarus, Rachel shared, "I rearranged my work schedule that day to visit the shelter and meet him. I wasn't actively looking to adopt a pet, but it was love at first sight. Fortunately, I received confirmation later that night that I had been chosen to be his adopter." Despite not planning to add another pet to her household, Rachel couldn't resist the opportunity to give Belarus a loving home.

Strabismus is a condition characterized by the deviation of one or both eyes, where one of the four rectus muscles, responsible for controlling eye movement, may have abnormal positioning. This results in atypical tension and displacement of the gaze.

Despite this condition, Belarus experiences very few apparent issues with his vision, aside from occasionally pawing at his water bowl. According to Rachel, "He is just like any other curious cat. He's really adventurous and loves to explore new environments."

Belarus's favorite toys include balls, twist ties, and any other small object he can get his paws on. Rachel also shared one of his funnier habits, mentioning, "One of his funnier habits is attempting to bury coffee and other 'bad' smelling things." Despite his unique condition, Belarus enjoys a full and active life, exhibiting typical feline behavior and curiosity.

Thanks to his large following, a variety of clothing featuring Belarus's endearing grin is now available on Bonfire. All profits from these sales are generously donated to charities in the area. Rachel explained, "Bonfire actually reached out to me, which is what sparked the idea."

Last year alone, they managed to donate $6,000 to various shelters. This included $4,000 to Belarus's shelter, SFACC, $1,000 to the Sonoma Community Animal Response Team for their efforts in rescuing animals from the Sonoma wildfire, and another $1,000 to Cat Town of Oakland.

Initially, Rachel had pledged to donate only 50% of the profits to the shelter for their first campaign. However, she ultimately decided to donate 100% of the proceeds, demonstrating her commitment to supporting animal welfare initiatives in the community.

Davy