Wonder the Cat’s Journey at NYC Shelter

Every cat at Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) has a unique story, but Wonder caught everyone’s attention right away with his flat airplane ears. It all began about 70 days ago when NYPD officers brought him to ACC’s Queens location. Wonder was a downtrodden tabby who had recently lost his owner and found himself homeless, and his arrival at the shelter tugged at the hearts of everyone there.

“When he got to us, he was really scared and anxious, hissing and showing a tense body posture with his ears pinned back whenever someone approached his kennel,” described Alec Rusnack from ACC, reflecting on Wonder’s initial demeanor.

As time went on, Wonder seemed to settle down a bit. He relaxed his body when people came close, but his ears continued to stay flat—no amount of encouragement seemed to change that. Fortunately, ACC has a skilled feline behavior team who understood how to help anxious cats, and they set about earning his trust.

“With time, patience, lots of positive interactions, and the unconditional affection of our behavior team and volunteers, he’s made incredible strides,” Rusnack noted, adding jokingly, “I’m sure all the squeeze-up treats didn’t hurt either!”

Even with these positive changes, Wonder’s ears remained flat like airplane wings. To onlookers, this gave him an unapproachable vibe, but the shelter staff knew there was a sweet nature beneath that exterior. They decided to put a note on his kennel door to clarify what he was really like.

“I am actually a sweet old boy with resting airplane ears — I’ll greet you with a hiss, but I actually just want pets! Say hi slow [and] I’ll love you,” the note read.

A volunteer named Chelsey was immediately struck by Wonder’s ears when she first met him. He often sat crouched at the top of his shelf and would hiss whenever she approached. Initially, she tried to give him the space he needed, not wanting to add to his stress. But after noticing the note, she decided to reach out and give him some loving pets—noting he responded positively.

“Wonder is a true softy,” she remarked after realizing his gentle nature.

Life at the shelter has been tough for Wonder, especially considering his shyness and anxiety. Yet thanks to the dedication of people like Chelsey and the behavior team, he is starting to grow more confident each day. As one of the longest stayers at the shelter, he hopes someone will eventually want to bring him home, airplane ears and all.

The staff at ACC are quite fond of Wonder and are eager for him to find a loving family that understands his needs. “He’d thrive in a peaceful home with an experienced cat owner who knows that timid cats might take a while to warm up,” Rusnack advised. For the time being, Wonder remains at the shelter, his heart open to love, and the team can’t get enough of him. “Despite his expressive ears, Wonder is a sweetheart once he feels comfortable!” Rusnack concluded.