Homer’s Odyssey : A Fearless Feline Tale, Or How I Learned About Love And Life With A Blind Wonder Cat by Gwen Cooper

In Gwen Cooper’s book, Once in Nine Lives, she recounts a remarkable story of a cat named Homer. At first, Gwen had no desire for another cat, as she already had two and was dealing with financial struggles and a recent breakup. However, when her veterinarian informed her about a three-week-old kitten with no eyes that had been abandoned, Gwen’s heart instantly melted.

Despite warnings that Homer would never amount to much, this little kitten defied all expectations. Growing into a three-pound powerhouse, Homer became known for his immense love and his ability to form bonds with every human he encountered. He effortlessly scaled seven-foot bookcases, survived the terrifying aftermath of 9/11, and even saved Gwen’s life by chasing away an intruder.

More than just his remarkable feats, it was Homer’s unwavering loyalty, boundless capacity for love, and infectious joy that transformed Gwen’s life. Through all the obstacles they faced together, Gwen learned that love is not something that can only be seen with the eyes.

This edition of the book also includes a new afterword and an excerpt from Gwen Cooper’s Love Saves the Day.

A Heartwarming Encounter with a Resilient Kitten

Hi, my name is Gwen Cooper, the author of the book Homer’s Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale. Today, I will be sharing a heartwarming story from the book about my first encounter with Homer, a four-week-old kitten who was born without eyes and was unwanted by anyone.

I vividly remember seeing Homer for the first time. He was so tiny, even smaller than my two other cats when I first brought them home. I had forgotten just how small a four-week-old kitten could be. He was curled up in the far corner of a box, a little fuzzy ball that could fit in the palm of my hand. His fur was black and had that fluffy texture that very young kittens possess.

Where his eyes should have been, there were two tiny stitches, and he wore a plastic cone around his neck to prevent him from scratching them. I crouched down to his level, so my voice wouldn’t sound intimidating, and softly called out to him, “Hey little guy.”

Slowly, he uncurled himself and cautiously approached the sound of my voice. His head wobbled uncertainly under the weight of the cone. His nose bumped against my finger, and he curiously sniffed it. Carefully, I lifted him, cradling him in my arms. I whispered, “Hi little boy.”

In response to my voice, he turned and reached up, attempting to climb onto my shoulder with his tiny front paws. They were so small that they sank between the cables of my sweater. Despite his efforts, his claws were too small to get a good grip. Eventually, he settled for rubbing his face against the plastic cone against my cheek. And then, something beautiful happened – he started to purr.

The cone acted like a funnel, amplifying the sound of his purring until it resembled a tiny motor. I had expected him to be unable to express much without eyes, but the way his face muscles moved indicated that if he had eyelids, they would have been closed in a familiar expression of contentment. It was a look I knew well from my other cats. It was a look of complete bliss.

I had a realization at that moment. People who had refused to adopt him might have feared that a pet without eyes couldn’t convey love or show emotion, and would always feel like a stranger in their home. However, while Homer no longer had his eyes, the muscles surrounding them remained intact. From the shape those muscles took, I could see that if he had eyelids, they would have been closed in a way that expressed contentment.

It seemed as though, deep within his resilient little soul, he always knew that there would be a place where he could feel warm and secure. And now, at last, he had found it.

I couldn’t help but exclaim, “Oh, for God’s sake!” I gently placed him back in his box and searched for a tissue to wrap him up. I knew in that moment, without a doubt, that I was taking him home. He became my precious boy, my girl, my everything.