Wheatie, a sleek black cat with piercing yellow eyes, isn’t known for her friendliness. She prefers her space, isn’t fond of visitors, and typically avoids other animals. But there’s one exception: Zelda, her blind toddler sister.
Wherever Zelda goes, Wheatie isn’t far behind. She trails alongside the toddler in the hallway, gently rubbing against her legs. On the couch, Wheatie cozies up to her, nudging for affection. At night, the two share a pillow, peacefully drifting off side by side.
“I was honestly worried about how Wheatie would react to Zelda,” said Alexis Wiggins, mom to both the cat and the toddler. At the time of Zelda’s birth, Wheatie was 4 years old and had been with the family for over two years. Though they also have two other cats and a dog, Wheatie was the youngest and least predictable of the bunch.
To Wiggins’ surprise, Wheatie formed a deep bond with Zelda almost immediately.
“She was the only pet who wanted to be near the baby,” Wiggins said. “As Zelda started growing and becoming more curious, Wheatie didn’t run away. She stayed still, letting Zelda touch her head, tail — whatever. She was incredibly calm and gentle.”
That connection only grew stronger. Now 19 months old, Zelda continues to share a special understanding with Wheatie, who is more patient with her than with anyone else. Wheatie often takes the lead, guiding Zelda with purposeful movements — as if she knows Zelda needs a little extra help navigating her world.
That need became painfully clear when Zelda was just 5 weeks old. Her parents noticed swelling and redness in her eyes, but a doctor brushed it off as allergies. Trusting their instincts, they took her to a specialist. The first diagnosis was terrifying — eye cancer. But after further testing, the truth emerged: Zelda was blind due to chronic bilateral retinal detachment.
“It was devastating at first,” Wiggins said. “But when you go from thinking your baby might not survive to learning she’s blind — it honestly felt like a blessing.”
Whether Wheatie fully grasps that Zelda can’t see isn’t certain, but she clearly treats her differently. The cat is ever-present, nuzzling, rubbing, and even placing herself between Zelda and the other animals. If any pet gets too close, Wheatie dashes over protectively.
And Zelda? She lights up when Wheatie’s near. She laughs, bounces in delight, and eagerly reaches for her feline companion. Their bond runs so deep that Zelda becomes noticeably upset if Wheatie hasn’t made it to her room at bedtime.
“She gets fussy like, ‘Where’s my friend? Where’s my sleeping buddy?’” Wiggins said.
Soon, Zelda will receive her first mobility cane. Wiggins jokes about Wheatie taking on the role of her daughter’s unofficial seeing-eye cat — a job she seems more than ready for.
For now, the two continue to share moments of pure connection — just a little girl and her loyal cat, discovering the world together in their own way.
“My favorite moments are when they’re alone in their room, unaware that I’m watching,” Wiggins said. “They’re just so full of love. It’s beautiful — two young souls simply being there for one another.”
