Cross-Eyed Belarus Raises Thousands For Animal Charities
A cross-eyed Nebelung cat named Belarus turned “cute” into a full-on fundraiser, and somehow it started with a shirt design. After a viral moment in June 2018, this permanently confused-looking guy captured hearts online, then walked right into real life at San Francisco Animal Care & Control.
The twist? Belarus has strabismus, so his bright yellow eyes stare in different directions like he’s always processing two thoughts at once. That look, plus his goofy habits, hooked Rachel Krall, a San Francisco animal lover who admitted she was not exactly a cat person before she met him. She ended up selling t-shirts featuring his googly eyes, raising thousands for adoption charities, while also juggling her own big decision to move her six-year-old dog into her family’s home.
And just when you think the story is all about the cat, Rachel’s whole life gets pulled into the same orbit.
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.
Rachel Krall first saw Belarus online, then did the wild thing and went to meet the two-year-old 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.
Once she watched him “juggle” and wait for his food machine, the googly-eye t-shirts started to feel like more than merch.
It also makes us think of Canadian border agents discovering “Precious Cargo” alive inside a mysterious China box.
Rachel grew up in a household bustling with animals, including rabbits, parrots, and hamsters. However, she 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.
The fundraising momentum got even louder as Belarus’s Instagram, my_boy_belarus, kept bringing in new people who wanted to help.
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. He's really adventurous and loves to explore new environments."
Belarus's favorite toys include balls, twist ties, and any other small objects 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.
Then Rachel’s one-bedroom apartment reality hit, and the decision to relocate her six-year-old dog made the whole situation feel personal.
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.
Belarus raised thousands, but the real payoff was how his weird little eyes changed Rachel’s whole plan.
For another cat with a shocking chest heart, see Thor’s win in Brazil’s Most Beautiful Cat contest.
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