Amazing eyeless kitty Jack, 눈 없이 태어난 고양이... “동정 마세요”

지난 겨울에 아래 고양이에 관련된 기사가 있었다.

선천적으로 눈이 없이 태어난 고양이 잭의 이야기로 자신의 불행한 장애에 구애없이 구김없이 건강하게 커가는 모습에 대한 기사내용이었다.

먼저 아래에서 기사내용을 확인하기 바란다.

-------------------------------아래 기사 본문-------------------------------

눈 없이 태어난 고양이 ‘인기’... “동정 마세요”

팝뉴스 기사전송 2010-12-03 09:47

 

캐나다 와이어튼에 거주하는 여성이 촬영해 공개한 ‘눈 없이 태어난 고양이’ 사진과 그 사연이 해외 네티즌 사이에서 큰 화제다.

최 근 입양한 아기 고양이의 이름은 잭. 원래 이름은 스티비 원더였지만, 스티비라는 이름의 고양이를 기른 적이 있어 개명했다고. 잭은 눈이 없이 태어났다. 하지만 침울해하는 것 같지 않다는 게 주인의 설명. 다른 고양이처럼 행복하게 뛰어논다.

주인의 평가에 따르면 잭은 영감을 준다. 자기 긍정의 소중함을 일깨워준다는 것이다. 사람들은 잭이 눈 없이 태어났다고 하면 동정심을 갖지만, 잭은 자기 연민을 갖고 있지 않은 것처럼 보인다. 자신의 신체적 조건에 잘 적응했고 귀엽고 활달하며 사랑스럽다. 잭의 행복한 모습을 본 해외 네티즌들도 ‘감동했다’며 오히려 잭에게 고마움을 표한다.

박정기자

 

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처음에는 그저그런 흥미거리 기사이거니 했었지만, 기사 중 잭의 눈이 없는 얼굴 사진을 보고 사람도 아닌 짐승이 눈이 부자유스럽다는 것은 어떤건지 호기심이 발동하게 된다.

실제 모습은 어떤지 이리저리 검색하다가 잭의 주인이 해당 기사를 올린 사이트 lovemeow.com를 찾았고 뒤 이어 유튜브에 올려진 잭의 모습을 확인할 수 있었다.

동영상에서 잭의 놀라운 모습을 보고 무척 감동하게 되었고, 어떻게 하나도 보이지 않는 주제에 저리도 자유롭고 전혀 위축됨없이 친구 베어와 풀밭을 자유롭게 뛰어다닐 수 있는지 신비롭기까지 느껴졌다.

앙팡테리블할 정도의 당당함과 자연스런 아직 어린 탓의 천진함까지 풀밭을 내달릴 때는 어쩌면 앞이 보이는 것 아닐까 착각이 들 정도로 씩씩한 냥이었다.

일단 아래 잭의 집사가 올린 유튜브 동영상에서 잭의 홛달한 모습을 확인하기 바란다.

 

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 2 month old Jack hopping around the yard

 

2011.01.15  Jack - 1
Headphones - 0

 

 

2011.01.15 Jack and Bear play wrestling

 

2011.01.15 Jack chasing Bear up the apple tree.

 

 

2011.01.15 Bear has been trying to teach Jack how to climb the apple tree in our back yard.

Bear would run up the tree as Jack would chase after him.

At first Jack couldn't figure out where Bear was disappearing to but now he's figured it out.

He's just not confident enough to go as high as Bear yet.

 

 

2011.01.06 7 month old Jack and his best friend, Bear

 

 

2011.01.07 7 month old Jack crashes into the camera.

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어떤가, 놀랍지 않은가?

나만 그런지 몰라도 잭의 뛰노는 모습을 보는 것만으로도 무척 행복해짐을 느끼게 된다.

아마도 주위의 소리 중에서 집사인 주인과 친구 베어의 소리를 목소리뿐만이 아니라 움직일 떄 나는 소리, 잭만이 구분할 수 있는 바람소리, 하늘거리는 잔디 풀잎들의 부딪히는 소리, 등등 눈이 안보이는 부분만큼 채워진 잭만의 세상이 있는 것이 분명하다.

전혀 위축되지 않고 호기심이 발동하는 대로 모든 걸 눈이 보이는 마냥 해버리는 모습이 정말 사랑스럽다.

원래 본인은, 고양이를 키우기 시작한 것이 모든 생명체나 존재는 행복하기 위해 이 세상에 보내진다는 거창한 얘기는 접어두고라도 인간이 한낱 미물로 보는 짐승조차, 나를 따르는 짐승조차 행복하게 해주지 못한다면 그 以上의 理想도 덧없는 妄想에 지나지 않다는 생각에서 출발했었다.

물론 충분하지 않은 생각이긴 하지만 나름 명분과 이유를 바탕에 넣고 두번째 토라를 입양하였다.

없어서는 안되는 존재, 생활의 일부로서의 존재, 나를 의지하는 존재로서 토라를 바라보고 있다.

2009년 11월 13일 생후 2주 정도의 아깽이를 데려와 벌써 18개월 째를 접어드는 우리 토라를 보면

첫번째 토라와는 다른 아주 독특한 자기만의 색깔을 주장하며 아주 고집이 세다.

첫번째 토라 때와는 또 다른 자기성질을 갖고 있다.

그리고 첫번째 토라와는 다른 의사표현을 잘하며, 맘에 안들면 언제나 '하지마'란 뜻인지 앞발을 대고 가로막는다.

예를 들면 화장실을 가면 문을 닫아야 하는 데, 못닫게 앞발로 내발을 밟고 쳐다본다든지 한다.

교감이라고 하기에는 허접하지만 나름의 주고받음을 느끼는 순간이기도 하다.

어쩄든 토라를 키우고 있는 입장에서 이런 기사를 보게 되면, 일순간 관심이 가지게 되는 모양이다.

아래는 잭의 주인이 lovemeow.com에 올린 포스팅기사다.

본인도 영어는 잼병인지라 더듬어가며 읽어보았지만, 잭의 주인이 어떤 마음의 소유자인지 알 수 있을 것 같기도 하다.

참고삼아 한번 훑어보기 바란다.

' ~ Amazing eyeless kitty' 제목에서부터 잭이 어떤 고양이인지 짐작케 해준다.

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Jack Tripper the Amazing Eyeless Kitty

 

Sep 6, 2010

 

"Hai I am Jack. I can't see, but I can get around just fine."

Written by ©Jamie (flickr: jcspenny)

My mom and I were actually looking to adopt a new cat when we got Jack. I have a friend who boards her horse at a local riding stable and one of the barn cats gave birth to a kitten. It seemed that spaying didn’t work on the cat, so she gave birth to a single, deformed kitten and was not able to produce milk. Luckily the owners recently had her fixed, so I’m hoping this doesn’t happen again.

Jack (at the time he was known as Stevie Wonder) was born without eyes. He’s very lucky with his timing. He grew up having other kittens to play and socialize with, and was used to people from the moment he was born since there are always kids hanging around the barn. He was a favourite amongst the students at the barn. However, when it came time to find the kittens homes, no one knew where Jack would end up. Although some of the kittens already had homes, the ones they couldn’t find homes for would go to the local vet’s to be put up for adoption. They didn’t want to do that with Jack. There was no doubt any of the “normal” kittens would find homes there, but Jack was special.

That’s when I got an e-mail from my friend. All she asked was “Do you still want one of the kittens? There’s one here with no eyes and no one can take him.” She knows me too well. Without thinking I told her that I did want the kitten. I wouldn’t be able to put him in the barn, but who cares?

"When this picture was taken, Jack was hopping through the grass. I'd call his name and he'd come hopping towards me. He crashed into my camera just after this was taken!" - Jamie

I changed his name from Stevie Wonder because I used to have a cat named Stevie who passed away a couple years ago. I’m a huge fan of old TV shows and thought Jack Tripper was a good name for a kitten who couldn’t see. He has done a few classic “Jack Tripper” moves, too. Although he gets around very well (especially now that he knows the layout of the house) but he sometimes does trip or fall over things.

When we first brought him home Jack stayed mostly in my room. He walked cautiously around, sniffing everything. After about a day he had no issues running around, jumping onto my bed and climbing on everything. It wasn’t long before he mastered the rest of the house, either. He went through a time where he could climb the stairs, but couldn’t get down. He would sit at the top and cry until someone came and got him. He’s big enough now that he can get down on his own. Every now and then when he gets disoriented he’ll stop and cry. But we just call his name and talk to him and it isn’t long before he finds his way back to us.

He also went through a period where he would wake me up every morning between 5 – 6 by licking my nose. I’m not a morning person and like my sleep, so I would try everything to get him to stop. I’d pull him away, but he’d come back up and start licking again. I’d turn over, but he’d walk over to my other side and lick my nose some more. I’d even try lying on my stomach, but he’d crouch down, turn his head upside down, and keep on licking my nose! He’s stopped that for the most part now. He’ll still lick my nose, but usually waits until I’m awake now.

Adventurous little Jack

Also, a few weeks after getting Jack, we got a new barn cat named Bear. Bear is very friendly and likes to come sit outside with us in the evenings. I always take Jack outside at that time for some fresh air and exercise. He loves to run (at top speed!) around the back yard and gardens. Bear and Jack have become best friends. It doesn’t matter that he can’t see, Jack always knows when Bear is around. He’ll run across the yard straight to Bear and wrap his front legs around his neck in a big hug. They chase each other around and wrestle, and when they’re tired they’ll lie down in the grass together.

He has absolutely no eyes at all. Because of that, his eyelids are too long since they have nothing to cover. His eye holes tend to get weepy because that irritates them a little. As he’s growing, he’s started to grow into his eyelids and may have no issues there at all. But if they’re still irritating him, our vet may consider sewing his eyes shut. Other than that, he’s perfectly healthy.

Jack is truly an inspiration. I’ve owned a lot of kittens in my life, but Jack is the happiest, most playful of them all. He doesn’t feel sorry for himself. Heck, for all he knows, all cats are just like him. People who know Jack don’t feel sorry for him. They cherish him for the treasure that he is. I have talked to a few people who haven’t met him personally who tend to pity him, but they just don’t understand. Jack doesn’t need pity. I think Jean (who has Gumbo the eyeless ginger) said it best when she told me that cats don’t have disabilities, they have adaptabilities.

Photos courtesy of ©Jamie (flickr: jcspenny).

"He's growing like a weed and every day gets more daring and adventurous! He's comfortable with the entire house now, which means I have to go looking for him if I want him. You can take your eyes off of him for just a second and he's gone, climbing up onto something or grabbing at something he shouldn't be. But he's cute, so it's okay.When I take Jack outside to play in the yard he doesn't just walk around the garden now, he runs everywhere! I have never seen a cat run as fast as him. When he hits something, he just turns around and runs the other way." - Jamie

Getting ready to pounce

 

Jack loves to play in the gardens

Jack was exploring the porch. He's so curious about everything!

Jack waving at us

 

"Jack loves hanging out with his uncle Bear. He runs straight to him from across the yard and wraps his front legs around his neck in a big hug. The two of them will wrestle and chase each other around. When they get tuckered out, Jack and Bear will lay in the grass next to each other. Bear is so good to little Jack, it's nice to see Jack with a cat friend." - Jamie

Little Jack loves playing with Bear.

 

"I am a happy kitty. I love life!"

 http://lovemeow.com/2010/09/jack-tripper-the-amazing-eyeless-kitty/