After the Ball's Cat Pet Star: Augustus the Great

Black cats often face an uphill battle in shelters. They’re overlooked for being “plain,” stigmatized as unlucky, or – most heartbreaking of all – scooped up as seasonal accessories during Halloween only to be abandoned once the costumes are packed away.

So when a tiny, scruffy black kitten with an extreme overbite landed at a shelter in November 2019, the odds were stacked against him. Dirty, hungry, and afraid, he seemed destined to be another black cat without a forever home. Worse still, he needed surgery to correct his bite. Who would want a shy, “funny-looking” kitten with medical needs?

Longtime FAAS supporters Jeff and Lula.

The couple has long gravitated toward animals others might pass over. (In fact, their beloved dog Simon – last year’s FAAS Dog Pet Star – was an “unadoptable” himself, until Jeff and Lula opened their hearts and home to him.) They've have had 25 rescues over the years: 10 cats, 11 dogs, and four guinea pigs.

When they spotted this fragile kitten at the shelter, they didn’t see imperfection. They saw Augustus – and named him after Rome’s first emperor. He would forever be their “Auggie.”

A kingdom of misfits

Auggie had surgery, kept his distinctive nose, and marched straight into his new kingdom – already ruled by Midge, a formidable Siamese mix. Midge patrolled the home and yard with iron-pawed authority, keeping the household’s four rambunctious Chihuahuas in line. Auggie took one look at her and, instead of being intimidated, curled up against her. He had found the mother figure he craved.

From then on, the shy little kitten shadowed his new queen, following her on rounds and snuggling close at night. With Midge as his protector and Jeff and Lula as his doting humans, Auggie finally had the secure home he deserved.

The athlete in disguise

Though timid with people, Auggie blossomed during playtime. His love language was laser pointers and toy mice, and he could chase for hours without tiring. Every evening, he would sit by the back door, crying until Jeff or Lula came outside for a game. During play, the shy kitten disappeared, replaced by a fierce, focused athlete with lightning reflexes.

But Auggie was more than a backyard sports star. He was also an escape artist of epic proportions. Despite the Jeff’s and Lula’s best efforts to create a “kitty Alcatraz,” they often spotted their sleek black cat dashing across the neighbors’ rooftops – a 12-pound Spiderman scaling a 10-foot fence with nothing but his claws. Security cameras finally caught his secret technique, and his great escape route was blocked – but not before he proved himself a legend.

Still the emperor

Augustus the Great reigns supreme after a rocky start, thanks to the love and care of Jeff and Lula

Now, years later, the shy, handsome Roman Emperor still reigns. He plays every chance he gets, chasing lasers and toy mice with the same gusto as his kitten days. Jeff and Lula adore him not only for his resilience but also for his sweetness, quirks, and the joy he brings to their home.

Auggie’s story, like Simon’s, is proof of Jeff’s and Lula’s special gift: finding beauty in the overlooked, hope in the “unadoptable,” and family in the animals others might pass by.

Augustus is FAAS's Dog Pet Star for this year's disco-themed After the Ball, our signature fundraising event taking place October 18. Tickets are on sale now!