‘She’s very famous’: Meet the winner of The Charlotte Observer’s cutest cat contest
After nearly nearly 130 entries for our contest to find the most adorable cat in Charlotte, we finally have a winner.
Weez, an affectionate 17-year-old feline, took the crown for cutest cat in the Queen City.
Her mom Sal Marshall, a first grade teacher at Trinity Episcopal School in uptown, said Weez came from a shelter in Boone while she was a student at Appalachian State University. Nearly two decades later, their bond — and her bond with Marshall’s students — are stronger than ever.
“She’s very famous in my world,” Marshall said. “She comes into the classroom and visits with the kids all the time. She’s basically a therapy cat. When I bring her into the classroom, she is so sweet and so chill.
“She’ll jump up on the couch, sit there and watch them as they’re working. It keeps them really quiet, because I tell them that she has sensitive ears, so they’re actually the best behaved when she is here.”
Where did Weez’s name come from?
Marshall had a simple explanation.
“She literally wheezes,” she said. “When she is breathing, there is always a wheeze.”
Weez’ favorite hobbies include eating cheese, going for rides in her stroller and “going to town on some catnip,” Marshall said.
Though she doesn’t care for traditional toys (aside from the occasional Christmas tree ornament), there is one thing that can keep Weez occupied for hours.
“She loves bubble wrap,” said Marshall. “Everyone always gives me bubble wrap to give to her.”
At home, Marshall said Weez can usually be found cuddled behind her head. And there’s never a dull moment in the Marshall household due to her penchant for long conversations.
“She is extremely vocal,” said Marshall. “She’ll talk back to you. So when I’m talking to her, she’ll meow back at me, and it’s just the sweetest little meow.”
How old is Weez?
At 17 years old, Weez has already lived longer than most cats, but people often mistake her for much younger due to her stature and warmhearted nature, Marshall said, adding that she expects her cat to be around for years to come.
“Nobody can believe it when I say she’s 17,” she said. “They’re like ‘she looks like a tiny kitten,’ and I go ‘I know, she’s timeless.’”
How to adopt a cat in Charlotte
There are a number of shelters and adoption sites in the Charlotte area, The Observer previously reported, including:
