RADIO STAR'S QUEER EYE MAKEOVER ON A RESCUE CAT DESTINED FOR DOOM
Nova 100’s Belle Jackson has admitted to her very own Queer Eye makeover – on her rescue cat Gary!
Recently named as an ambassador to the Cat Protection Society of Victoria and talking on their Purrfect Podcast, Belle admitted that while she didn’t set out to give Gary his very own Queer Eye makeover, he’s gone from the biggest scruff to a glamour cat!
“With love and nurturing, Gary has flourished into a very beautiful cat. When I saw him, he was scratched up, scruffy and infected, but who cares? He just needed somewhere to live, someone to look after him, and he’s puurfect," she said;.
Belle also admits to being a self-confessed crazy cat lady, with Gary sitting by her head whenever she takes a bath, and drinking the shower water once she’s finished taking a shower.
When she’s eating, he’ll sit on her lap and get treats, and will sleep on her bed every night, sharing her pillow!
The beginning of a love affair
Gary came into Belle’s life when she was least expecting to be bowled over by a cat.
“My cousin had found a stray cat and he didn’t look very healthy. She called me and said ‘I'm going to take this cat into the local vet, will you come with me?’’ So, I went with her to the vet and handed the cat in. But before I went to leave, the nurse said, ‘You need to come and meet this cat Gary.’
I really didn’t want to, I just wanted to leave but the nurse insisted. She told me that they were about to put this poor cat down because he was very sick. He had FIV, infections, worms, and no-one wanted him.”
The cat had been at the veterinarian clinic for over a month and no-one was interested in taking him. However, the minute Belle saw him, her heart melted.
“The moment I laid eyes on Gary, I thought ‘that is the coolest, cutest cat I’ve ever seen in my life!”
Gary was immediately drawn to Belle, and she knew that it was the start of an instant love affair. Despite having an arm completely covered in scabs and one eye closed over, within three days, Gary had made his home with Belle.
The Crazy Cat Lady
Belle now admits to being a crazy cat lady.
Gary sits by her head whenever she takes a bath, and drinks the shower water once she’s finished taking a shower. When she’s eating, he’ll sit on her lap and get treats, and will sleep on her bed every night.
“Gary is like my little hot water bottle. He’ll sit on me and sleep in the bed at my head every night, with his head on the pillow,” Belle says.
A Queer Eye Makeover
Belle says that while she didn’t set out to give Gary his very own Queer Eye makeover, he’s gone from the biggest scruff to a glamour cat!
“With love and nurturing, Gary has flourished into a very beautiful cat. When I saw him, he was scratched up, scruffy and infected, but who cares? He just needed somewhere to live, someone to look after him, and he’s puurfect.”
Ambassador Belle
The Cat Protection Society of Victoria was thrilled to announce Belle as an ambassador in 2023, and Belle says that being an ambassador aligns with everything she believes in.
“Seeing the fantastic work that the Cat Protection Society does, I couldn't be prouder to be aligned with such an amazing organisation," she said.
For anyone looking for a pet, especially a cat, I would say adopt, don’t shop. There is no better place to start looking than from a Shelter such as the Cat Protection Society.”
Find out more about the Ben, Liam and Belle Show on Nova by visiting here. To learn more about the Cat Protection Society of Victoria, and to see the cats and kittens available for adoption, visit https://catprotection.com.au/
