Captain Pearl May Have Just One Eye And No Teeth, But He Is Thoroughly Enjoying His New Life
Most cats shy away from car rides, but Captain Pearl is an exception. This 12-year-old orange tabby has logged more miles in the past year than many people do, thanks to his life on the road.
His owner, Amy Wheeler, is a truck driver who doesn’t go anywhere without her furry co-pilot.
“It definitely takes a special kind of
For Amy, Captain Pearl is truly precious cargo.
The connection between Captain Pearl and Amy is so strong, you might think they’ve been together for ages, but they actually met only recently.
Road to healing
After losing her 15-year-old
Instead, she became a foster volunteer with Best Friends, ready to care for cats with special medical needs due to her experience with Ellie.
Around this time, Captain Pearl found himself at a Utah shelter and was then transferred to the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in Salt Lake City.
There, he was diagnosed with severe dental disease—some of the worst the staff had ever seen.
They also realized he was blind in one eye due to a dislocated lens, likely from an injury.
To alleviate any pain and prevent further issues, they decided to remove his eye and all his teeth.
Senior pets like Captain Pearl, especially those requiring significant medical care, often face the highest risk in shelters that struggle to find homes for younger, healthier animals.
Best Friends aims to make every shelter in the country no-kill by 2025. Efforts to save pets like Captain Pearl are vital steps toward achieving this goal.
Path to healing
Captain Pearl moved in with Amy shortly after his arrival at Best Friends.
He quickly settled in, showing his affectionate and laid-back nature right from the start.
“The moment I brought him home, I let him out. He acted like I had been around for a long time; we were just in a new place,” Amy recalls. “We were instantly friends.”
Amy diligently cared for Captain Pearl as he healed from his surgeries.
She gave him his medications and eye drops daily, which he managed well, even if just tolerating the routine.
Once pain-free, Captain Pearl began to show his playful side, batting toys around the kitchen.
After playing, he would curl up on the couch, kneading and purring loudly, fully content.
Going the distance
What started as a temporary stop for Captain Pearl quickly became his forever home when Amy decided to adopt him.
She then began getting him used to the idea of accompanying her on the road as a truck driver.
Captain Pearl has his special seat in the truck where he can comfortably relax and watch the world go by.
Just like at home, he has specific spots for his food bowl, water bowl, and litter box.
“Once they get used to driving or being on the road in a moving vehicle, there’s not a lot of maintenance besides what you would do in your house,” Amy explains. “They just sleep and hang out. That’s all they do at home, so they can do it in a truck.”
“He just needed some lovin’, and I needed some lovin’ as well,” Amy shares. “I just fell in love with him, so I kept him ever since.”
Now, Captain Pearl divides his time between his cozy home and the adventure of the open road, exactly where he belongs.
Photos by Amy Wheeler
