Meet Cornelius Cornbread, a charming 4-year-old cat hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, who has captured the hearts of many with his unique and stylish eyebrows. These white markings above his eyes give him a distinguished and sophisticated appearance that has made him an internet sensation. Karen Mellette, Cornelius’s proud owner, explains that he has had these eyebrow-like markings since he was a tiny kitten, as there is a patch of fur missing in that area. Stay tuned for Bored Panda’s exclusive interview with Karen Mellette, where she shares more about her fabulous feline friend! Make sure to follow Cornelius’s adventures on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
This feline sensation, known as Cornelius, has amassed a large following on Instagram, with over 6,801 fans gushing over his unique eyebrows. His sophisticated and slightly concerned expression has earned him the title of a true gentleman, especially when he’s sporting a stylish bow tie in his photos. But beyond his good looks, Cornelius also shines with his charming and affectionate personality. Described as a loving, intelligent, and fearless daredevil who demands to be the center of attention, he is quick to pick up on emotions and always rushes to comfort his furry friends when they’re in need. According to Karen, Cornelius’s owner, he even shows concern for the family dog Duke when he gets worked up by barking at squirrels or visitors.
Photo courtesy: corneliuscornbreadchronicles
Karen shared how Cornelius has brought immense joy to her family. She revealed that when she brought him home, she was going through a tough time after losing her other cat and sustaining injuries that left her disabled. Reflecting on the past, Karen recalled the passing of their cat Inky due to suspected cardiomyopathy, which left them all heartbroken, including their other cat, Bea. Karen’s husband, with a compassionate heart, stumbled upon a litter of Bombay kittens, where two of them bore a striking resemblance to Inky. These kittens were named after country dinner foods: Cornbread, Beans, and Coleslaw. Initially drawn to Beans, who appeared gentle and comforting, Karen and her husband were surprised when Beans hid under furniture upon their arrival. On the other hand, Cornbread confidently strutted towards Karen, showcased his adorable antics, and allowed her to hold him, instantly winning her over. Since then, Cornbread has become Karen’s loyal companion, exuding a sassy yet affectionate demeanor. While he may assert his dominance at times, he is primarily a cuddly companion who enjoys sleeping snuggled up beside Karen.
Photo by: corneliuscornbreadchronicles
When Karen was asked about her first impressions of Cornelius, she described him as a lively and confident little troublemaker with a huge personality. Despite being a show-off, he showed no fear and approached her with immediate affection. It was clear to Karen that Cornelius had a fully developed persona even as a kitten. It seemed as though Cornelius was aware that he was destined to be a part of their family, as he made a grand effort to impress them from the start. Upon meeting them, he displayed a curious and friendly nature, quickly making a run for it when given the chance before returning within moments. Cornelius was a whirlwind of energy, zipping around the room, showing off his agility by leaping over obstacles and playing with toys. Each time he performed a trick, he would stop and gaze up at them, as if seeking approval and trying to gauge their reaction. Karen and her family fondly remember how Cornelius seemed to know that he needed to charm them in order to win them over.
Cornbread holds a special place in my heart, providing comfort and joy during a challenging period in my life. His playful behavior and affectionate nature brought me solace after losing our cat Inky, and his presence became a source of comfort as I recuperated from tendon injuries and the development of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) in my feet and legs. Along with Bea and our dog Duke, Cornbread would sleep beside me, offering warmth and companionship during my recovery from Spinal Cord Stimulator surgery.
Karen mentions that Cornelius became very fond of her and struggled with being by himself. Fortunately, Karen didn’t have to work after getting him because of taking early disability retirement from teaching. As a result, Cornelius was always with her, causing him to feel uneasy and stressed whenever she had to leave the house.
My husband, Tommy, is dedicated to caring for a group of feral cats and stray cats in his area. He works with a partner to make sure they are fed and also helps with Trap-Neuter-Return for these cats. They have managed to find homes for a few of them, and even decided to adopt three feral cats themselves: Nellie, Sassy, and Polly Patches. Initially, Bea, an older cat, wasn’t interested in playing with Cornbread, but now he has three younger sisters to keep him company. Cornbread is over the moon with his new siblings and they play together non-stop. Thanks to them, he now feels a lot more at ease when we have to leave the house.
Photo courtesy: corneliuscornbreadchronicles
“Cornbread absolutely adores perching on our shoulders. Whenever we have guests over, he’ll make himself comfortable on their laps and start purring away. Sometimes, he even tries to jump up onto their shoulders! He’s not shy about expressing himself either – he meows constantly as he’s roaming around the house. If he’s being mischievous, he’ll meow to let us know, and when he’s been caught, he’ll let out some sassy meows. Cornbread actually had a close call with his left eye recently. It was a scary situation that required two surgeries and the expertise of an eye specialist to remove a corneal sequestrum. The whole ordeal left a faint scar that’s visible in certain lighting.”
Credit for the image goes to corneliuscornbreadchronicles.
Photo courtesy of corneliuscornbreadchronicles
Photo credits: corneliuscornbreadchronicles
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