You may have heard of Merlin, the grumpy Canadian Ragdoll cat with a constant scowl, but there’s a new feline sensation capturing the hearts of the internet. This Merlin is anything but cranky, with his mesmerizing milky blue eyes and silky dark grey fur making him look like a cuddly plush toy. Thanks to his doting owners, visual artists Nathanial Green and Elliot Green, this adorable kitten has gained a huge following on Instagram, with 28k fans admiring his angelic beauty.
Photo credit: heyelliotgreen
The Green family met Merlin for the first time in 2017 during a special event called “Free Cat Friday” at the Lynchburg Humane Society. Although they instantly fell in love with him, Elliot confessed to Bored Panda that Merlin wasn’t their first choice. Elliot shared, “It was actually my coworker who persuaded me to go in – she had just adopted an adorable kitten from there. Nathaniel and I had planned on adopting a Siamese kitten after browsing through their adoption site. However, by the time I finished work, all the Siamese kittens were either on hold or already taken.”
Unfazed, the couple persisted in their search for a furry companion. The kind lady who had been guiding them noticed their uncertainty and shared that she had a personal favorite, despite his health challenges. Leading them to the medical area, she revealed a small kitten recuperating from a head cold. Learning that the kitten was blind initially raised concerns for the busy student juggling studies and two jobs. However, the moment she held him, it became clear that Merlin was the perfect match.
Photo credit: merlin.griffith
The Greens feel blessed to have Merlin in their lives. “He’s a cuddly cat who craves attention and affection. He’s well-behaved and never causes any trouble,” Elliot shared. “Being blind from birth, he doesn’t know what fear is, which is why he often tries to leap from tall surfaces. He’s not shy at all – he happily greets us at the door and loves to cuddle with anyone sitting on the couch. His favorite spot is curled up in someone’s lap.”
Yes, indeed, this adorable furball simply adores his human fathers. “Whenever we settle down on the couch or bed, he instantly hops up and is eager for some cuddles. He adores getting his face and ears rubbed, and for some odd reason, he really enjoys having the areas around his eyes gently massaged. If someone brings their hands close to his eyes or nose, he’ll usually nuzzle into it awkwardly, as if he’s trying to shy away, but really he’s just wanting to feel loved,” shared Nathanial, his other dad.
Credit for the image goes to merlin.griffith. When you gaze upon Merlin, you’ll immediately be struck by his distinctive traits. This is because he is not your average cat – he is a unique blend of Munchkin and Persian, known as a Napoleon breed. According to his owner, this breed is relatively recent, only emerging around 20 to 22 years ago. Despite their small size, Napoleons are surprisingly agile and move around just like regular-sized cats. They primarily take after the physical characteristics of Persians.
Credit for the image goes to merlin.griffith.
Merlin’s striking milky white eyes have a walker-style gait, not because of his breed, but because he is blind. Despite his visual impairment, his owner mentioned that this beautiful dog still leads a full and happy life. “Honestly, we often forget that he can’t see. When we first moved into our apartment, he had a bit of trouble getting around, but he quickly adapted and now confidently roams the space. His main challenge comes from our coffee table with glass edges – he still bumps into it occasionally, but we believe he’s learning. All he really cares about is finding his food and being close to his owners.” The image is courtesy of nathanialtgreen.
Credit for the image goes to merlin.griffith. Merlin, a blind cat, didn’t face any problems due to his blindness. However, he did experience seizures for a time. Elliot remembered, “We were puzzled as to why he was having seizures. After some investigation and experimentation, we discovered that his food was the culprit. Once we eliminated wheat from his diet, he has been happy and healthy ever since.”
Introducing the Greens: “@nathanialtgreen, a Michigan native, is a multi-talented keyboardist, designer, and communications expert who has a soft spot for chicken and waffles with syrup. You can often find him engrossed in political literature. On the other hand, @elliotgreen.co hails from Istanbul, Turkey, and is an art director, branding guru, and photographer. With a fondness for olive oil and singer Daniela Andrade, Elliot can usually be found lost in admiration for different typefaces at Target. The couple crossed paths at Liberty University before settling down in Nashville, TN. They tied the knot last September and enjoy spending their time at Baja Burrito or 51st Deli.” Photo credit: merlin.griffith
Photo courtesy of merlin.griffith
Merlin is an affectionate and sociable cat who adores everyone, although not everyone feels the same way about him. It turns out that he can be easily intimidated by other creatures, especially cats who tend to pick on him. Despite this, he rarely fights back, although he has been known to hiss on occasion. So, it’s important to keep a watchful eye on him when he’s around other animals. Apart from that, he is an absolutely wonderful feline!
Merlin is a big fan of watermelon, and because Elliot also enjoys it, they make sure to enjoy it frequently.
Merlin’s rise to internet stardom came as a surprise to the Greens, who never intended for it to happen. According to Nathanial, they simply started taking lots of pictures on their phones and eventually decided to share them online. Although they weren’t frequently posting on the account, they made sure that each post looked aesthetically pleasing. Elliot was particularly proud of how their apartment looked at the time, and he believed that Merlin was the perfect subject to showcase it.
Image courtesy: merlin.griffith
Despite this, the feedback we have received has been unexpectedly positive. Our friends constantly mention seeing Merlin’s pictures everywhere, and it’s truly mind-boggling.
This family is overflowing with gratitude for coming across this precious bundle of happiness and they attribute their good fortune to organizations like the Lynchburg Humane Society. They express their appreciation for animal shelters and the dedicated, crucial work they carry out.
“I am a present. You can thank me later.”
“Feels like the weather is purring today” – Photo credit: merlin.griffith
Photo courtesy of heyelliotgreen
(Please note: this is a paraphrased version of the original content provided)
“Who’s this in the new room?”
Photo courtesy of merlin.griffith
Credit for the image goes to merlin.griffith.
Photo courtesy: merlin.griffith
In our family, we each have our own unique personality types. My brother is a 9w1/INFJ, while I am a 4w5/INFJ. As for me, I’ve been told I’m a 4w3, always seeking attention in a slightly melancholic way. What about you? What Enneagram number or MB identifier do you identify with?
Photo courtesy of merlin.griffith
Credit for the image goes to merlin.griffith.
Credit for the image goes to merlin.griffith.
Photo courtesy of merlin.griffith
Anyone is welcome to contribute to Bored Panda by sharing their writing!
Stay updated by following Bored Panda on Google News!