When rescuers found a little cat named Sweet Pea in a parking lot in central Arkansas, they immediately noticed something unusual: she had no ears. No one knew exactly what had happened to her, but it was clear she had been through something terrible.
Still, despite her rough past, Sweet Pea greeted her new foster mom, Erin Parker, with trust and affection the moment she arrived at her home.
“She wasn’t shy at all,” Parker said. “She wanted lots of attention. She’s super sweet — so I think at one point, she probably had an owner who really cared for her.”
Wanting to help Sweet Pea feel confident and loved, Parker decided to do something special.
She turned to her girlfriend, Chloe, who knew how to crochet, with a creative request: a handmade pair of little cat ears.
“I don't want her to feel left out,” Parker said. “I don't want her to feel different from other cats.”
The result? Absolutely adorable.
To everyone’s delight, Sweet Pea didn’t just tolerate the ears — she proudly strutted around with them, as if showing off her new look.
As much as Parker loved having Sweet Pea around, she hoped that Sweet Pea’s brand-new ears would help get her the attention she needed to get adopted. Parker knew that any family would be lucky to have Sweet Pea in their lives, but that it might be hard for some people to look past her scary injury.
The plan worked even better than expected. When Best Friends Animal Society shared photos of Sweet Pea rocking her new ears, they quickly caught the eye of a loving adopter.
Now, Sweet Pea has a forever home where she spends her days gazing out the window, playing with toys, and enjoying all the love she deserves. Her ears have healed completely, and her family says she doesn’t seem bothered at all by her past trauma.
Of course, Sweet Pea didn’t leave her foster home empty-pawed.
“She still has the ears,” Parker said with a smile. “I mean, she can’t leave without her ears — they’re hers.”
Sweet Pea’s story is a reminder that animals with differences have just as much love to give — and sometimes, it only takes a little kindness (and a pair of crocheted ears) to help the world see them for who they truly are.
To support other animals like Sweet Pea, you can make a donation to Best Friends Animal Society here.
