A Good Cat
A Good Cat
Meet Hercules, the cat who escaped from a hot car, went missing, almost died, then became a star
Was it Mark Twain or Carol Danvers who said, “Comedy is tragedy plus time.”
Doesn’t matter. We are coining a new phrase, “Good News is tragedy, plus time plus redemption.”
And so, here we go…
In June 2022, authorities in Minnesota's Chisago County made a disturbing discovery - around 50 cats crammed into a sweltering hot car on a 95-degree day.
Minnesota. 95 degrees. 50 cats. One car. All the hallmarks of a tragedy.
While most of the felines were rescued and taken to a shelter, one went missing. His name was Hercules and a month later, volunteers found him motionless, near death, his fur soaked in urine.
Hercules was in rough shape. Afflicted with horrific injuries including a maggot infestation so severe it had eaten through his cheek and a broken jaw leaving his tongue hanging out. He required around $12,000 worth of surgeries to save his life. The kind nurse Jill LeBrun, who fostered and eventually adopted Hercules, gave him a second chance.
Needless to say, the remarkable cat made an incredible recovery. Last fall, LeBrun learned of a talent agency seeking pets with unusual faces for promotions. She submitted Hercules' photo, leading to his first paid modeling gig for $100. Little did she know, this was just the start of Hercules' stardom.
While shopping at her local Target in mid-March 2024, LeBrun was stunned to see her rescue cat's face adorning containers of the store's cat litter brand. Hercules had become the unwitting "spokes-cat" for Target's pet products. He has since done a second photo shoot, with his distinctive looks soon to grace other merchandise.
Hercules lives a simple, happy life at home with LeBrun and her myriad of other pets. It’s ben quite the journey from his brush with death just two years prior.
From abandoned stray to professional pet model.
A remarkably good journey.