Courtney Gustafson is very familiar with the stray cats of Tucson, USA. An experienced trapper who runs the rescue account Poets Square Cats, she is dedicated to TNR – Trap, Neuter, Return – for cats not suited to indoor life. It's a routine for her, especially in the colonies she visits every week.
But on Thanksgiving Day, one cat changed everything. He was a large, cream-coloured male who looked a little sad, with slightly crossed eyes... and, most importantly, was incredibly gentle.
A tough guy with a heart of gold
"I trapped Uncle Potato just like the other cats in the area," Courtney told Newsweek. "But I quickly saw that he was friendly." After speaking with the local residents who had been feeding him, she got their permission to finally offer him a life indoors.
His appearance certainly didn't go unnoticed: a melancholic gaze, an unintentionally perfect pout, and most notably, the huge cheeks of an unneutered tomcat. "They're caused by excess testosterone, which is common in unneutered males," the trapper explained. Before he was rescued, Uncle Potato bore the marks of a hard life: ingrained dirt, minor wounds, scars... and no doubt a large number of offspring.
After being trapped, he was neutered and vaccinated at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. He was then entrusted to Whiskers N Wishes Cat Rescue and Sanctuary, who are continuing his care and getting to know him better. According to Courtney, the two-year-old tomcat is adapting surprisingly quickly: "When we showed him his new bed, he settled in immediately and started purring."
A viral star with an important message
The post about Uncle Potato has already received over 44,000 likes. In the comments, people are gushing: "He's perfect," "That face is adorable," and "Imagine the headbutts from that big head!".
The tomcat will be up for adoption soon, although the rescue is still searching for the most suitable family. Applications are already flooding in. But Courtney is using the buzz to highlight a much bigger issue: even when one cat goes viral, thousands of others are waiting in the wings.
In the first half of 2025 alone, more than 1.39 million cats entered American shelters, 59% of whom were strays. The most vulnerable are kittens under five months old, who account for the majority of non-live outcomes (euthanasia or in-care deaths).
"Uncle Potato wants to remind everyone that he has many friends in need, especially at Whiskers N Wishes," Courtney added. It's a sweet way to use his newfound fame to draw attention to all the others.
