If you willfully believe the lore of the Internet, Chester — or Mr. Chester the Handsome Cat — is a one-eyed and totally toothless cat who found himself in such a condition after a rowdy bar brawl and an encounter with the mob.
While this proud Persian from Canada definitely has the sort of weathered charm to his demeanor in which you could imagine him getting involved in rough and tumble shenanigans, the truth is a little less dramatic.
Keep reading for the full scoop on Chester’s tale.
A one-eyed wonder
https://instagram.com/p/79nejlHXwE/?taken-by=mr.chesterhandsomecat
Chester’s Instagram bio claims that he lost his left eye “in a bar brawl.” I have no doubt that this Persian has been in a few scraps during his time, but his real story is less action-packed: It was removed when an ulcer took over his eye (and for good measure his right eye briefly went black, too).
All right now
https://instagram.com/p/4A2lC8nX-v/?taken-by=mr.chesterhandsomecat
That was three years ago and now it seems that Chester’s adapted to his uni-ocular state just fine. I mean, just check out the coordinated tongue action on display here!
Fashionable feline
https://instagram.com/p/7OnlQ7HXyV/?taken-by=mr.chesterhandsomecat
From the sourpuss look on his face, it doesn’t seem that Chester is totally on board with the whole dressing-your-cat-up movement. Although it’s hard to deny that he pulls off this tight-fitting purple and black sweater with great dignity.
Uh-oh …
https://instagram.com/p/652KxMHXy0/?taken-by=mr.chesterhandsomecat
Chester is definitely no fan of visits to the vets. Here he’s been caught using his street smarts to hide under a stool as a way to keep an inquisitive member of the veterinary science community at a safe distance.
Zzz …
https://instagram.com/p/1rAoOeHX13/
As the photo’s caption puts it, “When you only have one eye, you sleep with one eye open.” This move is sometimes known as a pirate’s nap.
Snooze on
https://instagram.com/p/7lwJYXHX8i/?taken-by=mr.chesterhandsomecat
Although after a particularly hectic day of strutting around the house and lounging on soft pillows, sometimes the sheer exertion of energy takes its toll and Chester falls into a more traditional feline sleeping position.
Fame!
https://instagram.com/p/5-18sxnX4P/?taken-by=mr.chesterhandsomecat
As with any self-respecting social cat, Chester has already inspired some top notch fan art. This particular piece is by James Huntley, a “Brisbane-based vegan artist.”
Happiness is a warm fireplace
https://instagram.com/p/6cOK3vHX09/?taken-by=mr.chesterhandsomecat
Gotta love the original caption to this picture of Chester enduring a hard day at the office: “It is August so I turn the fire on for my cat.”
Skedaddle over to Chester’s Instagram page to indulge in more pictures of this one-eyed wonder.
Read about more Social Cats of the Week:
- Meet Cornish Rex Brothers Mauno and Mayra-Kaarlo
- Meet Bubba, the Cat Who Attends School in California
- Meet Manchego and Chipotle the Space Alien Cats
About Phillip Mlynar: The self-appointed world’s foremost expert on rappers’ cats. When not penning posts on rap music, he can be found building DIY cat towers for his adopted domestic shorthair, Mimosa, and collecting Le Creuset cookware (in red). He has also invented cat sushi, but it’s not quite what you think it is.
