“She is truly magical. She is my everything – I joke that I love her more than my wife. She is the sweetest, most gentle soul I’ve ever met. She is everything to me.”
These words perfectly encapsulate H Due’s relationship with their rescue cat, Nora Jean the Earless Queen. H has always had a fascination with animals, and it was one of the reasons they entered tech school from 2012 to 2015 and proceeded to become a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT). A Certified Veterinary Technician is primarily responsible for assisting vets in biomedical research, performing X-rays, and preparing for surgeries.
However, H’s expertise does not end here. They have assisted animal owners and provided tips and tricks to keep their pets healthy and happy. With their skills and medical knowledge, H became the perfect choice to care for Lady – later named Nora. The Dane County Humane Society sent over the feline, and since then, H and Nora’s journey has been nothing short of exhilarating.
H was on their lunch break when they came across the Facebook post by DCHS. Up for adoption was a gray tabby with purple crocheted ear bands. This former stray cat had suffered a malignant infection that was affecting its hearing and caused damage to the pinnae, the outer ears. After a meticulous surgery, the cat had its ears removed but otherwise recovered healthily. The cat’s head had been shaved off for the procedure, which made it look like she was wearing a fur coat. Hence, she was named “Lady in a Fur Coat” – or Lady, in short.
H was in Milwaukee at the time, so they connected their friend with their wife, Megan, and got the cat within four hours. They took her for immediate blood work and had her FIV/FELV status checked.
H came up with Nora when looking for a name that would complement “No ears.” Also known as ‘Nora Jean the Earless Queen,’ the bond between H and Nora has blossomed over the years. H introduced Nora to their other pets, Jelly, Doodles, Ramona, and Matilda and became well-acquainted with the other pets and H’s wife, Megan.
As time progressed, H Due created an Instagram called @Nora.no.ears featuring some of Nora’s cutest moments with her siblings. She quickly became a favorite internet pet, with many absolutely smitten with her. H Due wants to motivate people to adopt more senior pets or pets with disabilities. Intending to open their very own Due Zoo one day, H and Nora are leading a wondrous life together, making waves in the pet community and showing people how adopting a pet with quirks can make their lives just as special as the little critters are.
