Red Dirt Diaries: OKC Cat Becomes Social Media Star

An Oklahoma City cat with a unique smile is getting quite the following on social media.

Amy and Patrick Bender adopted ‘Sauerkraut' about a year ago.

"We could tell she had some neurological issues," said Amy Bender, who initially wanted to foster the cat until another family could adopt the animal.

The couple, which fosters cats for the Oklahoma City Humane Society, couldn't let Sauerkraut go and gave her a permanent home.

Patrick often poses for pictures online with Sauerkraut who has a constant frown, due to her condition.

The couple constantly dresses up the cat in different outfits. Sauerkraut has a closet's worth of clothes.

The couple said the clothes almost calm the cat because they act like a Thunder vest for dogs.

The Benders also said the clothes keep Sauerkraut from itching herself to the point of injury.

The crabby look, along with the outfits, has earned the fully grown five-pound cat more than 28,000 followers on Instagram.

"I think part of it is that she has a very unique look," said Patrick Bender.

The couple set up a web cam on Facebook for Sauerkraut and Amy posts different pictures every four hours of the cat.

"Being a social media director for a cat is not as cushy as it seems," said Amy, who has a very detailed tattoo of the Sauerkraut on her leg.

The couple said they are now in the market for an RV. This summer they will take Sauerkraut on the road to several cat shows including "CatCon" in Los Angeles.

"They just become a member of your family, no matter what kind of issues they face," said Patrick. 

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