7-year-old boy gets teased at school for his two-colored eyes and cleft lip; he adopts a rare cat with the same unique features so he won't feel alone

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Jun 6, 2026 9:30 AM EDT

This is why representation is impurrtant!

Growing up in the 90s, we didn't have any accurate representations of queer people on TV. If there was a queer character, they were always a degrading stereotype: flamboyant for a gay man, and overly-masculine for a lesbian. This led to us feeling ostracized and extremely alone as we tried to navigate who we were as we matured through life. We struggled with feeling left out, and like there was no place for us in this world. School was awful, especially in our younger years when kids can be brutal to others for simply being different. 

Luckily, our differences weren't physical, unlike the boy that we're representing from Reddit's r/MadeMeSmile community, who was born with heterochromia and a cleft lip. Heterochromia is a condition where your eyes are different colors, and it's extremely rare. In today's world, this condition would be celebrated and even envied, but back then, any sort of difference made you an outsider and a pawssible victim for the mean kids to pick on. 

His name is Madden, and he's from Oklahoma.

Madden, like us, felt alone in his early years. His parents could see that he needed a companion, a friend who wouldn't judge him for his appearance. So, they took him to an animal shelter to adopt a family cat. Call it fate, call it destiny, call it whatever you want, but Madden found a cat with heterochromia and a cleft lip. Needless to say, Madden chose this cat without a second of hesitation.

Now the two are best friends, and neither of them ever has to feel alone again.

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    Cheezburger Image 10635971584
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    Modest Muse_ Honestly I think the different colored eye is bad a
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  • 03
    Distinct_Product7722 First off, who's is bu ying someone who has the dopeeest eyes possible?
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  • 04
    AncientSith Different colored eyes is one of the most beautiful conditions you could have.
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  • We love that there is not only more acceptance of differences in today's world, but also representation. You see all different types of characters in movies - different skin colors, ages, body types, preferences, religions, etc! The world is a much more open place now, and we're so happy that this generation will grow up understanding the world differently than we did. It's been a long time coming, but we're finally getting to a point where everyone, no matter what they look like, feels like they can achieve anything they set their mind to.

  • 05
    robbie-3x I once knew a pair of mirror twins with heterochromia. Once you knew the color pattern of right and left for each, you could easily tell them apart.
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    MixtureSpecial8951 My son is made fun of because his parents are divorced and for his surry scars. Breaks my heart.
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    Level_Category_9093 cats make life better m
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  • 09
    Slow_Maximum9332 I have to wonder, when it comes to getting picture ID, what would they put down for eye color? Use there a special box to select people with dual colors?
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  • 10
    TheLeastHyperbolic Waardenburg syndrome
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    Makani112 My bulldog has the same heterochromia so cool
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  • We wouldn't say heterochromia is “common” in cats, but it does happen more often in white cats than any other “breed”. However, in dogs, it's more common in huskies and husky mixes. We've never seen a bulldog with heterochromia, though!

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    DAY! JJOURD'HUI! LOS HOY!
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    eliz1bef I love this so much that he has a furry friend who has the same conditions. How wonderful for the cat, too. They look like such good buddies! This is adorable. I hate bu es, and I hope life catches up with this kid's tormentors.
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    SoMuchEpic95 Made ME smile!
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  • 15
    sulien92 Max Scherzer has this and is in the MLB. This kid is gonna go places, too
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    crzymamak81 I think this is one of the COOLEST traits imaginable! I hope he grows up to know how special it is.
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    If you read this kid - own it!! In a few years it won't be bu ying. anymore - people will be saying how handsome it makes you. Lean into what makes you special!
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    furrywrestler These people have never played FFX and it shows.
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    TaintedPancake44 Heterochromia is actually pretty cool and only approximately 1% of the worlds population has it
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    Earl Grey 1806 They are both too adorable to be real. I'm happy he found a furry little buddy to grow up with.
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