A family's pet cat became an unexpected guest of honor at a neighbor's gender reveal party, emerging from the event a striking shade of blue.
Wilbur, a two-year-old tabby cat, returned to his owner, Sophie Jenkin, with a cyan hue earlier this week. Initially, Jenkin expressed concern, fearing that local children might have been involved in vandalizing the pet by throwing paint.
"We thought something nasty had happened at first or kids were abusing cats in the neighbourhood," Jenkin stated.
Her worries were alleviated after posting a picture of the blue cat on Facebook, which led to the explanation. A neighbor, Hollie Jenkinson, who had organized a gender reveal party for her children, realized Wilbur had likely encountered leftover materials from the event.
Jenkin explained that she later learned the blue coloring was corn starch, used in the party's activities. "I put a picture of Wilbur on Facebook and it turned out a lady who lives a few doors down had a gender reveal party. I guess it's a boy," she said.
Jenkin, an administrative worker, mentioned she washed Wilbur after reading that the dye could be toxic but was reassured by her neighbor that it was harmless corn starch.
Wilbur has since been bathed and has returned to his natural tabby coloring. The incident, according to Jenkin, has provided much amusement to her family, friends, and colleagues.
Jenkinson confirmed that the gender reveal involved children kicking footballs filled with blue corn starch. She found the situation humorous when she discovered Wilbur's temporary transformation.
"I'm so glad that she found the funny side of it and it made the whole situation so much more hilarious. Luckily, after bathing her cat multiple times, the cat is no longer blue," Jenkinson commented. "It seemed to have entertained so many people and it has certainly made my gender reveal more memorable."