Lupita Nyong’o just shared she adopted her first cat, which is also her first pet! She’s best known for her Oscar-winning role in Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, Jordan Peele’s Us, and as Nakia in Marvel’s Black Panther series. And judging by her excellent performance in Black Panther, you wouldn’t think she has a fear of cats… But after admitting it on Instagram, she says her fear has turned into love – Thanks to a ginger rescue named Yoyo!
But like with her team in Wakanda, she didn’t become a kitty hero on her own. She thanked her good friend Palmer Hefferan, who took her through the process of first visiting animal shelters. This led to her fostering a ginger cat named Yoyo from Best Friends Animal Society. Then it only took three days before Lupita declared Yoyo’s new (Wakanda) forever home is with her! She goes on to share that Yoyo has helped her as much as she helped Yoyo. And despite their short time together, Lupita has gotten to know Yoyo quite well, including his particular taste in cat teaser wand toys.
I never understood people whose phones were full of photos and videos of their pets – now I am one of those people! It may look like I saved Yoyo, but really, Yoyo is saving me.
@lupitanyongo, Instagram, October 2023
Plenty of celebrities, friends, and fans, gave their congratulations in the comments, such as pet adoption advocate Sarah Paulson saying, “love this so much.” With a nod to Lupita’s public breakup with Selema Masekela earlier in October, @ariannagab commented, “Welcome to pet parenthood! Animals are the best solution for a healing heart.” Gabby Sidibe commented, “A love like you’ve never known! I’m so excited for you!! And super excited for YoYo!!!”
This followed Nyong’o needing “cat therapy” to land her role in A Quiet Place: Day One!