Psion (Cat #1) by Joan D. Vinge - Vintage Paperback

A.D. 2417. The future of the galaxy is threatened by multiplanetary corporations. To Cat, an illiterate slum kid whose catlike green eyes brand him as half alien, the destiny of humankind is insignificant. But his uniqueness targets him for a government experiment, and he discovers how to use his telepathic powers in terrifying new ways. As Cat's powers grow stronger they lead him toward brutal confrontations with deadly forces. Can Cat seize his enemies' minds before they possess his?