Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 11th February 2016
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Sunglasses make cat social media star
Bagel wearing sunglasses
The fashionable feline is a social media star, known to thousands on Instagram as ‘Sunglass cat’.

Feline suffers from debilitating eye condition

Vets in California have come up with an unusual way to treat a cat who was born with a debilitating eye condition.

Two-year-old Bagel suffers from eyelid agenesis which makes it impossible to produce tears or blink.

So far Bagel has had three sessions in surgery to treat the condition, but without eyelids her owner, Karen Mcgill, is required to apply eye drops several times a day.

Together with her vet, Karen came up with the novel idea to get Bagel a pair of sunglasses to protect her sensitive eyes.

Lined with glamorous jewels, the shades help to protect Bagel’s peepers from debris, which could damage her cornea and lead to blindness.

Now and again Karen will remove Bagel’s glasses so that she can have a wash. But out and about in Los Angeles, she is rarely seen without them.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Karen said: “Bagel is the most loving, gentle, calmest and kindest cat that you'll ever meet. Everyone always wants to touch her as well as hold her.

“They want to stop and talk to me about her sunglasses, which I always do since it's so rare to see a cat in glasses, and I tell them why she's wearing them as well as her condition. People are always amazed at how calm she is.”

The fashionable feline is also a social media star, known to thousands on Instagram as ‘Sunglass cat’.

Karen, who adopted Bagel when she was just a kitten, hopes that her cat's new found fame will encourage others to adopt and care for pets with special needs.

“If I didn't adopt Bagel she probably would've been returned and euthanised due to her special needs - I couldn't fathom Bagel not being here,“ she said.

“She has touched so many people as well as helped numerous people through situations in their lives. As long as I can put a smile on someone's face, make them have a better day, look at life differently because of our posts, then her Instagram account is successful.”

Image: screen shot taken from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_2fdV34WN0 published by Caters TV.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.