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

Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.