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.
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
