A memorable new friend with an unusual eye condition
In November 2023, we were filming the daily activities in the vet suite as part of our Winter Appeal. That afternoon, a cat was brought in from Rosemary Lodge Veterinary Hospital. He had been abandoned at a local vet practice.
This cat was immediately unforgettable. Calm and composed in his crate, he quietly accepted his inspection. He was a large, chunky cat with soft fur and unusually small eyes, a condition known as microphthalmia.
To assess his vision, the vet dropped small bits of paper at various distances and observed as the cat navigated the room. He moved slowly but with confidence, indicating that while he could at least see shadows and shapes, fine details were beyond him. He didn't bump into anything and even jumped onto a windowsill, but he showed no reaction to the paper falling close by.
Although his limited vision wasn't a major concern, we noticed his lower eyelids had turned inward, causing his eyelashes to painfully rub against his eyes. This condition, called entropion, required surgical intervention. Jim, as we affectionately named him, underwent a delicate operation to shorten his eyelids, preventing them from folding inward. While this wouldn’t significantly enahnce his eyesight, it would greatly improve his comfort.
With his calm demeanour and ready purr, Jim quickly became a favourite in the cattery. But as always, we had to say our goodbyes. In January, Jim was happily adopted as an indoor-only cat, where he continues to thrive in his forever home. His new owners let us know how he was doing:
“He's been loving a good lazy morning fuss, some nap time in his bed afterwards, then some playing in the afternoon with his toys. He tends to settle down on the sofa with us in the evening. I loved it when I heard him meow hello to me at the door for the first time as I came home from work! He's been doing lots of purring and biscuit making, what a hard worker! We love him so much and have learnt so much about him in this time.”
