A group of tiny kittens were brought to Lollypop Farm in pretty bad shape, but their story has proved to be an “eye-opening” story of resilience and determination.
A Good Samaritan had been bottle-feeding three precious kittens when they were found outside at just a few days old. As time went on and they opened their eyes, their caretaker realized that their eyes seemed to be very infected. The three babies were brought to the Lollypop Farm Klingenstein Veterinary Clinic. Although it broke our hearts, it was determined that the infection was so severe their eyes could not be saved. The kittens would have their best chance at a happy, healthy life with surgery to remove their eyes. While being cared for, the kittens were also treated for parasites.
“With kittens this small, they require monitoring and supportive care during surgery because they can get cold very quickly,” states Lollypop Farm veterinarian Dr. Ann Marie McNamara. “We are also mindful that they are in a lot of pain before surgery due to the severe extent of the eye disease. This surgery would be a particularly painful one, so we kept a close watch to provide good pain to make the procedure as easy as possible on them.”
The three little kittens, Chive, Dill, and Basil, each had surgery. Chive and Dill had both eyes removed, while Basil only needed one removed. After their surgeries, the kittens needed time to ensure healing and had to be in quarantine during treatment for lice.
Once cleared from quarantine, the kittens went into foster with a staff member. Maddie just so happened to be moving into a new apartment. She and these three babies were able to comfort each other as they all spent the night in a new place.
Maddie was concerned with how well they would be able to navigate the world around them with no eyes, but was pleasantly surprised with how well they adjusted! “I would honestly compare them to regular kittens,” she states. “They know no difference, which I believe makes it easier for them. I find it so impressive the way they navigate their space. I have noticed that they will use their paws to figure out what is around them or how to get down from something.”
Maddie fell in love with the kittens, especially Chive, so she decided to keep him! Dill and Basil were quickly adopted together, and they will have a new roommate: another blind kitty!
“This experience has been rewarding as well as eye-opening,” states Maddie. “I never would have imagined that a blind cat could be just as regular as a cat who can see. It is inspiring how courageous and adventurous these kiddos are. It has taught me that you can never underestimate a person or an animal based on what you see at face value.”
