During her visit to a veterinary clinic in Qatar in October 2019, Sheryl came across a blind calico cat that the staff had aptly named Sweetie. The veterinarian informed her that Sweetie was a rescue case and had been brought in by a good Samaritan who found her on the streets and paid for her medical expenses. Sheryl was there to help with another rescue cat at the time.
Upon Sweetie’s arrival at the office, it was already apparent that she had lost her eyesight, possibly due to feline herpesvirus (FHV). The veterinarian had made arrangements to have her eyes removed as they believed they were beyond repair. However, on the day of the intended surgery, Sweetie’s eyes showed signs of improvement, leading the veterinarian to postpone the operation. Sheryl provided this explanation of the situation.
Sweetie, a shy and timid cat, had an affectionate personality that caught the attention of Sheryl. Despite having two cats at home, Sheryl found herself drawn to Sweetie’s fluffy fur and loud purrs. She visited Sweetie multiple times over two months, and by December 2019, she fell in love with the blind feline. However, before committing to adopting Sweetie, Sheryl researched extensively on how to care for visually impaired cats. She wanted to ensure that she could provide a suitable home for Sweetie’s needs.
Sheryl changed Sweetie’s name to Monkey after taking her home in 2019. She noticed that Monkey’s personality grew and flourished in her new environment. Monkey was no longer scared or shy like she was at the vet’s office. Instead, she was brave and fearless, climbing on screens and jumping on kitchen counters like a little monkey. Sheryl also found out that the tips she read online for caring for blind cats did not apply to Monkey since her other senses compensated for her lack of sight. Monkey did not need help from Sheryl’s other cats, Princess and Cookie, as she just wanted a friend to play with. Although Monkey adapted quickly to her new home, Sheryl still tried to save her eyes. However, one of Monkey’s eyes ruptured suddenly while at the vet, which led to the removal of both of her eyes for her long-term quality of life.
Thankfully, she bounced back quickly and now this lively young lady is just as lively as before! In addition to bothering Cookie and running around the flat, Monkey’s favorite pastime is eating. According to Sheryl, Monkey’s appetite knows no bounds, which prompted her to devise a method to prevent the determined cat from consuming Princess and Cookie’s meals. “We had to invest in a microchip feeder to deter her from taking her sisters’ food.”
Monkey may have a heightened sense of smell that sometimes poses a challenge for her during mealtimes, but she’s actually a typical cat. According to her owner, Sheryl, Monkey isn’t hindered by her lack of sight and is, in fact, the most active and playful cat in the house. Although people seem to approach Monkey more often when she’s outside, possibly due to her blindness, Sheryl believes that cats, like humans, should be allowed to choose whether they want to interact with others and not be forced into anything. Despite her occasional spooked reaction, Sheryl doesn’t necessarily attribute it to Monkey’s visual impairment.
@princess_cookie_monkey’s Instagram account has a picture of a blind cat named Monkey. The owner of the account hopes that people will understand that blind cats are not much different from cats with sight, and there is no need to feel sorry for Monkey. Despite being blind, Monkey leads an active life and has a loving mother who adores her and her sisters. For Sheryl, the owner, her three cats are everything, and she cannot imagine life without them.
