Matilda the 'Alien Cat' is causing a stir on the internet, with thousands falling for her unusual massive glassy eyes.
Matilda was rescued from a hoarding situation as a kitten in Canada and has attracted over 62,000 followers on Instagram.
However, the lovable moggy wasn't born with her bulging eyeballs. Owner, Meghan and her finance adopted the kitten in 2013.
At about a year old Matilda developed an eye issue causing one pupil to dialate to the size of an entire eye and return to normal, she told The Huffington Post.
Matilda was diagnosed with spontaneous lens luxation, meaning that the lens in her eye had detached. Her left eye soon became affected as well.
The kitty's siblings have the same issue, but Matilda's eyes have gotten bigger and bigger, puzzling vets and intriguing Instagram. Meghan said her vet thinks it may have "something to do with her collagen structure," and is assured that her cat is not in any pain despite her over-sized eyeballs.
Matilda suffers from secondary glaucoma and is nearly blind, aside from seeing some light and motion, but Meghan says she is a very happy cat.
"Her other senses must make up for her lack of sight because you wouldn't really be able to tell that she's blind by watching her," Meghan told The Huffington Post.
"She loves to cuddle and sit right on top of anyone who will let her."
See more pictures of Matilda on her Instagram account.
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- nzherald.co.nz