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Home / Lifestyle

The serious condition behind Kevin the cat's permanent surprise

Daily Telegraph UK
19 May, 2016 10:21 AM3 mins to read

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Meet Kevin - the permanently surprised cat. Photo / Instagram
Meet Kevin - the permanently surprised cat. Photo / Instagram

Meet Kevin - the permanently surprised cat. Photo / Instagram

Meet Kevin, a four-year-old Russian Blue cat whose distinctive features make him look permanently surprised.

The reason for Kevin's distinctive looks is hydrocephalus. "It is a fancy word for 'fluid on the brain'," says his owner Tailah. "It is a serious condition and can impact sight, hearing and brain function.

View this post on Instagram

Mum can't type a caption, she's too busy laughing.. 😹😹😹😹

A post shared by Kevin (@theadventuresofkev) on May 13, 2016 at 3:36pm PDT

"Kev is a total characteristic of this as he is (not completely) blind and deaf and to put it gently... he's very 'special.'"

Tailah, a veterinary nurse, first met Kevin when he was a very small kitten: "A lovely lady found him in a carpark when he was around 4 weeks old and surrendered him to the clinic," she told Love Meow. "I fell in love with him straight away and knew I had to give him a chance."

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"I was warned that he wouldn't live to see six months (if he was lucky) and to not become attached. I told myself that even if he passed away, I gave him all the loving I could."

View this post on Instagram

Taking part in @cuddleclones Thankful For My Pet Contest! #CCthankful14 | I am thankful to have Kev to brighten my day- each and every day. I couldn't imagine life without those eyes to melt my heart! ❤️😍🐱

A post shared by Kevin (@theadventuresofkev) on Nov 20, 2014 at 11:41am PST

Despite the grim prognosis Kevin survived. He's never had a seizure - one of the biggest risks for cats with hydrocephalus - shows no signs of nausea, and has what sounds like an extremely contended life.

Tailah has provided him with his own "personal balcony," fitted with cat grass, a "house" and an endless supply of toys.

View this post on Instagram

Kev apologises for not posting in a while! We have been such busy bees 🐝❤

A post shared by Kevin (@theadventuresofkev) on Jun 17, 2014 at 2:15am PDT

"He is the happiest, funniest, silliest little kid I know and I'm so glad I was able to give him a chance at life," says Tailah. "A chance he grabbed with both paws and ran with!"
And now he's become internet famous - his Instagram account has more than 11 thousand followers, and his profile has grown hugely since the website Love Meow brought him to the attention of the wider world.

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Tailah says: "Four years later and he's still my best little love bug. If you met this little bundle in real life, you would see what we all see. A funny, happy, silly, loving little cat!"

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