Dawn’s first litter was born in the field and, when they were a few weeks old, she brought them into the garden for weaning.

However, by this time (and through no fault of Dawn’s), the kittens were all suffering from a virus which sadly claimed the life of Swallow soon after they arrived. Linnet was the next worst affected; her eyes were glued closed and (more worryingly) bulging.

It took over a week of regular saline baths, cleaning, and topical and oral antibiotics before her eyelids began to open. We were apprehensive as to what we would find, but in the end glad that her eyes were intact, although it was obvious that her vision had been permanently damaged.

Whatever the level of her sight, Linnet was a happy kitten. She did all the things that any other kitten did, although maybe she was not keen to climb or jump too far. But she was a mischievous as any of the others and, for the most part, you would not have known that she could not see as well as her playmates.

Once the infection had been treated and antibiotics finished, her ongoing treatment was twice-daily eye-cleaning and eyedrops. The routine became a game to Linnet; she would let the humans chase her around the garden, pausing, running away, then pausing and running away again, before graciously giving in and rolling over for tummy-wobbles, eye-cleaning, eyedrops, and treats.

To Linnet, none of this was a big deal as she had no way of knowing that the world she saw through her eyes did not look the same as the world other cats and kittens saw.