When Lucy's owner Zilla Bergamini saw a video of her together with her Sphynx siblings, she instantly fell in love. Lucy, as Zilla remembers, looked adorably different from her littermates. When the adorable kitten was taken to a veterinarian, they learned that the kitty had hydrocephalus, a rare neurological condition characterized by a build-up of fluid in her brain. The vet said that he didn't think it was worth performing surgery on Lucy. However, more than a year has passed since Lucy's diagnosis and the unusual cat seems to be living her best life, thanks to her loving and caring owner.
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This cat has a rare neurological condition which makes her look like a bat
Image credits: lucythebatcat
Before adopting her pet cat from a friend, Zilla had to wait three days before bringing her home. During this time frame, she put all of her efforts into researching hydrocephalus, related cat health issues, and preparing for Lucy's arrival. “I began reading everything I could about hydrocephalus and all possible outcomes. I looked for the best veterinarian neurological center in the country and I already started setting up a fund to pay for her surgery—if needed—or medication,” the unusual animal's owner told Love Meow.
The condition is called hydrocephalus and it involves fluid building up in her brain
Image credits: lucythebatcat
Lucy was two months old when she arrived at her new home in Haifa, Israel. By this time, her owner Zilla already had two rescue cats taken from animal shelters and while she was excited to bring in Lucy, her neurological condition made her a bit nervous. “Her future was uncertain,” Zilla told the media.
When Lucy was adopted, she had an array of medical problems
Image credits: lucythebatcat
For the first few days with her new family, Lucy cried constantly. Zilla became alarmed after she noticed that the kitty hadn't emptied her bowels for the past few days, too. Hoping to find answers, Zilla brought her adorable cat to the vet who had been treating Lucy since day one. The vet told Zilla that Lucy would be needing eye drops for the rest of her life, and, as for pooping, he said Lucy's belly was empty and she was probably hiding it. But it didn't make Zilla any less concerned, so she found the best veterinarian in her area and made an appointment.
Many choose to euthanize animals who have the same condition as her
The new vet found out that the poor kitty hadn’t had a bowel movement in several days. After taking care of that, “she practically leaked poop 24/7 for more than two weeks straight,” Zilla told Love Meow. “I was putting her to sleep in a tiny baby diaper and I was always holding her.”
But Lucy's owner didn't back down and never took the diagnosis as a death sentence
Image credits: lucythebatcat
During this difficult time, the cute cat and her owner formed a special bond. After Lucy's digestive issues were taken care of, she was taken to an eye specialist to see if anything could be done to fix them permanently. The veterinarian discovered that Lucy's hydrocephalus made her skull grow in an unusual shape, which resulted in her eyelids irritating her corneas. Luckily, the “amazing veterinarian,” as Zilla calls him, was able to fix her eyes and now the young feline doesn't need eye drops.
Luckily, the beautiful girl was nursed back into health
Image credits: lucythebatcat
Fast-forward to today, and the adorable bat girl is doing just great. However, Zilla does keep an eye on her, as any little medical issue might require immediate professional attention. Luckily, this doesn't prevent Lucy from living her best life—playing, cuddling, and watching the birds while sitting on the windowsill.
And is now living her best life
Image credits: lucythebatcat
Lucy's owner says that she's a people's cat and loves spending time with company. “She loves going out,” Zilla told the media. “She sits in a baby stroller or inside a bag and enjoys the view. Every time we go out, she tries to sneak inside one of the two.”
She's very social and loves going out
Image credits: lucythebatcat
While Lucy is doing great, she needs more medical attention in comparison to other cats. “She is more delicate than a ‘normal’ cat,” Zilla tells Love Meow. “But it isn’t always a death sentence. Like humans, pets can have disabilities but live happy lives and they can give as much love as any other pet, if not more.”
And also enjoys other people's company
Image credits: lucythebatcat
Zilla also says that people assume that cats with neurological conditions like Lucy's need expensive brain surgeries, making euthanasia seem like the only option for those who don't have the money. However, she says that Lucy is living proof that this isn't always the case.
While her unique looks have made her a true Instagram star with over 22k followers
Image credits: lucythebatcat
Now, this beautiful 11-month-old cat is a true social media star with over 22k Instagram followers and counting. "I love you, Lucy!" someone comments under one of her photos. "Sweet darling angel Lucy. I love you, little girl," someone adds too. It's really hard not to fall in love with this beautiful girl, is it?