Do you believe in aliens? If you’re picturing the stereotypical gray dudes with enormous eyes, you’re not far from this adorable little kitty’s aesthetic.
If you met her in a dark room, she might freak you out a little bit.
Yes, those are her real eyes.
But it’s just Matilda, the “Alien Cat” of growing Internet fame.
As of now, no one knows what exactly is going on with Matilda, or why her eyes have begun growing like this.
Her humans have been monitoring her behavior. Luckily, Matilda’s actions and habits suggest that she’s living pain-free. She acts just like your average kitty.
Matilda wasn’t always an alien.
Back when she was adopted in 2013, she was a very normal-looking cat. One day, her pupil enlarged and stayed that way for several minutes. By the time she arrived at the vet’s office, it had gone back to normal. When it happened again, Matilda’s humans took her to a veterinary ophthalmologist.
This is how it all started.
They considered having Matilda’s lenses surgically removed, but decided not to go through with it. The genetic disorder that causes the lens to detach also causes a collagen deficiency, meaning that recovery from the surgery could be complicated.
Even though she looks like an extraterrestrial, Matilda is a normal cat.
Her family pays close attention to her appearance and behavior to make sure nothing is wrong. In reality, though, Matilda will eventually have to undergo surgery. This comes with the possibility of her eyes being removed completely. If her eyes keep growing, serious complications could arise, but Matilda is already mostly blind. Losing her eyes wouldn’t have a huge impact on her day-to-day life.
Even though she can’t see, she still likes exploring the outdoors.
Her eyes are cloudy, but she does not have glaucoma.
(via The Dodo, AlienCatMatilda)
You can keep up with Matilda and her alien ways on Facebook, Instagram, and on her website. The family is hosting a fundraiser for Matilda’s possible surgery, with 25 percent of proceeds going to an animal charity. If Matilda’s condition stabilizes to the point where surgery is unnecessary, all of the money will go to charity.
