Louie has a unique way of playing – he enjoys chasing after paper balls, even though he can’t see them. Born without tear ducts or pupils, he navigates the world with his bright blue eyes and relies on his whiskers and ears to explore and map out his surroundings. Kerry Denman, who adopted Louie by chance seven years ago in London, now shares his adventures with his almost 30,000 followers on Instagram. She admits that she had originally hesitated to get a cat due to the responsibility, but Louie has brought so much joy and love into her life.
To make up for not having a cat of my own, I would sometimes visit friends who had kittens just to get my cat fix. This is how I came across him. One day, I stopped by a family’s house near my parents’ place where they had a litter of kittens. I was just there for some cuddles, not to actually take a kitten home. However, it seemed like the owners didn’t quite catch on to that because as soon as I entered the room, they pointed out a little ball of fur on top of a laundry basket, warning me not to bother with him as he had some eye issues. This kitten, who would later be named Louie, was malnourished and had cloudy eyes so big that it made me believe he was blind. I left that day feeling uneasy, thinking that the owners were just neglecting this poor kitten and leaving him to his fate.
Louis, who is now seven years old, faced rejection from his mother and siblings, which led his owners to believe he was not worth adopting. Worried about his future, Kerry decided to bring him home. Despite his eye issues, which were found to be untreatable with no clear diagnosis, Kerry was willing to love him just the same. Louis’ eye problems involve no pupils or tear ducts, leading to frequent flickering, possibly due to a neurological condition. Additionally, he has patellar luxation in all his legs, a common condition in dogs, causing his knees to slightly dislocate when he walks. While he had a temporary leg issue in the past, a full-body scan revealed his skeleton was slightly off, yet not causing him any significant problems. In December 2018, Louis was diagnosed with stage two kidney disease, but it has since stabilized. Despite his various health challenges, Kerry remains dedicated to providing him with a loving home, focusing on his happiness rather than seeking a definitive diagnosis or cure for his conditions.
Kerry’s affection for Louie has grown over the seven beautiful years they have spent together, despite facing some challenges. When they moved in with Kerry’s partner, Louie quickly formed a special bond with him. In December, a scare had Kerry fearing for Louie’s life as they thought he was seriously ill. Luckily, it turned out to be a false alarm, but the scare inspired Kerry to create @Louie_blind_cat on Instagram. Recalling the scare, Kerry shared, “One morning, I found blood on Louie’s mouth and rushed him to the vet. The vet suspected a large tumor under his tongue, possibly Squamous Cell Carcinoma. They prepared us for the worst, but thankfully, it turned out to be something less severe.” This scary experience prompted the creation of Louie’s Instagram account, allowing Kerry to share his journey with a wider audience.
It was definitely one of the most challenging weeks of my life. I was so perplexed because my cat seemed perfectly fine, eating, using the litter box, and playing like usual. But the vet’s words hit me hard: “He’s concealing his pain. That’s just how cats are.” I found myself facing difficult decisions about whether to have him put to sleep, choosing a container for his ashes, and shedding tears nonstop. When the test results finally came in, I was informed that there were no cancerous cells present; instead, they discovered bacteria and infection. I was skeptical at first. After spending a week mourning the imminent loss of my cat, I was now being told he wasn’t dying after all? The vets were equally surprised; they had never encountered a situation where the growth in his mouth didn’t turn out to be SCC. The cause of the mass remained a mystery. The treatment plan involved giving him steroids, an antibiotic injection, and bringing him back for weekly check-ups. The uncertainty of it all left me feeling a mix of relief and confusion.
I was feeling frustrated because someone else considered putting him down that same week thinking he was at death’s door. However, I realized that advocating for an animal entails risks – a veterinarian may not always make the right call and could act impulsively out of concern for the animal’s well-being. This experience taught me a valuable lesson – never assume something until you have all the facts in front of you. Unfortunately, the steroid treatment did not have the desired effect, and the vet suggested a second surgery to completely remove the mass, with the risk of losing part of his tongue. We proceeded with the surgery in December, and so far, there has been no recurrence of the mass,” Kerry explains. “The mass was biopsied again, and no cancerous cells were found. It was during this time that the vet discovered his kidney disease. This led me to create his Instagram account in March 2019 – as a way to cherish his memories, though it may sound gloomy. The thought of losing him made me realize that he is not going to be around forever, and I wanted a special place just for him. Kerry uses his Instagram to showcase Louie’s daily activities and to support other cats with special needs, raising awareness in the process.
Meet Louie, a unique feline born without tear ducts or pupils, who manages to thrive despite his lack of sight. His owner explains that while some may question his blindness when watching his videos on Instagram, Louie’s heightened other senses and whiskers help him navigate the world with ease. She mentions that because Louie has been blind since birth, he has mentally mapped out his territory and adapted to his surroundings effortlessly. To assist him, his owner ensures not to move his essential items like food and litter tray, and they use noises to guide him and prevent accidents while he plays with his paper balls. Overall, Louie’s incredible abilities showcase just how remarkable cats can be when faced with challenges.
Above all, his Instagram followers adore his incredible personality. Kerry explains: “He dashes around like crazy chasing his crumpled up paper balls. At times, he even follows me and his cat dad, playfully attacking our feet. In his own unique way, he is incredibly affectionate and loving. He shows his love by giving us gentle nose kisses and cuddling between my legs in bed, although he never sits on laps. He tolerates being held by his cat dad for short periods of time and enjoys sitting on the balcony, taking in the smells and sounds of the outdoors. His favorite treats are Dreamies and catnip. And his tiny meows are absolutely adorable and never fail to warm my heart.”
