A cat with no eyes has gone viral on TikTok – but his owner has an important message for fans.
Dmitri, a three-year-old moggy from Greece, was adopted by 27-year-old owner Emma Pelkiewicz, in January 2019.
The poorly pet was found as a stray, suffering from an infection – which led to the removal of his eyeballs.
But now he’s settled in with Emma, at her London home, the sweet cat is thriving.
His daily exploits have landed him a huge following on TikTok, where Emma shares clips of his life.
In one video, Dmitri can be seen perching on the edge of a table while he tries to find Emma by meowing and extending his paw to her.
One person commented on the video: ‘You are the most beautiful cat I have ever seen.’
Someone else added: ‘Hi Dmitri, you’re so handsome.’
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In another clip, which has been viewed more than two million times, Dmitri can be heard purring as he receives a belly rub.
Emma hopes Dmitri’s online fame will encourage more people to adopt pets – no matter their limitations.
‘There’s something very special and beautiful about Dmitri and I love that people all over the world adore him as much as I do,’ Emma tells Jam Press.
‘I really hope Dmitri’s online presence inspires other people to adopt animals with disabilities.’
Emma had always wanted a rescue cat, so the opportunity to adopt Dmitri was perfect.
She said: ‘I live in a flat with no garden space so I needed to find a cat that couldn’t go outdoors – it was recommended to me to adopt a blind cat.
‘I contacted a cat charity and arranged a visit with Dmitri’s fosterers.
‘It was a little bit of a shock to see a cat without eyes at first, but he was so affectionate and mischievous and I knew he was the cat for me.
‘Other than the fact he has to stay indoors, he doesn’t act that differently to other cats.
She adds: ‘He is an indoor cat because it wouldn’t be safe for him to explore on his own. When I visit family, I let him explore an enclosed garden with supervision
‘Since his other senses are so fine-tuned, his blindness doesn’t hold him back.
‘He knows my flat off by heart, climbs the furniture, plays with toys, catches flies. He’s amazing.’
Emma says Dmitri’s viral status has been a ‘wonderful surprise’ and she hopes he will inspire other people adopt.
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