Rescued sibling kittens called ‘The Umbles’ were born with eyelid agenesis, a painful condition causing underdeveloped, misformed eyelids. The cause isn’t known, but it can affect multiple kittens in the same litter. As a result, the kittens’ eyelashes constantly scraped their delicate eyes. If left untreated, the corneas become ulcerated, and living that way must be like torture. Even so, the Umbles refused to give up and always made the best of life.
Tumble (calico), Bumble (black and white) and Rumble (all black)
Safe in their new foster home, they got a chance to live like the happy kittens they deserved to be.
“Bumble and Rumble cuddling on top of Mumble. Sometimes my life sounds like a Dr. Seuss book!” shared fosterinfelines.
Images and media via Instagram/fosterinfelines
Sanctuary for the Umbles
The Umbles life changed when a kind woman and her daughter rescued them from the streets in Los Angeles.
The Umbles were resued from the streets of Los Angeles via Milo’s Sanctuary on Facebook.
From there, they were extraordinarily lucky to go to a caring foster home for Milo’s Sanctuary. These kitten experts would give them careful attention and vet care to finally relieve the constant irritation. Before they got this chance though, several other rescues had turned them away.
Video above: Kitten photo shoot by @cat_portraits.la featuring kittens from @milos_sanctuary and fostered by @fosternfelines
By the time they arrived in foster care, though, Tumble (calico girl) and Bumble (black and white boy) had already lost their vision. In Tumble’s case actually, she was born without eyes at all! Even so, all were amazingly adaptable, playing with toys like other kittens. Nothing stopped them from having fun!
Eyelid agenesis is similar to entropion but slightly different. While entropion is usually related to excessively long eyelids that curve under, agenesis is when part or all of the upper eyelid is missing. We previously shared the story of a beautiful Maine Coon, Aslan, who suffered from entropion until he underwent successful eye surgeries.
Top: Rumble and Bumble. Bottom: Bumble, Tumble, and Mumble via Instagram/fosterinfelines
The Umbles Undergo Cryotherapy
Soon after arriving, the Umbles saw an ophthalmologist to determine what could be done to help them. As it turned out, cryotherapy can help remove irritating hairs. Once removed, they can’t scratch against the eye anymore, but it’s a delicate procedure.
Unfortunately, Siamese Mumble passed away after his heart stopped during surgery. After all attempts to save him, he peacefully crossed the rainbow bridge, a heartbreaking loss for foster mom Andrea and the sanctuary. Unfortunately there’s always a slight risk with any surgery but everyone wanted only the best for the Umbles.
“I drove down to the vet this morning and spent time with him and held him in my arms as he crossed. I promised him he would not be forgotten,” she shared.
Mumble the Siamese sadly passed away during surgery.
After Mumble’s passing, the remaining Umbles carried on without their brother. They were doing great and started looking for a home, but many months went by without any luck. Nevertheless, the three continued to become more confident, playful and loving. As we’ve shared before, blind cats have incredible SupurrPowers. You can see Tumble, born without eyes, is playing with a feather toy in the video below. How does she do it?
Tumble the Umble born without eyes
“I wanted to show you how Tumble, who was born without eyes, has figured out how to play with this toy. She uses her paw to move the stick, she then can hear the bell and find the feathers!” Andrea shared.
The Three Siblings Stay Together Furever
After about 6 months in foster care, the Umbles found the purrfect furever home…together! Now they love goofing around in their own catio area, listening to bird sounds, and playing with their human and a dog sister, who even watches TV with them.
“The forever home goodbye is always bittersweet. This one is especially hard because we have been together for 6 months! And the four of us have gone through a lot. Tumble and Rumble were so shy when they first got here and are now completely socialized. We lost Mumble. But through it all, these three have been the best little cats ever, and I’m going to miss them terribly. But my heart is so happy that the three of them get to stay together that it makes goodbye a bit easier,” Andrea wrote.
The Umbles in their furever home with their new dog sister via Milo’s Sanctuary
For more, you can follow and support the Umble’s foster mom Andrea Murphy on Instagram and Milo’s Santuary on Instagram and Facebook.
Bumble, Tumble, and Rumble sleep in cardboard boxes
