Instagram star Sunglass Cat: the social media sensation with 500,000 followers and 600 pairs of shades
- Born without eyelids and unable to produce tears, Bagel the cat wears sunglasses to protect her sensitive eyes from dust and debris
- Her owner, Karen McGill, has made her one of the world’s most influential pets thanks to her blingy eyewear and accessories
A southern Californian with white socks and crystal-encrusted sunglasses crawls onto a wooden chest at a hotel in downtown Washington as a photographer snaps away.
The model does not fuss when the camera lens encroaches on her personal space or protest when her handler adjusts her body for a more charitable angle. But after several stoic minutes, she can no longer stifle her own needs. She rolls onto her side, stretches her back leg and licks the full length of her limb.
She bends her head down and cleans her chest. She wets her paw and runs it over her head like a comb. In the process, she knocks off her glasses, revealing olive green eyes that never close.
The model’s name is Bagel. Bagel is a cat, but not just any cat. The six-year-old rescue cat from a Los Angeles County shelter is known for her collection of fashionable sunglasses, a stylish accessory born of necessity, not vanity.
When Bagel was a kitten, her owner, Karen McGill, discovered that she suffered from eyelid agenesis, a congenital condition that prevents the eyelids from developing. The absence of natural shades means that Bagel cannot blink or clear debris from her eyes.
