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By Kate Fowler
Internet Culture & Trends Reporter
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A kitten's tragically short life is breaking hearts online after it was born with bulging eyes and no nose.
The kitten's owner took to TikTok, where they gained over 14 million views as people watched the young feline's first moments.
"My cat just gave birth to an abnormal kitten and I don't know what to do," the owner wrote on-screen, showing herself with her hand covering her mouth.
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In the clip, the tiny kitten can be seen with bulging red eyes and no nose. Its mother sits in a cardboard box, awaiting their reunion. The owner places the "abnormal" kitten back with its mother, who appears to love it regardless and goes to lick it.
There was clearly a serious issue with the kitten because cats are usually born with their eyes closed. They keep them closed for days after to protect their eyes as they develop.
"Because newborn kittens are also hypersensitive to light, it's imperative that their eyes remain shielded until they are ready," reports Catster Magazine.
In a heartbreaking turn of events and despite an influx of online support, the kitten passed away after less than a day. The owner confirmed the news in a second video to their account, writing: "My angel didn't last a day. My angel didn't make it."
The owner has not yet confirmed any diagnosis for the kitten, but many were left pointing out that it may have been born with hydrocephalus, which PetMD describes as "the abnormal dilation, or expansion, of the ventricular system due to an increased volume of spinal fluid."
The condition often causes an abnormally-large dome-shaped head and eye abnormalities.
The kitten's short life has left viewers heartbroken, while some even claimed to be left in tears at the video.
"This isn't the update I expected. I'm literally heartbroken," one wrote.
"You got to meet a rare unique soul and that's still very special. Their short life they knew were loved," added another.
"My heart shattered into a million pieces," noted one user.
In March, a cat born with three eyes similarly melted hearts online after its owner shared images to Reddit, as reported by Newsweek. Unfortunately the kitten also only lived for a short time, needing to be euthanized just days later.
"Along with its deformed eye it had a cleft palate, there was nothing I could do to help it," the owner shared in an update online.
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