Brighten Your Day

Truffles The Cat Wears Glasses To Help Kids Feel Comfortable With Wearing Glasses

January 2, 2020

Truffles the cat is on a mission to help children feel comfortable with going to the eye doctor and wearing glasses.

 

 

 

 

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We gave Truffles' old glasses to her stuffed kitty. This is a great tip for kiddos getting their next pair of glasses. Kiddos have a hard time letting go, but if you have a stuffed animal or doll that can wear them...it helps them ease the transition into a new pair #glasses #eyewear #catsofinstagram #cat #cats #cats_of_instagram #tuxedocatsofinstagram #tuxedocat #catswithjobs #catswithjobstodo #kidsinglasses #kidsinglassesrock

A post shared by Truffles (@truffles_the_kitty) on Dec 21, 2019 at 8:09am PST

Truffles was found as a stray about two years ago by Danielle D. Crull, an optician who specializes in fitting infants through teens at her practice, A Child's Eyes, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

Crull immediately noticed that Truffles was very intelligent and began teaching her tricks.

"I wondered if I could get her to wear a pair of glasses because that would be really great for kids to see, that would make them feel more comfortable," Crull told Fox 10. "Because obviously, in this business, some kids come in and they're fine. But we do get a lot of really shy, scared kids — and especially if their parents don't wear glasses, it's very foreign to them, like 'What are you putting on my face? What are you doing?' So Truffles really became, very quickly, quite an asset to the company."

If a patient is shy or anxious, Crull says things like, "Would you like to see Truffles' glasses? Truffles has glasses!"

 

 

 

 

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Truffles sporting her new green glasses! #truffles #glasses #cats ##catsofinstagram #cats_of_world #cats_of_instagram #tuxedocatsofinstagram #tuxedocat #solobambini @solobambini

A post shared by Truffles (@truffles_the_kitty) on Aug 5, 2019 at 4:48am PDT

Crull said that Truffles has a true affinity for helping out and that she's quite good at her job of making kids feel safe and comfortable during their visit.

"And in all honesty," she added with a laugh, "I think Truffles likes the attention as well, and the impending treat that's coming, of course."

Crull also taught Truffles how to point to the right shape on the exam chart.

"Teaching that to Truffles was absolutely the hardest thing ever... I couldn't say the word 'no' to her, like every two year old — you can't say no to them because they know, and they get mad at you," Crull explained. "So if I'd say 'no, that's wrong,' she'd get mad and sit back and be like, 'No, I'm not playing anymore.'"

 

 

 

 

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Truffles is teaching kiddos about eye exams by learning the symbols on the eye chart. #catsofinstagram #kidsinglasses #amblyopia #kidsglasses https://www.facebook.com/achildseyes/videos/169206693966711/

A post shared by Truffles (@truffles_the_kitty) on Sep 25, 2018 at 3:53am PDT

All the hard work was worth it, though.

"It was such a hard concept, it took me several months... but I think it's by far one of the best things that parents can show kids to be more comfortable with an eye exam," Crull said.

If you'd like to see more of Truffles, you can follow her on Instagram.