The tabby and white cat, named Hope, was initially thought to be female when she was brought in to Cats Protection’s rescue center in Warrington – but vets found no external genitalia. While vets said they have seen hermaphrodite cats, with both male and female genitalia, Hope, who is 15 weeks old, has no external or internal genitalia. Cats Protection senior veterinary officer Fiona Brockbank said it appeared to be a case of agenesis – the failure of an organ to develop – that she and her colleagues had never seen before. The charity said tests showed Hope would not be otherwise affected by the condition. The kitten is waiting to be taken to Cats Protection’s Tyneside Adoption Centre. “We did a procedure to look for genitalia, but there’s nothing obvious inside or out,” Ms Brockbank said. “There is an outside chance that there is some ectopic ovarian tissue hiding internally, but we think this is extremely unlikely. “This is so rare that there isn’t really a widely used term for this condition, but it’s essentially genital agenesis – where agenesis is the lack or failure of development in relation to the organs of the body.” Ms Brockbank said: “This is not something we have come across before at Cats Protection. “While this means we have no previous cases to base our knowledge on how this will affect Hope in the future, we have spent time monitoring this cat to make sure she can urinate and defecate properly before she is considered ready for return at home.” Hope is described as a playful kitten who has become a favorite with staff and volunteers. “None of us have seen this before or are likely to see it again” Tyneside Adoption Center manager Beni Benstead said: “Discovering Hope’s special status was an exciting moment as none of us have seen this before or are likely to see it again. “Hope has been a joy to care for and it’s fantastic that they are now up for adoption. “We know they will bring someone many years of fun and companionship. We would also be extremely grateful to hear any updates on our Tyneside superstar.” Hope originally came with her mother and three siblings from a busy family who didn’t think she would be able to give them the attention they needed, a spokeswoman for Cats Protection said. The kitten has been vaccinated and microchipped and insurance company Petplan has confirmed it will not need special cover, she added.
