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5/5/11

Lucky Update- the Atresia Ani Kitten



A few people have written to ask how Lucky was doing.   So here's an update.  Lucky has gained some weight and is now about 5 lbs. 

Did I tell you that we know think she is a he?  I can't remember. I know I mentioned it on Facebook. If I did, you get to hear it again . . . . .

Let's back track a little.  Lucky had surgery to fix the atresia ani birth defect right at the end of Feb and first of March.  The sutures came out from that 2 weeks later on March 16th.  That was all fine.  So we were waiting for all that to heal a little further, get a little bigger, gain a little weight to "spay" Lucky.  So sometime around the 2nd week of April, Lucky had gotten up to 4 lbs.  (which is still little, so I decided to spay her).  From the outside, Lucky appears to be a female.  Inside, I couldn't find a uterus.  So I sewed he/she/it back up.   We could feel 2 little blips down his back leg that I "think" might be testicles.  Asides from being born with no colon,  he/she/it is far from being anatomically correct. I sort of suspect that he might be a hermaphrodite,  with both sex organs, or some bizarre genetic something or other-  like an extra X chromosome-  XXY instead of a XX or a XY.   (There are tests available to identify this, but they are expensive ($100-250) and they take a huge blood sample.  Testing really wouldn't change much at this point, so I'm holding off on those for now.)

After rooting around looking for a uterus, I didn't feel like chasing blips, so I decided to leave them alone for a little longer till he is a little older and larger.  Making them (the suspect testicle blips)  easier to find and identify.   And I still might have to send them to a pathologist to confirm they are in fact testicles. . . . .


So over the past few weeks, I've kept the camcorder out just making little video clips of Lucky and the other cats.   Well, them and the 13 year cicadas outside.  (You won't believe when you hear those videos).

 Someone asked about a Lucky update, so I strung all the little videos together into 17 minutes of Lucky.  Way more of Lucky that you ever wanted to see.  You'll be sorry you asked.   It took almost 6 hours to upload to Youtube.  All the while I'm hoping that the lights don't flicker off and knock off the modem.  And have to start all over.  (You're Welcome. . . .)

I almost neutered him this week, but then decided I was too tired (read lazy) to play, "Find the testicle" so it's on my to do list for early next week.   After that,  he'll be officially up for adoption.   Don't everyone fight over  he/she/it.   I know you are just imagining what fun dinner conversation you'll be having with your guests, trying to explain that your cat was born without a colon AND  both man and lady parts.

Enjoy-

5 comments:

Nancy Griffin said...

Andy,
I don't do Facebook, so really appreciate getting the blog on my email with the terrific 17-minute video of Lucky and the other cats. That Lucky is one beautiful, alert kitten. Hope you find a good home for her/him/it.

Anonymous said...

How delightful to see Lucky playing and romping around with the others :) Nice too, to see the fur growing back over that troubled back end!! What a little sweetheart. x

Unknown said...

Lucky has grown so much! Thank you Dr. Andy for giving her/him a shot at life.

Rebecca said...

Thanks for the Lucky update! I appreciate you doing it :-) the 17 minutes of video is wonderful! I remain hopeful that someone will want to adopt our little he/she

Anonymous said...

Love the way the cats look at you when the dog barks as if you are making the noise. My cats have the same expression when it is raining - apparently rain is my fault entirely :-)

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