Otter, the little cat who wore a custom helmet to avoid injuries: he had a congenital defect

Otter is a rescued cat who had to wear a helmet because he had a congenital skull deformity that left part of his brain exposed.

The feline had captured the attention of thousands of users on social media for the device he was using while waiting for the right moment to undergo surgery.

Recently, it was reported that the little animal made a successful recovery after undergoing delicate brain surgery.

Otter was taken in by Baby Kitten Rescue in Los Angeles, along with his sister Bunny, after being found in critical condition in Northern California, United States.

Both suffered from infections, malnutrition , and, in Otter's case, a cranial defect that prevented his brain from being properly protected.

For the first few months of his life, Otter wore a small patch on his head and later a custom-made black helmet to prevent him from hitting walls or furniture.

Caroline Grace, the rescue center's manager, explained to NeedToKnow.online that keeping Otter in a padded, bacteria-free environment was crucial to his survival: " If he hit his head, he could suffer brain damage or even die because his skull was open."

Thanks to a designer named Bruce, the cat received a custom helmet, the creation of which was shared publicly to help other animals with similar conditions, according to the website 'Cole and Marmalade'.

Once Otter finished growing, specialists at Metropolitan Animal Specialty Hospital (MASH) performed surgery to place a titanium mesh over the hole in his skull.

According to the same media outlet, the procedure was successful and the cat returned home with an incision resembling a crest, which generated even more tenderness among his followers.

The medical team reported that Otter's technical diagnosis was encephalocele , a protrusion of the brain covered by protective membranes and cerebrospinal fluid.

Surprisingly, after the operation, the cat stopped showing signs of hydrocephalus and no longer shows abnormal fluid accumulation in the brain.

A month and a half after the surgery, in January 2023, Otter no longer needed his helmet. “He’s doing incredibly well. He’s healed so quickly, it’s like he never had brain surgery,” the Baby Kitten Rescue team posted on Instagram.

In this way, Otter became a symbol of resilience and the benefits of specialized veterinary care for animals with special needs.

Additionally, Baby Kitten Rescue shared the news that Otter and his sister, Bunny, found a home and were adopted by the same person.

DIGITAL REACH EDITORIAL