http://www.ketchikandailynews.com/cg...tongueless+cat
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Tongueless cat, litter rescued
KDN Staff
Even after 16 years of animal rescue work and 14 years as a pet groomer, Gretchen Moore had never seen a dirtier, uglier, skinnier cat than the one dropped off at the Ketchikan Humane Society about 10 days ago. On top of everything else, the homeless feline is missing a tongue, but somehow managed to raise three healthy kittens.
The emaciated female cat and its offspring were found living in between the Sheetrock and outside wall of a garage, said Moore, who works with the Humane Society.
After they were rescued and brought to her shelter, she said, she immediately made a vet appointment for the filthy feline family, to test them for disease and to give them a general checkup.
The vet confirmed the mother cat has only about a quarter-inch of tongue inside its mouth, Moore said. It is not known whether the cat’s condition is due to a birth defect or an injury. In spite of that malady, Moore said the cat, which she named “Mona Lisa” because of its homely appearance, manages to care for the kittens using its bottom lip to clean them.
The cat and the three kittens — who all have normal tongues — are available for adoption, said Moore. However, she warned, Mona Lisa still is not a particularly attractive feline.
“She’s kind of the ugliest thing you’ve ever seen,” she said. “You know how some things are so ugly they’re cute? Well, she’s so ugly she’s cute.”
For more detail on this story, see Leila Kheiry’s article in the Aug. 6-7, 2005, edition of the Ketchikan Daily News.
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