Kitten's owner hopes TV's Super Vet can cure skin growing over her cat's mouth

Julie Tattler of Noah's Ark Rescue and Sanctuary in Tarleton is appealing to TV's supervet on behalf of her rescue kitten Betty.
Betty can't open her mouth properly - she has had four operations to "tear the skin", but skin keeps growing back and Julie says the TV supervet is her last hope. The Sanctuary has set up an appeal for Betty, who has to have physio every hour. — Julie Tattler of Noah's Ark Rescue and Sanctuary in Tarleton is appealing to TV's supervet on behalf of her rescue kitten Betty. Betty can't open her mouth properly - she has had four operations to "tear the skin", but skin keeps growing back and Julie says the TV supervet is her last hope. The Sanctuary has set up an appeal for Betty, who has to have physio every hour.

The owner of a 17-week-old kitten is appealing to TV's '˜The Super Vet' to help solve the mystery of skin growing over her mouth.

Tortoiseshell Betty has already had four operations to ’tear’ the skin over her mouth but it has grown back meaning she struggles to eat and risks choking on her own vomit.

Raised in Julie Tattler’s home sanctuary Noah’s Ark Rescue in Tarleton, the 45-year-old is now hoping Channel 4’s Dr Noel Fitzpatrick can find a solution.

“He’s renowned for thinking outside the box,” Julie said. “If anyone can do it, it’ll be him.”

Betty’s operations started when she was just eight weeks old when she was referred to a veterinary specialist in Kendal by Bamber Bridge vet Chris Mason.

“The operations managed to remove the skin from over her mouth but it always healed too well and came back within a few weeks,” mobile hairdresser Julie said.

“She was able to lick her nose and clean herself for the first time so we kept going back and having it done.

“Eventually it was obvious we were fighting a losing battle and not wanting to put her through even more we started to look elsewhere.”

Dr Mason and the Kendal specialist then referred Betty to Dr Fitzpatrick and Julie is now waiting to see if he’ll take her case.

The show ‘Super Vet’ showcases Fitzpatrick and his staff treating hard-to-cure ailments with innovative care and surgical techniques.

Nicknamed ‘The Bionic Vet’, Fitzpatrick employs more than 100 people at his clinic in Surrey.

Julie, who runs the sanctuary with partner Chris, said: “We’re not sure how much it is going to cost so we’ve set up a GoFundMe page.

“She really is a lovely cat and I think she is exactly the sort of case they’d be after so hopefully they’ll help us.”

To donate to Betty’s appeal go to GoFundMe

To keep up-to-date with her progress you can also follow Betty’s Facebook page Betty