Meet the elderly moggy with no ears who looks just like his cuddly seal best friend
Adorable Otitis, who lost his ears after suffering from inflammatory cysts, has become an internet star
AN ELDERLY cat with no ears might not be everyone’s first choice of pet, but for one woman it was “love at first sight”.
Since being adopted by Molly Lichtenwalner, adorable Otitis, who lost his ears after suffering from inflammatory cysts, has become an internet star and looks exactly like his seal toy best friend.
Molly, 23, set her heart on adopting a special needs pet after a car accident left her with a brain injury and anxiety and was overjoyed when she found Otitis.
The earless moggy had suffered from Otitis externa, and his owners had given him to the Feline Rescue Association (FRA) of Baltimore as they couldn’t afford the vet bills.
Staff raised funds to have the surgery he needed, which resulted in his ears being removed, and put him up for adoption where Molly found him.
What made their little family complete was a blue-eyed cuddly baby seal toy that Molly spotted and brought home for Otitis to play with.
Molly said: "I bought it a couple months after I adopted him. At this point, people were telling me that he looked like a seal, and as I was walking in the mall, I saw the toy in the window.
"I immediately thought of Otitis because not only was it a white seal, but it had the blue eyes. I had to buy it once I saw it because it just reminded me so much of my precious fur baby."
Molly has now registered loveable Otitis as her Emotional Support Animal.
The student reading speech-language pathology in Lancaster, Pennsylvania says cuddles with the deaf cat have improved her health dramatically.
Molly said that what he lacks in ears he makes up for in personality, and commented: "He loves people and the more people he has for snuggles the better!
“Nothing is better at the end of the day than coming home to snuggles and unconditional love from Otitis.
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"If he had his way, his humans would lay in bed with him all day and just give him love and attention.
"I grew up on a farm with many cats and none of them were ever as snuggly and friendly as Otitis.
"A few years ago, I was in a pretty bad car accident and suffered from anxiety as a result.
"Growing up on a farm, I was always surrounded by animals, and after my accident, I realised just how much animals help me and my mental health.
"I am happy to say that we are both so much happier, and he is even my registered Emotional Support Animal.
"He is doing such a great job that I was even discharged from my doctors because his care is so good! Nothing like animal love!"
Until Molly saw earless Otitis up for adoption online no one had shown any interest in him but now he has fans around the world and will star in a children's book.
When Molly created @theadventuresofotitis to share photos of her cat with friends and family she had no idea he would become such an Instagram star.
Molly said: "I have been blown away by the response to him online. I thought that his followers would only ever be my friends and family and my friends' families.
"I always knew that when I was ready for a pet, I was going to adopt a special needs animal. I had lots of experience with animals on the farm and I wanted to give a pet a home that would often be turned away or left in shelters for a long time.
"I enquired about him and found out that others asked about him and his history, but never put in an application to adopt him - I was the first."
The caring cat lover said she submitted her application, met him, and brought him home right away and it was the best decision she have ever made.
She said: "In 2016, I finally felt stable enough to care for an animal, so I went on PetFinder and there he was. I immediately knew that I needed to adopt him.
"He immediately approaches new people and gives them lots of head butts and snuggles. He sleeps with us every night and has his own spot in the bed between the pillows.
"My main goal was to spread awareness for special needs animals. I wanted people to see how great special needs animals are because often times they hear the words 'special needs' and immediately get turned away.
"They are amazing animals and deserve every chance at a home.
"It has been an amazing experience, and because of his incredible fan base, we were able to raise a successful Kickstarter campaign for his upcoming children's book.
"I only hope that we have inspired others to consider and adopt other special needs fur babies."
In May we revealed Omar the giant moggie who measures almost FOUR FEET and may soon be crowned the longest cat in the world.
Earlier this year, we revealed the 7ft Great Dane that weighs the same as a baby elephant and chomps through 15kg of food every two weeks and the giant capybara rodent who loves playing with his dog pal.