In Balıkesir, a cat suffering from a cleft palate that caused constant sneezing was successfully treated using medical materials typically used for nasal disorders in humans.
The 1.5-year-old British breed cat, named "Şahika," was brought to Balıkesir University Veterinary Faculty Animal Hospital by her owner, Melike Bali, after she had been sneezing up to 100 times a day and had difficulty eating and drinking due to the condition.
Prof. Dr. Göksen Ayalp, a specialist in Veterinary Surgery, decided to try a different method to treat the condition, which can be fatal in animals.
Using a septal button, a medical device typically used to close nasal holes in humans, Ayalp's team successfully healed Şahika's cleft palate.
Ayalp explained that the cat had undergone two previous surgeries through the mouth, but the stitches had failed. She stated that this method, which used a silicone medical material, was a first in Türkiye and had only been performed on five cats worldwide.
Ayalp believes that the septal button application will be beneficial in the long term, and Şahika will not need further interventions, only occasional replacements of the material.
Şahika's owner, Melike Bali, shared that she had adopted the cat after finding her on the street a year ago.
Despite two surgeries, the stitches kept opening, and she was told there was no cure for the condition.
After learning about the septal button method, Bali took Şahika to Ayalp, who performed the surgery on October 25. Bali observed a significant improvement in Şahika's condition after the surgery, with the cat sneezing only about 10 times a day now and eating and drinking normally.
