Our male cat gave birth! A 1-in-6-million event in Izmir

In a remarkable and rare event, a cat named Cengo, residing in the Urla district of Izmir, has given birth, much to the astonishment of its owner, Aylin Bermant. Cengo, a tabby cat adopted from the streets 13 months ago, was consistently believed to be male until the surprising delivery.

Veterinarian İsmail Ekmekçioğlu identified Cengo as a hermaphrodite, a condition characterized by having both male and female reproductive organs. This congenital anomaly is exceptionally rare, with an estimated occurrence of about 1 in 6 million cases. Ekmekçioğlu explained that while the male organs were not functional, the female reproductive organs were more developed, enabling Cengo to conceive and give birth.

Bermant recounted the surprising discovery, stating that she found a kitten next to Cengo in its box one morning. The family has named the kitten Bambi. She mentioned that Cengo had not shown any signs of pregnancy, such as a swollen belly, making the birth entirely unexpected. The family had initially assumed Cengo was male, allowing it to roam outside, which likely led to the mating.

The birth brought a much-needed moment of joy and surprise to the family, who had been mourning the loss of two other cats just days prior. "We were in mourning and going through a sad period. We went to see it, we were happy, we were delighted. It made us smile, it surprised us," Bermant shared. She added, "We said, 'Our male cat gave birth.' It's a very rare thing. Such happiness came after the grief we experienced. It made us smile again."

There is a possibility that the kitten, Bambi, may also be hermaphroditic, though its gender has not yet been definitively determined. Ekmekçioğlu described the situation as a "miracle of nature," noting that while such cases are more commonly observed in goats and kids, it is an incredibly interesting and beautiful phenomenon when it occurs in cats.