Black Panther was growing into a happy, playful kitten, though his head was a bit larger than expected. Almost overnight, he became lethargic and unsteady on his feet, and his head began swelling rapidly. He was rushed to the emergency vet, where doctors relieved a dangerous buildup of cerebrospinal fluid. One week later, it happened again, and an MRI confirmed obstructive hydrocephalus.
A human pediatric neurosurgeon, who performs similar procedures on premature newborns, operated on Black Panther and removed the obstruction. A small reservoir was placed beneath the skin on his head to safely drain fluid if the blockage ever returns.
