Tiger, leopard and cheetah undergoing medical scans

By Isobel Williams

A tiger, a leopard and a cheetah underwent medical scans to help tackle their mobility problems.

Three patients from the Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent, were sent for advanced CT scans on Monday (Oct 27) following lameness or stiffness in their limbs.

The cats involved were Luca, a four-year-old Amur Tiger; Django, a ten-year-old Mainland Clouded Leopard; and Mo, a four-year-old Southern African Cheetah.

The large animals were loaded into the bespoke mobile unit following sedation using an anaesthetic administered via a dart gun.

Once immobilized, they were gently moved to the rented machine - brought on-site specifically for the day's procedures - where high-resolution scans were carried out.

A CT scan, or computed tomography scan, is an imaging procedure that uses a combination of X-rays and computer technology to create detailed cross-sectional images of the body.

Briony Smith, Curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said: “The entire day was a brilliant demonstration of collaborative animal welfare.

“Ensuring the comfort and safety of our cats is always our top priority, and bringing the mobile CT unit here allowed us to achieve that goal smoothly and efficiently.

"The crucial partnership between The Big Cat Sanctuary, our specialist vets Elliot Simpson-Brown and Valerie Freeman, and Burgess Diagnostics has been vital in taking this significant next step towards understanding and resolving the mobility issues for Luca, Django, and Mo.”

Following their scans, the three wild cats were transported back to their respective habitats whilst still sedated, where the anaesthetic was reversed.

The CT images will now be analysed by specialist veterinary radiographers and a detailed report with findings will be available in approximately two weeks.