Vets were shocked to find a cat who was pouring with blood and on the brink of death had a wire in his mouth for more than seven years.

Stanley Black, a former stray cat, was adopted by Sue Ainsley and her mother Vera and moved into their home in Watford around seven years ago.

He appeared to settle in well. But recently, the mother and daughter noticed a deterioration in Stanley's health. He began suffering breathing problems, lack of appetite, and discomfort - which led him to stand on his back legs like a meerkat.

Sue and Vera took their beloved cat to the vet due to the bleeding which they assumed was due to a ruptured tumour.

The daytime vets suggested a foreign body or polyps might be causing his problems. But within a few days of that appointment, Stanley’s health began to deteriorate rapidly.

Watford Observer:
The cat was taken back to the vets and when staff looked inside Stanley's mouth, they were shocked to find his jaw had been wired together.

Sue said: “He started bleeding from the mouth and it was just awful. I thought he was dying with some kind of horrible tumour burst in his mouth, He must be about 12-years-old and we were so worried for him.

“We rang Vets Now, the emergency vet in Hemel Hempstead, and when we got him there the vet looked in his mouth and knew straight away what was happening.

“Stanley’s jaw had been wired and the wire was sticking out and lacerating his tongue. I was so surprised as we didn’t realise he had wiring in his jaw. Every time he had been trying to eat it must have been cutting him.”

Watford Observer:

Vets believe the wire had been stuck in Stanley's mouth for years and that he may have been involved in a road accident before he was adopted seven years ago.

The wire was removed without the need for anaesthetic and Stanley was soon able to eat again and put on some of the weight he had lost.

Sue continued: “It was amazing how quickly the vet knew what the problem was. Stanley seems to appreciate what has happened and is sitting on my lap a lot more since the ordeal.”

Senior Vet Michelle Dawson said: “Stanley was in a lot of pain when he was admitted and was constantly pawing at his mouth. Once we’d removed the blood clots around his mouth we could see the wire was the cause of his problems.

“His condition improved as soon as we gave him pain relief and removed the wire.

“It seems like Stanley has been in the wars over the years and has clearly used up some of his nine lives, so we’re all glad to hear he’s now back to his old self and enjoying being pampered by Sue and Vera.”