A STRAY kitten stunned staff at the Blue Cross after it was found to be a hermaphrodite – having both male and female organs.

Seven-month old Jamie was brought into Blue Cross Burford by veterinary charity PDSA along with his brother Curtis.

But when Blue Cross sent Jamie to a private vet for routine neutering they found the kitten had female as well as male genitalia – making for a series of much more complicated procedures.

Blue Cross animal welfare supervisor Lydia Sawyer said: "No one at the centre has ever seen a case like this.

"We thought Jamie was a boy and it was only when he went to an external vet for routine neutering that they discovered he is a hermaphrodite.

"Jamie was castrated then went down for investigatory surgery to make sure he was sterile and to make sure there were no other complications."

Jamie is now fit and well and has gone off to live with his brother at their new home.

Commenting on the case, Blue Cross vet Seb Prior said: "Hermaphrodite kittens like Jamie are rare but they're not unheard of. We certainly see all kinds of cases working at an animal charity.

"The amount of development of the male and female parts varies and the genitalia that develop are affected by several things so every kitten with this condition is a little different.

"It can result from abnormal chromosomes, hormone production or problems that occur during the kittens development before birth. In some kittens it can cause recurrent infections and difficulties with the neutering operation but we're really pleased that Jamie has done so well and is settling into his new home."