Birmingham foster kitten with rare ear mutation draws national attention.

Dobby, a 7-month-old foster kitten in Birmingham with auricular polyotia, drew wide online attention after photos and posts circulated; he needs dental surgery scheduled for April and remains in rescue care.

Dobby is a 7-month-old foster kitten in Birmingham with an unusual ear appearance. His foster carer is Stephanie Brown, who volunteers with Kitty Kat Haven and Rescue. The condition is described as auricular polyotia, a congenital anomaly that produces extra non-functional ear flaps. Images and social posts about Dobby attracted wide online attention and were later picked up by broader outlets. Key details: - Dobby is in foster care with Stephanie Brown at Kitty Kat Haven and Rescue in Birmingham. - He has auricular polyotia, which creates extra non-functional ear flaps. - The double ears do not affect his hearing, as reported in the article. - Dobby has an overbite that requires dental surgery, which is scheduled for April. - A Reddit post received more than 27,000 upvotes in a black cat community, and Newsweek picked up the story. - Brown has fostered more than 130 cats and said Dobby is not yet adoptable while he awaits surgery and recovery. Summary: Dobby's images prompted wide online attention and coverage beyond local circles. His next scheduled step is dental surgery in April; other timelines for adoption are undetermined at this time. The foster and rescue have shared updates, including requests for fundraising ideas and mentions of volunteer needs.