This abandoned cat has been nicknamed Captain Kirk – can you see why?

November 13: The animal’s peculiar birth defect has led to the kitty being nicknamed Captain Kirk – due to its “final front-ear”

This is the three-eared cat that rescuers found abandoned near a garage in Norfolk. The unusual birth defect has led to the kitty being nicknamed Captain Kirk – due to its “final front-ear”.

Staff at Feline Care Cat Rescue in East Harling were taken back when the moggy was brought to them. He was discovered on Monday near the remote cat sanctuary, which is on the edge of an industrial estate. It is believed he may have been dumped or ended up on the back of a lorry.

Manager Molly Farrar said in all her 30 years of practice it was the first three-eared cat she had ever come across.

“It’s obviously a really rare thing as our vet hasn’t seen it as well,” Ms Farrar told the BBC . “We see plenty of cats with no tails, some tails, only a little bit of tail missing, cats with three legs, one eye, cats with all kinds of disabilities, but this is something quite special.”

While Captain Kirk has been banded around as a nickname, staff have given the animal the moniker Brian – the name of the man who found him. Brian is believed to be between four and eight years old.If no one comes forward as his owner he will be rehomed.