Featured Image Credit: REUTERS / Alamy
Harley Young
A tattooed cat who was smuggled into a Mexican prison is looking for its forever home after being rescued by authorities.
Local police had found the one-year-old cat within the compounds of the Cereso 3 prison where it had suffered from mistreatment and abuse at the hands of a criminal gang, who decided to tattoo the poor creature.
Due to the Sphynx cat's hairless skin, the tattoos can be seen clearly on both sides of its slender frame.
One tattoo reads: "Made in Mexico."
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The ink was etched onto the unsuspecting animal's body in the City of Juarez, Mexico.
After being given the all clear from veterinarians, the cat - who is yet to be named - has been put up for adoption in order to find the right home where they will be loved and taken care of.
Cesar Rene Diaz, ecology director for the city of Juarez, told Reuters that: "The cat is very sociable and is in great shape with no infections."
Sphynx cats are renowned for their friendly and affectionate nature, often being referred to as more dog-like than cat-like due to their loyal companionship making them a popular, loveable pet.
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The breed is famous for its unusually bald coat, often feeling rubbery or like velvet dependant on the coat texture.
Their skin also sits looser than their fellow feline counterparts, resulting in loose skin that forms adorable wrinkles around the face and neck areas.
Due to their lack of fur, the Sphynx's bone structure and muscles are clearly visible making them an interesting animal to watch.
Diaz says the cat can be adopted by someone outside of Mexico as long as that person is accredited and willing to take on the necessary care the cat will require.
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The handsome feline has become a bit of a celebrity at the rescue facility where he's been staying, with many flocking to take photos of him as he posed nicely during the hearing.
A final decision on who will adopt the cat will be made on 1 March by the committee of city authorities, who will then present the cat to his new family.