How rare is the condition of sexual organ agenesis in felines?

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Sexual Organ Agenesis in Felines is an Extremely Rare Condition

A stray cat named Hope, discovered to have no external sex organs, presents an exceptionally rare medical anomaly. This condition, effectively termed "sexual organ agenesis," signifies the complete absence or failure of development for these specific body organs. In Hope's case, initial examinations revealed no apparent sex organs externally, and a subsequent procedure found no discernible internal structures either, a situation described as the first of its kind encountered by the shelter.
Agenesis Defined by Lack of Development

Sexual organ agenesis refers to a congenital condition where the body fails to develop specific organs. In felines, this means the absence of either male or female reproductive organs, or in extremely rare instances, both. Unlike conditions such as hermaphroditism, where an animal possesses both male and female sex organs, agenesis denotes a complete developmental failure for these structures.
Unprecedented Case for West Sussex Shelter

The case of Hope is particularly noteworthy as it represents an unprecedented occurrence for the Cats Protection shelter in West Sussex, UK. While hermaphroditic cats are acknowledged as extremely rare, the complete absence of both external and internal sex organs in a feline is so uncommon that a specific, widely recognised term for this precise presentation is not readily available. Fiona Brockbank, a senior field veterinary officer at the shelter, indicated that while there remains an outside, albeit highly unlikely, possibility of some ectopic ovarian tissue being present internally, the current assessment points to a profound developmental absence.
Rarity Hinders Common Terminology and Prevalence Data

The extreme rarity of sexual organ agenesis in felines means that there is no commonly used terminology to describe this specific condition. This lack of frequent occurrence also makes it difficult to establish precise statistical data on its prevalence within the feline population. The effective classification as "sexual organ agenesis" is used to describe the observed lack of development, highlighting the specialised and seldom-encountered nature of such medical situations in cats.

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How rare is the condition of sexual organ agenesis in felines?

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