Cat's life saved thanks to titanium skull

Titanium mesh was used to repair Henry's head, acting as part of his skull

A beloved family cat is "playing like a kitten" again after vets used a titanium skull to help save his life.

Henry, a seven-year-old domestic short-haired cat, was lethargic and not eating properly when he was taken in for a check.

MRI scans at Bristol Vet Specialists showed a large mass pushing on Henry's brain - later revealed to be a benign tumour. Surgeons undertook life-saving surgery, which saw a metal mesh used to repair his head.

Owner Maggie Gibb said: "He runs around in the morning like he's discovered life is good again."

Ms Gibb is now warning others that tumour symptoms can be "subtle".

"We thought he was just slowing down," she said.

Henry is now back to his former self, his owners say

"Henry's doing really well now - he's so different to before," she added.

Dr Nicolas Granger, who led the operating team, said often subtle signs of something being wrong "escape owners' detection".

"They [cats] are seen as ‘ageing’ to a point where their condition dramatically worsens.

"The increase in brain pressure is then such that emergency surgery is needed.

"With adequate equipment and trained teams, treating this disease can be very successful and extremely rewarding," said Dr Granger.