By GEMMA PARRY

Published: 21:11 EDT, 28 October 2025 | Updated: 12:14 EDT, 29 October 2025

A tiger, a cheetah and a clouded leopard have all undergone the ultimate cat scan, with high-tech tests to uncover their mystery medical issues. 

Four-year-old Luca, an Amur Tiger; Django, a ten-year-old mainland clouded leopard; and Mo, a four-year-old Southern African cheetah, were examined using specialist CT scans in a mobile unit following unexplained and persistent ‘mobility issues.’ 

The residents of the Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent were sedated in their enclosure by a vet from the International Zoo Veterinary Group, before being moved to the mobile centre. 

Incredible images show Luca looking very relaxed with his paws resting in front of him and his eyes closed as he was prepared for the high-resolution scans.  

Following the scans, the three big cats were transported back to their enclosures while sedated. 

Once safely back in their habitats, the anaesthetic was reversed and they were monitored as they woke up. 

The scans will now be analysed by specialist veterinary radiographers, who will report their findings in around two weeks time. 

Incredible images show Luca looking very relaxed with his paws resting in front of him and his eyes closed as he was prepared for the high-resolution scans

Incredible images show Luca looking very relaxed with his paws resting in front of him and his eyes closed as he was prepared for the high-resolution scans

Luca was pictured being prepared for the scans looking very relaxed

Luca was pictured being prepared for the scans looking very relaxed 

Luca was one of three big cats being scanned at the sanctuary with a mobile unit 

Staff were put in place to get Luca comfortable ahead of the CT scan at the mobile unit

Staff were put in place to get Luca comfortable ahead of the CT scan at the mobile unit 

The results of the scans are expected to be returned to the sanctuary in two weeks

The results of the scans are expected to be returned to the sanctuary in two weeks 

Briony Smith, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said: ‘The entire day was a brilliant demonstration of collaborative animal welfare. 

‘Ensuring the comfort and safety of our cats is always our top priority, and bringing the mobile CT unit here allowed us to achieve that goal smoothly and efficiently.

‘The crucial partnership between The Big Cat Sanctuary, our specialist vets Elliot Simpson-Brown and Valerie Freeman, and Burgess Diagnostics has been vital in taking this significant next step towards understanding and resolving the mobility issues for Luca, Django and Mo.’

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Here for a CAT scan? Four-year-old tiger Luca joins other big felines from Kent for special check on their ‘medical mysteries’