The majority of cats and dogs usually have naturally pointed and droopy ears. However, in China recently, a strange trend has emerged that alters the natural shape of these animals' ears. Pet owners there have chosen to modify their pets' ears to resemble the ears of the popular cartoon character, Mickey Mouse. The increased interest from pet owners has led to the widespread expansion of this trend. As a result, many animal clinics in China are now offering plastic surgery to change the shape of pets' ears to resemble that.

Although the procedure is fully legal in China, many prominent veterinarians still consider its ethical implications and refuse to perform such operations.

According to the Dean of Loving Care International Pet Medical Center in Beijing, the "Mickey Ears" plastic surgery is a two-stage process. In the initial stage, the surgery involves cutting and shaping the pet's ears, which takes approximately 30 minutes. The second stage, which lasts for 20 to 60 days, aims to ensure that the animal's ears remain upright after the surgery. This whole process has the potential to cause trauma to the animal and may even result in physical and psychological symptoms.

All steps in the "Mickey Ears" operation have the potential to cause trauma to animals, and can even result in serious physical and psychological symptoms. Damage to the natural structure of the ears can lead to psychogenic problems in some pets. For example, sensitive pets may continuously scratch the operated area of the ear due to experiencing excessive pain.