A cat rescue in Llangedwyn, Powys, has reported a rare and unusual birth after a cat under their care delivered a kitten with two mouths and two noses. PurrfectlyFeral announced that the kitten, named Gemini, was born with a congenital disorder known as diprosopus, or craniofacial duplication, a condition characterized by the duplication of facial features.
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Shelley Jones, founder of the rescue, noted that most Janus kittens, as they are referred to, do not survive long after birth. However, Gemini is being closely monitored as a "little miracle." The mother cat had been brought to the rescue as a stray three weeks ago and gave birth to a litter of eight kittens.
On Friday, Jones expressed her astonishment, saying they have seen many extraordinary rescues over the years, but this event left them "speechless." Initially, she suspected the kitten might be a conjoined twin and quickly researched the condition.
Tragically, the mother rejected Gemini after she was the first one born, necessitating bottle feeding every hour. Jones noted that Gemini demonstrates an eagerness to feed from both mouths, which presents a unique challenge, as she can only feed one at a time. "It's remarkable but very sad," Jones commented.