Mutant Baby Cat Born With Two Faces And 'Eats From Different Mouths'

May 27, 2020 by apost team

There is another level of joy that comes from learning that our beloved pets are about to give birth. Whether we choose to keep members of the new family or not, there is excitement and expectation that surrounds any birth.

A Janus cat named Biscuits and Gravy was born on May 20 on a farm in Oregon belonging to Kyla King and her family. It had two noses, four eyes, and two mouths. It passed away on May 23.

Imagine Kyla King's surprise on the day of this most unexpected delivery. She knew that her beloved cat was expecting a litter of kittens, but she had no idea what would happen in the hours to follow. On the morning of May 20, her cat went into labor, and the air was filled with excitement. Ecstatic family members crowded around, eagerly anticipating the birth of the new kittens.

One by one, the kittens came forth, and everyone was relieved to see that mama and babes were doing quite well. Kyla assisted where she could, lifting the kittens up for inspection and placing them back down after seeing that they were healthy and hale. As Kyla lifted the sixth kitten up toward her face, she gasped at what she saw.

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She held in her hand a kitten with two fully formed faces. Four eyes, two adorable pink noses, and two mewing mouths were all in full force as she stared at the exceptional kitten. She placed the kitten back down near mama and called her husband immediately. "BJ, we have 6.5 kittens now", she said over the phone, and as she hung up she texted a picture of the newborn, leaving her husband stunned on the other end of the line.

After the initial shock wore off, Kyla called a local vet to see what the kitten's chances of survival would be. Over the course of the next several hours, it was determined that "Biscuits and Gravy", as the cat was affectionately named, had no trouble eating, meowing, and moving around like the other kittens.

The genetic trait that made Biscuits and Gravy famous is known as a "Janus cat", named after the Roman god, Janus, who had two faces. Janus cats are born with an excess of a protein called "sonic hedgehog", which affects how the head and face develop in the womb. Another interesting trait about these cute kitties is that they have no identifiable sex.

Sadly, Biscuits and Gravy passed away on May 23. Most Janus cats don’t live longer than a day but one defied the odds. His name was “Frank and Louie” and he passed away in 2014 at the age of 15.

Have you ever seen a Janus cat in real-life? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this story along to your friends and family.