A cat rescue in mid Wales has been left stunned after a stray cat gave birth to an extremely rare Janus kitten with two noses and two mouths. The kitten, named Gemini, was born on Thursday, July 16, as the first of eight kittens at PurrfectlyFeral cat rescue in Powys.
Rescuer's Shock at Rare Condition
Rescuer Shelley Jones, 45, says she could scarcely believe what she was seeing when she noticed the two noses and two fully functioning mouths. "I have never in my life seen anything like it. I was quite shocked," she said. "As soon as I went to get the kitten I could see there was something not quite right but when I had her in my hand and saw her face I instantly thought she was a conjoined twin."
Janus kittens are named after the Roman god Janus, who is frequently depicted with two faces. The condition is known as diprosopus, a developmental abnormality caused by the excessive production of the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) protein, which plays a pivotal role in craniofacial development. Its overproduction results in the widening and partial duplication of the face.
Rarity and Survival Odds
Shelley said she spoke to others about it and they also had never heard of a Janus cat. "I had never heard of a Janus cat before, so it wasn't until I looked it up that I found out it was very rare," she said. "People are very shocked that this happens. It is not something you hear about. I haven't spoken to anybody who has ever heard of it before."
Sadly, it is exceptionally rare for Janus kittens to survive beyond the first few weeks, though in some unusual cases cats have gone on to live long and fulfilling lives with the condition. Shelley is currently doing her utmost to keep Gemini warm and comfortable, while feeding both of her hungry mouths every hour.
Care and Challenges
There is a risk of internal complications with the condition, however Gemini has not been taken to the vet as it would only cause her further distress, and there is little they would be able to do. Shelley added: "Unfortunately there is a very slim chance of the kitten surviving. I am not holding out much hope but at the moment it is just a case of keeping her comfortable. It is a bit of a waiting game at the moment. She seems to be doing okay, she is very keen to feed."
"She has two mouths so it can be very difficult to know which one to feed. They are both fully functioning mouths. It has definitely caused a bit of a stir. People are fascinated by it."
