Four-Eared Cat Born With Genetic Mutation; How Does This Condition Affect Feline Hearing Mechanism?

In the animal kingdom, it is not unusual to hear stories of creatures with strange appearances, most of which are inborn characteristics. Such was the case of Midas, a Russian blue kitten who got famous for having an extra pair of ears.

Viral Four-Eared Cat

The unique cat was born on July 2021 as part of a litter of six stray cats and was later adopted by a woman named Canis Dosemeci from Ankara, Turkey. She was named Midas by the Dosemeci family after King Midas, who, according to Greek mythology, was cursed by god Apollo with donkey ears.

According to Dosemeci, the extra ears do not grant Midas extraordinary hearing ability and do not seem to hurt her. She assures that the kitten is living a perfectly happy and healthy life in her new adopted home. The extra ears are in front of the standard pair typically seen on a cat. Surprisingly, these smaller ears are both functional, as confirmed by a veterinarian who discovered that all four earlaps are connected to the cat's ear canal.

This unique feature resulted from the recessive genes carrying a rare genetic mutation that Midas inherited from her parents. Aside from additional earflaps, the genetic mutation also caused Midas to possess a defective jaw where the lower one is slightly wider than the upper. The abnormality in her jaw causes her tongue to stick out slightly.

Despite these strange characteristics, Midas behaves like any other cat who enjoys snuggling, napping, and playing with yarn. She also plays either with herself or with the two family-owned Golden Retrievers.

Cats and other animals with physical defects or genetic abnormalities are at risk of being unwanted, so Midas' owner wanted to promote love for cats regardless of their appearance. In October 2021, Dosemeci set up an Instagram account for Midas, attracting hundreds of thousands of followers. The family hopes that the story of Midas' adoption will help raise awareness about the importance of the ethical adoption of pets rather than buying them.

How Rare Are Four-Eared Cats?

The presence of an extra pair of ears is a benign mutation that does not negatively affect the lives of cats. It affects only the outer ear flaps called pinnae and does not interfere with the functions of the inner ear. As a recessive trait, this characteristic manifest only when a cat inherits the rare genetic mutation from both parents. Experts believe that having extra ears could be a handicap, which explains why cats with such traits got lost during evolution.

The four-ear trait could rarely be seen in a typical cat, but this attribute has been studied for over half a century. In 1957, a research study was conducted by C.C. Little on a Tabby female cat characterized by two extra ears, reduced eyes, and a slightly undershot jaw. In our modern times, Midas is not the first four-eared cat who became famous online. In 2018, a one-eyed feline named Frankenkitten was born with four ears and even became the image of a rescue pet adoption campaign in Australia.

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