An animal rescue organization in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, had a surprising discovery this week when they took in a litter of kittens found abandoned in a cardboard box.
True Rescue received four 2-month-old kittens after a kind person found them taped inside the box and brought them to the shelter. The kittens were treated for parasites and respiratory issues, but one kitten stood out from the rest due to an extraordinary genetic mutation – he had four ears!
This rare condition caught the attention of the rescue team, who had never seen anything like it before. Kristin Condit, the director of operations at True Rescue, expressed their amazement, stating, “We were both very taken aback. That’s not something any of us affiliated with True Rescue have ever seen, probably the rarest of genetic abnormalities that we’ve heard of.”
The unique kitten was named Audio, a playful nod to his “built-in surround-sound speakers,” as mentioned by the rescue on Facebook. Fortunately, Audio’s extra ears don’t affect his hearing, and his inner ears are perfectly functional. The additional ears are harmless and don’t require removal, although they do mean extra cleaning.
The rescue team couldn’t resist a pun, writing, “This baby is simply ear-resistible (sorry, can’t stop)!” They welcomed Audio with open arms, stating, “Welcome to True Rescue, Audio, where love has no boundaries!”
Audio’s arrival came during a challenging time for the shelter, which had been dealing with flooding issues. Kristin Condit mentioned to WKRN that the rare kitten’s appearance felt like a stroke of good luck amidst their difficulties. “There have been a lot of setbacks since the flooding that have been going on in our world, and for Audio to come at this time… it really does feel like a good luck charm,” she said.
Audio quickly became a sensation online, capturing the hearts of many. One person commented on Facebook, “Audio is just the cutest little thing! Doesn’t matter how many ears he has, he’s a real little doll!!!” Another person joked, “Better to hear when you shake the treat jar! Sweet baby!” while someone else quipped, “Extra ears to ignore with.”
These poor kitties were rescued from an animal cruelty case where they were starved, locked in cages with inches of feces, and received no water or food. Now, these cats need your help!
True Rescue plans to announce when Audio will be available for adoption, and it’s clear that he already has a fan base eagerly awaiting the chance to give him a loving home.
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@truerescuetn EXTREMELY RARE IN THE CAT WORLD! This 8-9 wk. old kitten, who was dumped at a mechanic's shop duct-taped inside a box with his siblings, gave us quite the surprise today! He has FOUR EARS! You "heard" us right, there are indeed 4 ears. This is a very rare, genetic mutation and is completely harmless to the kitty. We actually find him quite ear-resistible, and we have named him Audio, and we also cant quit making ear puns, apparently! He will be up for adoption soon at True Rescue in Mt. Juliet, TN ##truerescue##fourears##rescuekitten ♬ original sound – True Rescue