A viral video of a rare animal born with an extraordinary condition has baffled internet users.
Millions of people have seen a video featuring a two-headed kitten, dubbed by the poster as “our sweet faced baby.” Poster @katiepowell295 on TikTok shared a clip on March 7 of the newborn kitten that appeared to have two heads.
With more than 3.6 million views, the video gained widespread attention, posted with hashtags including #bizarre and #unique. Comments on the post reflect a mix of surprise, concern, and admiration for the rare cat. “Wait what,” wrote one TikTok user in the comments, while another likened the kitten to “cerberus,” a multi-headed dog from Greek mythology.
Two-headed cats, although extremely rare, do have their own name. Dubbed Janus cats, after the Roman god depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions, the condition is caused by a genetic mutation that results in the development of two distinct faces on a single body. In 2017, another two-faced cat gained attention: Bettie Bee was born in South Africa in December 2017, and lived for 16 days before she died.
The condition is often caused by excess protein production during fetal development, which leads to the formation of two separate faces sharing a single skull. Their unique physical makeup does often lead to significant challenges and a lower survival rate than their single-faced counterparts.
@katiepowell295/TikTok
Sadly, the likelihood of the cat in the video surviving past kittenhood is very minimal, but the viral video on TikTok has prompted intrigue and amazement from viewers who had never seen anything like it before.
One viewer posted, “Poor boy I hope he makes it,” while another wrote: “Oh my god that’s amazing!”
“It’s freaky but cute at the same time,” commented viewer Tina, while another TikTok user posted: “Wow, you should name it Duo. And I hope it survived, because I honestly want to see what it looks like grown up.”
Not everyone saw the cute side, though, as others felt more uncomfortable at seeing the rare cat. “Am I the only one that is freaked out?” read one comment, while another added: “I hope it isn’t suffering.”
Newsweek reached out to @katiepowell295 via TikTok for comment. We were not able to verify the details of this case.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Tyler Fields is your internet guru, delving into the latest trends, developments, and issues shaping the online world. With a focus on internet culture, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, Tyler keeps readers informed about the dynamic landscape of the internet and its impact on our digital lives.
