Audio's rare genetic mutation is "completely harmless," and he is not expected to have any trouble hearing because of it.
True Rescue/FacebookAudio, the four-eared kitten taken in by the Tennessee animal shelter True Rescue.
In late July, four kittens were found inside a box in a Nashville car lot. They were taken to True Rescue in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, and there, workers discovered something surprising: One of the cats had four ears.
The orange and white kitten’s unique appearance earned him the name Audio. He is one of a handful of cats who have made headlines for the unusual feature in recent years — and he will soon be available for adoption.
The Four-Eared Kitten At The Tennessee Animal Shelter
On July 30, 2024, True Rescue animal shelter in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, took in four kittens that had been found in a duct-taped box with no air holes at a car lot in Nashville. Workers immediately noticed that one of the felines had four ears, with two smaller, rear-facing flaps visible inside his regular ears.
True Rescue/FacebookAudio’s two extra ears are small and rear-facing.
“This is an extremely rare genetic mutation and is completely harmless,” a representative from True Rescue stated, according to the New York Post.
The shelter decided to name the kitten Audio. At the time of his rescue, he was eight or nine weeks old and weighed two pounds. By all accounts, Audio is a healthy and happy little cat.
Although this specific genetic mutation is rare, Audio is not the first cat to make headlines for it. Three years ago, a four-eared feline named Midas was found in Türkiye, and she has since become a social media star. And in 2018, another cat with four ears was discovered beneath a house in Australia.
midas_x24/InstagramMidas, the Turkish cat born with four ears.
None of these creatures have had any reported issues with their hearing or other health problems caused by their condition, meaning that Audio will likely go on to live the life of any typical cat.
What Does The Future Hold For Audio?
According to a video posted to True Rescue’s Facebook page, Audio “is very sweet and very grateful to not be stuck in that box anymore.” The footage shows the kitten curled up in a carrier and happily accepting pets.
True Rescue/FacebookAudio after his arrival at the animal shelter.
The shelter also stated that a veterinarian examined Audio to make sure his unique ears are not creating any problems for him.
“From what we know, the inner ear is completely normal and will cause no issues, other than having extra flaps to clean,” the shelter wrote on its Facebook page.
Audio and his littermates will soon be available for adoption, and there’s already a line of potential owners just waiting to meet this special kitten.
After reading about Audio the four-eared kitten, learn about seven places around the world that have been overrun with cats. Then, go inside the legend of Unsinkable Sam, the cat who survived three World War II shipwrecks.
