Lovable Four Eared Cat Has Rare Genetic Mutation

6 years ago
19.7K

Stella is the most affectionate cat there is. She loves attention all day long and will even ask for her belly to be rubbed for more than the usual three seconds. What is truly unique about Stella is that she has a rare genetic mutation that caused her to be born with four ears. The smaller ears are distinct and separate from her larger ears. They sit behind the functional ears and they do not have ear drums or an ear canal. They do not cause Stella any difficulty nor do they give her superior hearing capabilities. The recessive gene which causes this to happen is extremely rare. It does not have a name and is not fully understood, but it is believed to exist in conjunction with reproductive and balance issues.
Stella has a loving home at the Sherbrooke Heights Animal Hospital in Peterborough, Ontario, where she lives with two other clinic cats who were rescued.
Stella was dropped off at the hospital by a man who walked in and put her on the counter in a box. He turned and left without a word. Stella was in serious distress at the time, pregnant, although her kittens were no longer alive in her womb. She was suffering from a life threatening infection and needed an emergency C-section to save her life. Stella has recovered, even though she suffers some neurological damage, possibly from her genetic mutation or possibly from the infection. Nevertheless, she is a favorite among the clients who visit Sherbrooke Heights. She has also found a friend and snuggle buddy in one of the other clinic cats named Alvin. The two are inseparable.

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