Meet Midas: The cat with four ears and an extra tongue who is stealing hearts online

Animals like cats and dogs are like our favourite pals, and when some of these adorable species defy the ordinary with standout features, they go viral online. Recently, one such kitten with four ears went viral online.

Meet Midas the four-eared kitten

In Ankara, Turkey, a stray kitten named Midas stole the show with her extraordinary looks. Born in a family's backyard along with five siblings, she caught the eye of Canis Dosemeci, who adopted her on the spot.

"We have never thought of buying a cat, we just wanted to rescue a cat from the street, and we wanted to adopt her," Dosemeci said, according to Reuters. Midas now has over 1,25,000 Instagram followers, and it was her charm that amplified her popularity. It was a genetic mutation that gave her two sets of ears and a "permanent mlem," a stuck-out tongue from an underdeveloped jaw.

Her name draws from Greek mythology's King Midas, famed for his golden touch and, fittingly, donkey ears. The heart-shaped white spot on her black belly adds to the allure, making her a social media darling.

Extra body parts pose no risks to her health

Veterinarian Resat Nuri Aslan examined Midas and gave the all-clear. He confirmed her condition poses no health risks or hearing issues, with all earflaps connecting to the same canal, as reported by Reuters. "She has no ill effects on her health and hearing," Aslan noted. Living despite her unique features, Midas embodies how some mutations enhance rather than hinder.

Midas is not the first such animal

Midas joins the category of such unique animals. In 2019, a rescue pup dubbed Narwhal sported an extra tail sprouting from his forehead, looking similar to the mythical sea creature. That same year, another dog named Toad was found with two mouths but just one ear. Vets removed cracked teeth from the second mouth, and Toad went on to live happily, as per accounts from rescue organizations like The Dodo and local news reports.