The four-ear trait affects only the outer ear flaps, or pinnae, and not the inner-ear mechanism. It's thought to be a recessive trait, manifesting itself only when the kitten inherits a rare genetic mutation from both sides of the family.
Four ears.
This mutation also seems to be lethal, with most kitten carriers actually dying in utero. Despite these data, the majority of recently-reported four eared cats have actually been healthy, indicating that there may be more genes involved in this unusual ear configuration.
The deformity was first studied in 1957 and is called, unsurprisingly, "four-ears" because the cat has a small extra pair of "ears" or at least extra ear flaps. In the cats studied in 1957, the eyes were reduced in size and the jaw was slightly undershot giving the head a peculiar shape.
The Russian Blue has a genetic mutation which caused her to sprout an extra pair of ears. According to reports, the deformation has been linked to a recessive gene mutation from her parents. Midas' four ears aren't the only unique features on her body. The cat also has an adorable white heart-shaped mark on its belly.
While some vets and animal experts seem to agree that cats can get ADHD, the condition isn't recognized by all. Cats can exhibit symptoms or personality and behavioral traits that are often linked to ADHD in humans, especially human children.
Pandora Syndrome describes an “anxiopathy,” a pathologic condition resulting from anxiety associated with chronic perception of threat.
The short answer is no. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that cats can have autism. However, cats can exhibit behaviors that are similar to those seen in humans with autism.
The four-ear trait affects only the outer ear flaps, or pinnae, and not the inner-ear mechanism. It's thought to be a recessive trait, manifesting itself only when the kitten inherits a rare genetic mutation from both sides of the family.
As a result, the physical attributes that they may have include: being short, a minimal muscle tone, and a flat nose bridge. Meanwhile, learning difficulties are evident. On the other hand, a cat can only have 19 chromosome pairs, making Down syndrome literally an impossibility for cats.
Although little is documented on kittens with three eyes, there are reports over the years of kittens born with two heads. These kittens are also thought to be caused by a deformity and end up with three eyes with the two middle ones often merging into one.
Despite what you might think, chimera cats are not entirely uncommon. After all, these kitties can have a range of appearances, from subtle differences in shading to more dramatic splits down the middle of their body. However, in most cases, their coloring is not the only thing that sets them apart from other cats.
But what's even more unusual is that each ear is functional! Dosemeci had Midas examined by a veterinarian who said that all four of the earlaps are connected to the ear canal. In addition to the unique hearing, the genetic mutation has also meant Midas as a defective jaw.
Ear-tipping involves surgically removing a small portion of one of a cat's ears while the cat is under anesthesia for spay or neuter surgery. It is the universally accepted way to signify that a community cat has been spayed or neutered, which means no new kittens will be born, and that's a good thing.
Those with severe disease are often suffering immensely and require euthanasia, sometimes early in life. Due to the crippling deformities evident in this breed, it was excluded from the Cat Fancy of Great Britain as a recognised breed in 1974 and was also banned by the Fédération Internationale Féline.
An eartip is the universally recognized symbol of a cat who has been spayed or neutered and vaccinated. Eartipping is a standard part of most Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs, because it's simply the best method to let everyone know at a glance that a cat has gone through a TNR program.
Scottish fold cats: why the adorable breed is banned in Scotland but is huge in the US and Japan. Cat lovers are being urged to avoid choosing Scottish fold cats as pets because of health concerns associated with the adorable breed.
Cats with autism often exhibit repetitive behaviors like pacing or spinning, excessive vocalization and having trouble adapting to change. They may also display signs of anxiety including hiding, avoiding human contact and being extremely sensitive to external stimuli.
"Crazy cat-lady syndrome" is a term coined by news organizations to describe scientific findings that link the parasite Toxoplasma gondii to several mental disorders and behavioral problems.
Ears held naturally means the cat is relaxed, while ears pinned back mean the cat is afraid.
The Scottish fold is a rare breed of cat which came about due to a genetic mutation in the 1960s. They are known for their rounded faces and bodies and unique folds on their ears, which give them what is often referred to as an 'owl-like' appearance.
The pinna is shaped to capture sound waves and funnel them through the ear canal to the eardrum. In cats, the pinnae are mobile and can move independently of each other. The ear canal of cats is deeper and more tapered than in people, creating a better funnel to carry sound to the eardrum.
Cats can't have autism, but they can be diagnosed with other conditions, and like humans and other animals, some cats have special needs. Some special-needs cats have mental impairments which may result from birth defects, illness, or accidents. Some cats even have Down syndrome-type symptoms.
Signs of cat intelligence: Your cat quickly learns new tricks; easily differentiates between different events and/or items; rapidly solves food puzzles; and is very responsive to your emotions, gestures, or pointing cues.
Research has shown that feline intelligence includes the ability to acquire new behavior that applies knowledge to new situations, communicating needs and desires within a social group and responding to training cues.