A unique kitten named Audio has captured the hearts of many at True Rescue in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. The 11-week-old orange tabby has an extraordinary feature that sets him apart from other cats—he has four ears. This rare genetic mutation occurs in approximately one in 600,000 million cats, making Audio a true anomaly.
The story of Audio’s rescue is nothing short of miraculous. According to Kristin Condit, Director of Operations at True Rescue, an alert employee at a Nashville car lot made the surprising discovery. The worker found a taped-up box without air holes outside a chain-link fence, set out with trash for pickup. Inside the box, she heard faint meows and, upon opening it, found four frightened kittens.
“It’s by the grace of God they were still alive,” Condit said. “They were so terrified they scattered everywhere.” Determined to help, the car lot employee set up a feeding station for three weeks until the kittens trusted her enough to be captured and taken to True Rescue.
Upon arrival at the shelter, the kittens were examined, and that’s when the staff noticed something extraordinary about Audio. A staff member who pulled him from the carrier remarked, “something is in his ears,” only to discover that Audio had two additional, perfectly formed, rear-facing ears.
“This was mind-blowing,” said Condit. “We’ve seen extra toes, extra tails, even a baby bobcat mistaken for a kitten, but never anything like this.”
Dr. Aaron Hollis, owner of Providence Animal Hospital and Pet Resort, confirmed the rarity of Audio’s condition. “This genetic mutation is extremely rare, occurring in about one in 600,000 million cats. The last documented case of a four-eared kitten was two years ago in Turkey,” he explained. Fortunately, Audio’s unusual anatomy doesn’t affect his health or hearing, as both pairs of ears share a single ear canal on each side.
The discovery of Audio’s rare condition has sparked significant interest, with True Rescue receiving over 100 adoption applications for the kitten. Executive Director Amy Simcik emphasized that the shelter is being highly selective about where Audio will be placed. “We are vetting and being super picky about his forever home. He will be neutered to prevent anyone from trying to breed him for more anomalies,” she said.
Audio isn’t the only one in his litter with an unusual feature. His sisters, Walkie Talkie and C.B., each have an extra ear flap, though it is less noticeable. Their brother, Radio, appears to be the only one without any unique traits.
True Rescue, located on Lebanon Road in the building previously occupied by Old Friends Dog Sanctuary, has faced significant challenges recently. The facility was hit by two flooding incidents within two weeks, causing an estimated $40,000 in damage. Despite the loss of food and other supplies, all of the animals, including Audio and his siblings, were safe. The community has rallied around True Rescue, raising $18,000 towards the $30,000 goal needed for repairs.
“We are so grateful to the community,” Simcik said. “They stepped up right away with evacuation, cleanup, and donations. Many also agreed to foster, and we’ve even had some adoptions from those efforts.”
Currently, True Rescue cares for 275 animals at the facility, with an additional 166 in foster homes, bringing the total to 441 cats and kittens, along with nine dogs. As Audio and his siblings await their forever homes, their story continues to inspire and draw attention to the important work of animal rescue organizations.
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