2-faced kitten dies in RI; had 4 eyes, 24 toes

A two-faced kitten recently born in Providence died Friday.

Gemini was born in a litter of five kittens. He had two faces, four eyes, two noses, two mouths, two ears, and two separate tracheas that went into one throat. He had seven toes on each front foot and five on each back for a total of 24 toes.

"We were very, very surprised," Gemini's owner told NBC 10 News on Thursday night.

Dr. Ernest Finocchio, of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said Thursday he had never seen such a kitten. He said he believes it could be a case of conjoined twins that never separated properly.

"It's like having twins. He eats very slowly. He doesn't want to drink the bottle at his pace, so we're up a couple of hours just feeding him until the next feeding," the owner said. 

The other kittens in the litter are healthy and eating with their mother.  Finocchio said it was difficult to determine the kitten's life expectancy without a complete internal examination, which would involve an ultrasonic examination.

The owner said she could use such resources to keep Gemini alive.

"We're hoping someone can help look at him to make sure everything is OK ... and what we're supposed to be doing to help him live better, longer," she said.

But the kitten died Friday before Finocchio was able to examine it.

A veterinarian recommended an animal autopsy and wanted to send the kitten to university researchers. But the owner declined.

Lilli the calf born with six legs in Switzerland thriving

Six-legged calf "Lilli" stands in a pasture in Switzerland. Picture: AP

A COW born with two extra legs is thriving despite predictions it would not survive.

Lilli, a seven week old, six-legged calf has become a minor celebrity in Switzerland after being born on a farm south of the capital Bern.

The calf's owner, farmer Andreas Knutti, said her disability and curved spine would prevent her from becoming a milk cow in the future.

Despite this he could not put her down when she was born because it was "so full of life".

"Lilli" with owner Andreas Knutti in Weissenburg, Switzerland. Picture: AP

Mutations of this sort are not uncommon and in Lilli's probably occurred due to two embryos being merged in the womb.
Mr Knutti says if the cow continues to thrive it will soon join its companions in the Alpine pastures this summer.
Read more about Lily the calf born with six legs in Switzerland thriving at the Daily Mail.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/weird-true-freaky/calf-and-half-of-full-cream-dairy-milk/story-e6frflri-1226314568631#ixzz1u1oRcsmn

Four-legged chicken bought from supermarket scares consumer

If a chicken grows two extra limbs, do you still dare to eat it?

March 18, a citizen from Changsha City, surnamed Tian, was scared to find that a frozen chicken she bought from a supermarket had four legs when she was cleaning it to prepare for dinner.

Tian told reporters that it was the first time in her life seeing a four-legged chicken, and would throw it away with no hesitation.

However, a professor from Central South University of Forestry & Technology, reached by the reporters, said that this kind of chicken generally has no harm to human’s health and is edible, though it may be discomforting to people’s sense organs.

The professor explained, it is a deformed chicken whose embryo, during development, might have been affected by different kinds of factors, like radioactivity in the living environment or the high metal level in feed. This birth defect usually has the extra limb shrunken or deformed too.

Responding to the explanation, Tian said she still felt gross, even though it was confirmed edible. She hoped that the supermarket can trace the source of such a chicken.

One netzien joked, for those who love eating chicken feet, it is instead a good new.

http://www.chinabuzz.net/buzz/four-legged-chicken-bought-from-supermarket-scares-consumer/