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

[July 14, 2012]  PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- A kitten with two faces born days ago in Rhode Island has died.

His name was Gemini. He had four eyes, two noses, two mouths, two ears and 24 toes -- seven on each front paw and five each on the back.

WJAR-TV reports (http://bit.ly/NGYE7g) Gemini died Friday. He was one of five kittens in his litter and was tiny enough to fit in the palm of a hand.

His owners in Providence say he had two tracheas going into one throat. They fed him by bottle because he ate very slowly.

Veterinarian Ernest Finocchio (fin-OH'-kee-oh) is president of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He says he'd never seen such a kitten. He says it could've been twins that didn't separate properly.

Two-faced kittens are very rare and seldom survive.

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Information from: WJAR-TV, http://www.turnto10.com/

[Associated Press]

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