Meet Frank and Louie, the twelve year old cat with two faces. That is, two ears, two mouths, two noses, three eyes, and one everything else.
Frank and Louie
Frank and Louie has two names due to the two faces, but is really just one big lovable ragdoll cat who thinks he is a dog most of the time. Frank and Louie walks on a leash like a dog and enjoys being pet and curling up in his owner’s lap.
In line with his breed, Frank and Louie has a docile temperament. He also has characteristic soft, silky fur and a penchant for staying calm and relaxed.
He Has What?
Frank and Louie has a condition known as Janus. This condition is usually deadly, but Frank and Louie beat all the odds right from the beginning. Technically, his condition is diprosopus meaning craniofacial duplication or multiple heads and skulls. It is more commonly called Janus, named for the Roman god with two faces.
His Story
Frank and Louis was brought to a veterinary office when he was just one day old to be euthanized. Marty, a veterinary nurse, took one look at the small, hamster-sized kitten and fell in love. She took him home and nursed him for three months with a feeding tube every two hours. Once he got big enough to eat on his own, she continued to feed him in the same manner, worried that he would not be able to feed on his own with two mouths. It turned out that there was no need to worry since he could only use one of his mouths to eat. The other one has no bottom jaw or throat.
Due to Frank and Louie’s Janus, he was not expected to live very long. He was also taken away from his mother less than 48 hours after he was born, adding to his unlikely chance for survival. Marty was told not to get her hoped up about this little kitten living very long, but she did not listen. Thanks to her caring and support, this cat has now been able to hit a milestone. He turned 12 years old on September 8, 2011. He is now the Guinness Book record holder for longest surviving feline with Diprosopus, more commonly referred to as Janus.
A Bit More
If this was 30 years ago, Frank and Louie and animals like him would probably never have been given a chance. Due to advances in veterinary medicine and human tolerance, pets are no longer euthanized simply because they look different.
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About the author:
Kayleigh has always loved animals and has spent time volunteering at the local dog shelter. The love of her life is her four year old Rottweiler, Lizzie. She enjoys writing for YeePet.com since it combines her love of animals with one of her favor...
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