Rare kitten born with two faces in northern Thailand has died after defying all odds and surviving for four days

By Samantha Allen

Published: July 20, 2022 | 1:55 PM GMT

A unique kitten born in northern Thailand with two faces has passed away after surpassing all expectations and living for four days.

The kitten, which was born on Sunday in the country’s northern Lampang province and was given the names “Tung Ngern” (bag of silver) and “Tung Tong” (bag of gold), is said to have died in the wee hours of Wednesday.

The kitten’s distraught owner said on social media: “Little Tung and Ngern Tung Tong has died, everyone.”

‘She has left this world. I don’t know what was wrong. She started struggling to breathe at 1am and I put the blanket over her.

‘I opened the blanket at 5:30am and she wasn’t breathing anymore. She was born on July 17 and died on July 20,’ he wrote.

‘Sleep well, Little One. You don’t need to suffer. Please be born again. We did everything we could. #HaveFunInCatHeaven’.

In honor of the two-faced Roman god Janus, two-faced kittens, sometimes referred to as Janus cats, seldom survive more than a few hours.

Owner Anuwat observed the two-year-old mother cat laboring with the second kitten on Sunday after witnessing her deliver the first.

The 29-year-old was shocked when the two-faced kitten was removed during a Caesarian section at the neighborhood animal hospital in Hang Chat.

Later, he informed the local media that he was certain they would perish.

However, he said he spent the following two days taking care of the cat after witnessing it “battle for its life.”

He said: ‘I’ve hardly slept at all since it was born because it cannot hold its head up and needs constant attention.

Later, he reported that the kitten was healthy and was consuming milk via both lips.

The average lifespan of a Janus kitten is about one day, however in 1999, a grey, two-faced cat named “Frank and Louie” who was born in Massachusetts lasted an amazing 15 years.

As the longest-surviving Janus cat, the cat entered the Guinness Book of World Records in 2012.

About Samantha Allen

Samantha Allen is a seasoned journalist and senior correspondent at TDPel Media, specializing in the intersection of maternal health, clinical wellness, and public policy. With a background in investigative reporting and a passion for data-driven storytelling, Samantha has become a trusted voice for expectant mothers and healthcare advocates worldwide. Her work focuses on translating complex medical research into actionable insights, covering everything from prenatal fitness and neonatal care to the socioeconomic impacts of healthcare legislation. At TDPel Media, Samantha leads the agency's health analytics desk, ensuring that every report is grounded in accuracy, empathy, and scientific integrity. When she isn't in the newsroom, she is an advocate for community-led wellness initiatives and an avid explorer of California’s coastal trails.