Kitten born with one eye in the middle of its head in Brazil dubbed ‘cyclops cat'

A tiny kitten in Brazil recently made headlines for its rather eccentric feature. Born on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, the kitten, now dubbed "cyclops cat," had just one eye in the middle of its forehead, making it unlike any other in the litter. What seemed like an ordinary group of kittens turned into an extraordinary story that no one expected.

As reported by the New York Post, the black kitten, born in Vilhena, Rondonia, had a single eye in the middle of its head due to a rare condition, earning itself the popular moniker. Farmhand Gilberto Almeida, who cared for the kitten, shared with NewsX, “I’m 32 years old and I’ve never seen anything like this in my life. My cat has had several litters, but this was the first time something like this happened.” The kitten was part of a litter of four, but was the only one with this condition.

Unfortunately, the little feline died just over a day later on Thursday, November 6, due to breathing difficulties. Veterinarian Janete Silva explained, “When the embryo is developing, instead of the brain structure dividing into two parts, a single mass forms. As the eye follows this division, it ends up positioned in the center.” The condition, called cyclopia, is extremely rare and can affect both humans and animals, often making survival beyond birth unlikely.

According to WebMD, cyclopia occurs in fewer than one in 100,000 births, and affected individuals often cannot breathe properly, which was the case for the “cyclops cat.” As reported by Large Animal Review, it results from congenital anomalies that affect the central nervous system, sometimes caused by genetic defects or exposure to harmful substances during pregnancy. While cyclopia is more commonly observed in livestock such as lambs and pigs, it is exceedingly rare in cats and other animals. Experts say that rare cases usually happen due to random genetic defects, and the kitten being born with a single eye was both unusual and sad.

Stories of unusual births show just how remarkable and unpredictable life can be. In another surprising case, a dog owner rushed her Pit Bull, Venus, to the vet, worried that something was seriously wrong. The X-ray revealed an incredible surprise; Venus was in labor and carrying only one puppy. This tiny pup, later named Jupiter, was a singleton, which is rare since most dogs give birth to multiple puppies at a time.

Singleton puppies often need extra care because they don’t have siblings to play with or learn from. Videos posted online showed Venus carefully looking after Jupiter, keeping him warm and safe. The owner remarked that Jupiter was already active and playful within days, wagging his tail and exploring his surroundings. A follow-up update a couple of weeks later confirmed that the puppy was growing strong and healthy. The case highlighted how even a single birth can be extraordinary and full of surprises.