Dobby the 4-Eared Kitten Wins Hearts Across the Internet

When Stephanie Brown saw a Facebook post about a kitten with four ears, she didn't hesitate to offer him a foster home. Seven-month-old Dobby quickly became an internet sensation, though many Reddit users initially thought his extra ears were AI-generated.

"Dobby has continued to win hearts right and left, although we did have to clarify that he's not AI, amusingly," Brown, a board member of Kitty Kat Haven & Rescue in Hoover, Alabama, told Newsweek. The kitten's rare genetic mutation also gave him an underbite and a stubby, curled tail.

Brown isn't new to caring for special-needs pets. She previously adopted Phoebe, a cat with cerebellar hypoplasia, also known as "Wobbly Cat Syndrome."

"I think it's a matter of embracing all of those differences and understanding, just like people, every creature, every animal, is going to have their own unique personality," she told People Magazine. Her message resonates across social media, where viewers celebrate Dobby's differences rather than see them as flaws.

While his four ears are perfectly healthy, Dobby's underbite requires surgery. A dental specialist determined that his lower canines need to be shortened to prevent them from protruding into his upper palate.

The procedure will cost around $3,000 and is scheduled for April 20, when Dobby reaches 10 months old. Brown launched a GoFundMe campaign and joked about needing creative fundraising ideas, saying she's "all ears" for suggestions like Dobby merchandise or "painting with Dobby" events.

Sunny's Take

Dobby's story touches something deeper than cute cat content. In a world where AI-generated images flood our feeds daily, this very real kitten with his very real differences reminds us that embracing uniqueness creates genuine connection.

Brown's dedication to special-needs animals shows how opening our hearts to different-looking pets can be just as rewarding as adopting traditional companions. Her followers agree, with one commenting, "With everything going on in the world, it's Dobby who I want to see!"

As of late February, the GoFundMe reached 60% of its goal. Once Dobby recovers from surgery, he'll be available for local adoption in Hoover, Alabama, where he'll bring joy to a lucky family who sees his extra ears as exactly what makes him perfect.