COOPER CITY, Fla. -- At 6 weeks old, Hex the kitten is as sprightly and energetic as any newborn kitten, except for one noticeable difference: He has six legs.

"The vets didn't think he would live this long but, as you can see, he did," said owner Barbara Flores.

Veterinarians treating Hex at a Cooper City animal hospital told Flores that Hex possibly had a Siamese twin that never fully developed. They plan to operate on the kitten Thursday and believe he could pull through.

Hex was the only cat in his litter and the first born to his mother, Vanilla.

The operation to remove the extra legs, remove the extra colon and correct the intestines is estimated to cost between $2,400 and $3,000. The Flores family said that's a lot for them to handle right now.

A charity fund has been established for anyone willing to help. Send checks to:

Veterinary Specialists of South Florida
9410 Stirling Road
Cooper City, Florida 33024
954-432-5611

Checks can be made payable to Veterinary Specialists of South Florida Charitable Fund.