1/10/2006: Cyclops kitten born
 

http://cellar.org/2006/cyclopskitten.jpg

This AP news wire image was suggested by three different IotD readers, thanks! (Don't assume I've already seen something or that it's already been submitted... you never know.)

Can't possibly be true, I thought when I saw it -- it looks entirely fake. But it's a wire service image, and so it's has gone through *some* degree of real journalistic review. It became Yahoo's most popular image within hours.

They say this kitten was born this way, with one centered eye and no nose. They say they named it "Cy". They say it lived a day and then died. They say it was one of a litter of two and that the other kitten was normal and lived. They say the picture was "provided by the owner".

Snopes has yet to weigh in.

I don't know, and so this is presented with the thought that somebody has put together a pretty strong hoax, but... what do you think?

Let's hope the story doesn't end up like that of Polyphemus who was the son of Poseidon and the nymph Thoosa. He was the one-eyed giant Cyclops famous from the Odyssey, who imprisoned Odysseus and his men in a cave. Since Polyphemus was eating Odysseus' men, Odysseus was under some pressure to figure a way out, which he did. Odysseus tricked Polyphemus, poked out his eye, and got his remaining men out of the cave and into safety.

:eek:

Here's what he ended up like.

It sure looks fake to me, but I saw it in two different newspapers, so it must be true.

Its not likely to because its a cat and its dead already, but well done for remembering your Greek history! :D

Aren't all kittens born with blue eyes?

Normally. But then, they're normally born with two eyes, as well. I'm still waiting on snopes' take.

A mixup at the sperm bank with Homer Simpsons 'genetic material'?



and closed, too?

Snopes says it's the real deal .

Blimey - I thought it was too soon to look on snopes to be honest. I'm finding it less creepy and more sad now that I know it's real....

It *was* too early to check Snopes - they posted their item between 9 and 11 am Eastern!

I didn't know this could actually happen, but it does give some context to the Greek legends, doesn't it? Weird-ass mysterious creature with one eye is born somewhere, tales of it filter around, pretty soon it's worked into the mystical stories as well.

Highjack. Are all white cats with blue eyes deaf? I know someone who had 2 and both
were deaf.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...eyed+cats+deaf

busterb-yes.

I feel so sorry for that thing. Kind of reminds me of Leela...poor cyclops orphan girl.

Actually, busterb's link contained the answer...

I've also heard that the myth could have been started by elephant skulls, which have a forehead socket where the trunk attaches.