1/10/2006: Cyclops kitten born

Undertoad · 01-10-2006, 08:12 AM

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?

chrisinhouston · 01-10-2006, 08:24 AM

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.

chrisinhouston · 01-10-2006, 08:28 AM

Here's what he ended up like.

glatt · 01-10-2006, 09:15 AM

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

VinDurzle · 01-10-2006, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisinhouston

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.

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

Sundae · 01-10-2006, 09:21 AM

Aren't all kittens born with blue eyes?

mrnoodle · 01-10-2006, 09:36 AM

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

barefoot serpent · 01-10-2006, 09:40 AM

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

Quote:

Aren't all kittens born with blue eyes?

and closed, too?

mrnoodle · 01-10-2006, 10:22 AM

Snopes says it's the real deal .

Sundae · 01-10-2006, 10:37 AM

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....

Undertoad · 01-10-2006, 11:16 AM

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.

busterb · 01-10-2006, 12:00 PM

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

Trilby · 01-10-2006, 12:17 PM

busterb-yes.

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

jinx · 01-10-2006, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

busterb-yes.

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

Quote:

It is evident from those studies that blue eyed whites exhibit a higher incidence of deafness than do orange/green eyed whites or non-white cats! But not all blue eyed whites are deaf and here's why:-

There is a known link between white coat color, blue eyes and deafness - but since the coat and eye color can be caused by different genes it means that only some blue eyed whites are deaf. There is a gene/gene complex which causes white coat, blue eyes and deafness, but not all cats get their white coat and blue eyes from that particular gene, so not all white cats will be deaf.

If the cat is a Foreign/Oriental White, it carries the gene for 'Siamese Blue Eyes' which is not linked to deafness (the gene for Siamese Blue Eyes is linked to cross-eyes instead). Siamese blue eyes have a reflective tapetum, but this is depigmented because the Siamese colour is caused by albinism. This depigmentation gives the red-eye with flash cameras. Random matings can mean that this gene sometimes appears in non Oriental-looking cats which have colorpoint cats in their ancestry.

Happy Monkey · 01-10-2006, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

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.

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

01-10-2006, 08:12 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	1/10/2006: Cyclops kitten born 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?

01-10-2006, 08:28 AM	#3
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	Here's what he ended up like. Attached Images

01-10-2006, 09:36 AM	#7
mrnoodle bent Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: under the weather Posts: 2,656	Normally. But then, they're normally born with two eyes, as well. I'm still waiting on snopes' take. __________________ Sìn a nall na cuaranan sin. -- Cha mhór is fheairrde thu iad, tha iad coltach ri cat air a dhathadh

01-10-2006, 10:22 AM	#9
mrnoodle bent Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: under the weather Posts: 2,656	Snopes says it's the real deal . __________________ Sìn a nall na cuaranan sin. -- Cha mhór is fheairrde thu iad, tha iad coltach ri cat air a dhathadh

01-10-2006, 12:00 PM	#12
busterb NSABFD Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MS. usa Posts: 3,908	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 __________________ I've haven't left very deep footprints in the sands of time. But, boy I've left a bunch.

01-10-2006, 08:24 AM	#2
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	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.

01-10-2006, 09:15 AM	#4
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	It sure looks fake to me, but I saw it in two different newspapers, so it must be true.

01-10-2006, 09:21 AM	#6
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Aren't all kittens born with blue eyes?

01-10-2006, 10:37 AM	#10
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	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....

01-10-2006, 11:16 AM	#11
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	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.

01-10-2006, 12:17 PM	#13
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	busterb-yes. I feel so sorry for that thing. Kind of reminds me of Leela...poor cyclops orphan girl. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

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