Saturday
14Jan2006
Cyclops Kitten
Saturday, 01.14.06 @ 12:01AM 
Cy was born on December 28th with profound physical anomolies. He lived for one day. During his short life, Traci Allen snapped his photograph. That simple act ensured that that Cy would achieve the kind of immortality that eludes normal cats and humans.
The Associated Press released the photo, which was distributed by Yahoo News on January 9th with very little information. Almost immmediately, a big percentage of the estimated 20 million existing weblogs posted the picture. Cy made quite an impression! Forums were ablaze with both serious and silly discussions of the "cyclops kitten". The main question was... is the photo real or a hoax? We've all seen so many Photoshopped jokes on the net, we have to be skeptical about anything this weird. There was a hue and cry from many who pointed out that a kitten's eyes do not open for at least a week after birth. But the Associated Press took steps to verify the photo's authenticity, including analyzing the memory card from Traci Allen's camera. Both Snopes and the Museum of Hoaxes assure us this photo is real.
More news stories explained the condition that caused Cy's deformities. Holoprosencephaly
is a disorder caused by the failure of the prosencephalon (the embryonic forebrain) to sufficiently divide into the double lobes of the cerebral hemispheres. The result is a single-lobed brain structure and severe skull and facial defects. In most cases of holoprosencephaly, the malformations are so severe that babies die before birth.
You have to admit, it is an unforgettable picture. Once you get past the weirdness, he�s as cute as he can be. Cy's short life and distinctive appearance have inspired tributes that most people would be lucky to ever have.
A memorial painting of Cy.
He has his own avatar.
And he's been pixilated.
And poetry.
My Ode to the Cyclops Kitten
by Carla
Oh Cyclops Kitten
I didn't know you
but I bet you woulda made a great pet
woulda scared everybody at the vet
you are the cutest thing I wish that I had met
Oh Cyclops kitten
you didn't have a nose to smell
but it's really just as well
what kind of creature are you?
it's hard to tell
But I think you're the sweetest cyclops I've ever seen
And those who think differently are just shallow and mean
and you wouldn't want an owner like that
i'd be proud of you with two eyes
or even one at that.
Cyclops Kitten
it's probably better that you're gone
no big dogs to taunt you on the lawn
no hairballs to hack up when you yawn
just a peaceful place for a one-eyed beast
oh cyclops kitten, you can rest in peace.
by Carla
Oh Cyclops Kitten
I didn't know you
but I bet you woulda made a great pet
woulda scared everybody at the vet
you are the cutest thing I wish that I had met
Oh Cyclops kitten
you didn't have a nose to smell
but it's really just as well
what kind of creature are you?
it's hard to tell
But I think you're the sweetest cyclops I've ever seen
And those who think differently are just shallow and mean
and you wouldn't want an owner like that
i'd be proud of you with two eyes
or even one at that.
Cyclops Kitten
it's probably better that you're gone
no big dogs to taunt you on the lawn
no hairballs to hack up when you yawn
just a peaceful place for a one-eyed beast
oh cyclops kitten, you can rest in peace.
Original post on Killoggs.
But Cy wasn't even the first cyclops kitten. This one predates him.
You can even buy one of your own.
Or you might be more inclined to purchase a doll. I would.
Unless you'd prefer a cyclops kitten T-shirt.
Cy has even gotten into politics now!
one-eyed links cyclops kitten cat Cy Holoprosencephaly
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