Is the half-cat a product of photo-editing or a genetic mutation? At least one person, a scientist, believed that it is a mutation and wrote a book about it. He died in a fall from a cliff. The manuscript of his book on the half-cat was in his rucksack. The book is to be published.
The existence of the half-cat as a genetic mutation is not plausible. I will state, right away, that the half-cat is a product of the desire of some people to believe in mystical creatures such as the Loch Ness Monster, the Yeti and UFOs. There is a long history that goes back to stone age man that is still with us, of a desire to believe in the mystical and spiritual. It is akin to a religion and has similar qualities to a religion. It does not surprise me that someone has come up with a mystical cat considering the popularity of the internet cat.
There is a famous picture of a half-cat. At one time it was believed to have been a Google Streetview image error. It is, in fact, a product of photo-editing or manipulation – Photoshopping.
This is the finished picture and the original side by side:
Here is a video that tells the story in a deadpan way:
The scientist who believed in half-cats was Erwin Hobbes. He collected photographic evidence of its existence. There is a photo of a half-cat skeleton that Mr Hobbes actually saw. It looks convincing (see below).
Here are two more photos:
As is commonplace for all mystical super-animals no one ever sees one in real life. It is all built around photos, faith and belief. At the end of the video the presenter is seen wandering around a park looking for a half-cat. It seems absurd. It looks like a spoof video. Perhaps the whole video is a spoof but it was made to raise money to publish Hobbes’s book. That is the declared reason, anyway.
The video is on a website called Kickstarter, a place where people can try and raise money to get a project off the ground.
Genetic mutations in cats are not unusual. A cat breed such as the well known hairless Sphynx is the result of a genetic mutation. These are small anatomical variations from the norm. They are mistakes in copying genes. As mentioned, it is totally implausible for a genetic mutation to result in non-production of half a cat in the womb and for the cat to function normally when born.
The nearest example is the Manx cat with spinal abnormalities resulting in no tail. The genetic mutation that causes this can also cause severe health problems. On a practical level a half-cat would not be able to function and would have massive health issues.
What do you think?
My thanks to DW for finding this story for me.
Nah, it’s a myth, it’s SO obviously a fiddled about with picture and an altered skeleton, someone is having a larf!
Definitely a larf — Say no more….. 😉
I just hope it IS a myth
Ruth, I know I am bit cynical (or a lot!) but I am 99% sure this is another one of those mysterious animals that no one sees but which people want to believe in.
It’s a joke. More accurately 100 % internet hoax 🙂 Erwin Hobbes is not a scientist. Good news: he didn’t fall from a cliff 🙂 http://www.kickstarter.com/profile/974842032 And that skeleton… Does it look like a cat for you – isn’t it some kind of dinosaur? Wow what a head!:)
Although some people will believe anything they see on the internet… You shouldn’t 🙂
Thank you, The Angora Cat Association. You write with a high degree of common sense!
The half cat being the Stealth version with no ears either by the looks of it. There was a healthy cat without rear legs born last year – he managed pretty well. He walks around on his front 2 legs but he is longer than these half cats. I wish I could remember his name but you would find him if you googled ‘cat with no back legs’ probably.
Very interesting Marc, the two legged cat. If he is OK then I may have to reassess my opinion. Is the two-legged cat as short in body as the two-legged cat? It seems not. It is the half-length body that for me makes it improbably. Missing hind legs with the remainder of the anatomy in place is possible — and everything else will function as normal.
Yes he is normal length and totally healthy although he did have a prolapse at around 8 months of age I think. Otherwise a normal cat in length though.
Thanks Marc. I think that is the key. When the body length is the same then it is just a question of two legs missing. But if the body is short as in the pictures, what is missing or shortened in the body? How does this affect bodily functions such as digestion and the nervous system? The change is too dramatic. It makes a weird cat picture which the public likes but there is no mention of practical matters such as health. They are totally ignored.
Reading about the “HALF-CAT” for the first time in my life although have read about all the other mystical creatures still to be discovered by humans.If the “Half-Cat” ever exists then its a deformed cat but would find survival in the wild difficult due to lack of speed while hunting for prey.”Two-Headed” cats are a reality but have never survived beyond birth.