It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a … cat?
A kitty in Chongqing, China, is getting some extra-special attention these days: The furry feline has developed wings! Though born looking completely normal, once the cat hit the age of 1, he began growing wing-shaped appendages on either side of his spine, the U.K.'s Daily Mail reports.
While some think the bony limbs may be a mutation of some kind — or even a Siamese twin growing inside the cat — others speculate it's a genetic change perhaps caused by chemicals ingested by the kitty's mother while she was pregnant.
According to the cat's owners, he doesn't seem to mind his new wings — and he’s loving the attention he's received because of them!
Strange as the case may sound, winged felines are not unheard of. Back in August 2008, the U.K. Telegraph reported that tomcats in China's Sichuan province developed wing-like growths on their backs.
Veterinary experts said then that despite the hard inner core, the "wings" don't harm cats' quality of life or safety. According to the Telegraph's report, scientists believe the appendages developed due to grooming habits, a genetic defect or a hereditary skin condition
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/30967440/?GT1=43001
Attachment: cat_wings_widec.jpg (Downloaded 5 times) Last edited on Thu May 28th, 2009 03:08 am by Garden Queen
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