One-Eyed Cyclops Kitten Born in Brazil Dies After a Day
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. A kitten in Brazil is being dubbed the “cyclops cat” after it was born with one eye, as seen in a viral video. “I’m 32 years old and I’ve never seen anything like this in my life,” farmhand Gilberto Almeida told NewsX of the one-eyed feline, which was born on November 4 in Vilhena, in the state of Rondonia. “My cat has had several litters, but this was the first time something like this happened.” The monocular mousecatcher was part of a litter of four, but was the only one born with a single peeper. Accompanying footage shows Almeida clutching the little black kitten, which looks so peculiar it could’ve been AI-generated. Alas, the poor little fellow died just over a day later on November 6 due to breathing difficulties.
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The Cyclopia Mystery How a Single Eye Forms in the Womb
The ocular anomaly reportedly suffered from cyclopia, a rare congenital disorder named after the cyclops, a monster in Greek mythology known for sporting a single eye. “When the embryo is developing, instead of the brain structure dividing into two parts, a single mass forms,” explained veterinarian Janete Silva. “As the eye follows this division, it ends up positioned in the center.” The condition can affect people as well and is often caused by chromosomal abnormalities or medication exposure during pregnancy. Fortunately, the condition is exceedingly rare, affecting fewer than one in 100,000 births, according to WebMD.
Cyclopia A Rare Condition with Harsh Outcomes
Sufferers of cyclopia rarely live long as the condition makes respiration difficult, with many afflicted dying shortly after birth, as was the case with the “cyclops cat.” It often results in a miscarriage or stillbirth.
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