Anyone seen a winged cat?

Steve Jones · Post by **Steve Jones** » Wed 27 Aug, 2008 10:34 am

yes, there is a babylonian picture like that.Winged sphinxes were also featyred in eygptian art.Whilst some stuffed cats might be faked, real ones exist/existed see the pictures in todays paper and the article i referred too earlier in the thread.Shuker puts it down to a genetic anomaly plus some were just matted hair.Yorkshire had two as in addition to Leeds one was born in Sheffield.

arry_awk · Post by **arry_awk** » Thu 28 Aug, 2008 4:52 pm

Hi Munki!Can't understand you being scared of the Flying MUNKISin Wizard of Oz!Thought you'd have felt at home with 'em!LOL!I think I saw a WINDED cat on Broad lane yesterday.It got hit by a car! Cat-astrophe?

simong · Post by **simong** » Sat 30 Aug, 2008 2:00 pm

There are quite a few instances of winged cats in recent history. There are photos if you look too, especially in the Fortean Times' archives. The general explanation is that the 'wings' are extraneous flesh which has somehow separated from the body but remained attached to the shoulders or neck. A cat's skin is only attached to its body at the 'ends' , which is partially why they're so flexible, so there is the potential for loose skin to form and slough in odd ways. Cats are subject to some odd conditions - I came across a story about a cat with four ears just the other day, where the second pair were vestigial flaps that had raised from its head. It's nice to know that Leeds has one of its own, even if it's in a cupboard somewhere.

Chrism · Post by **Chrism** » Sat 30 Aug, 2008 2:09 pm

Steve Jones wrote: I have now discovered via Google that the case is the subject of a novella "The Strange Possession of Thomas Bessie"a fictional account of the case.Apparently the name is because the workhouse didn't know if the cat was male or female to start with although it appears it was a Tom. Oooh! I've got that book. This is it.

liits · Post by **liits** » Sat 30 Aug, 2008 9:37 pm

A piece in the [London] METRO on Tuesday this week. The gist of which was some Chinese lady has a winged cat.

arry_awk · Post by **arry_awk** » Sun 31 Aug, 2008 12:49 pm

Think I had a piece of that last night in myChicken curry! THOUGHT it was a bit fluffy!lol

Steve Jones · Post by **Steve Jones** » Mon 10 Aug, 2009 7:43 pm

I am resurrecting this thread beause I had a fascinating phone call from a Mr Barlow whose family were directly connected to the famous Leeds winged cat Thomas/Bessey.He told me that his great granddad John Longstaff was the man who stole it, and his mother gave evidence at the trial!He reckons the trial date was in 1893 although he has a record of naughty John doing hard labour in Wakefield Prison in 1892 although that might be connected to his regular chicken stealing activities!Can someone with time to spare look through the 1892-1893 papers for Leeds to see if they can track down a record of this fascinating court case?according to Mr Barlow, John Longstaff stole the cat ,and a Mr Markham, who he thinks was the overseer at Leeds Workhouse ,wanted it back as the rightful owner.the court record should make interesting reading.I hope to interview Mr Barlow once I get back from attending the Centre for Fortean Zoology 's Weird Weekend in Devon this coming weeKend.

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Mon 10 Aug, 2009 7:53 pm

Hey Steve.Wait till csnosi see's you commented on the 666th view of this thread.I'm sure he'll have some quip to make lol ********************************* Anyone seen a winged cat? Posted in forum: General Chat.Started by: Steve Jones 16 replies 666 viewsBy: Steve JonesOn: 10-Aug-2009 18:43

Steve Jones · Post by **Steve Jones** » Mon 10 Aug, 2009 8:13 pm

I hadn't noticed that Phil<G>. Incidentally the John Barlow who wrote the book featured earlier is a member of the same family hence his knowledge of the story.I found John Longstaff on Ancestry's new Criminal Registers under 1892 when he got 6 months for "theft by servant" if this refers to his cat- napping , it would indicate the trial was in October 1892 although Mr Barlow says he has a 1940's newspaper clipping which refers to 1893.

Post by **cnosni** » Tue 11 Aug, 2009 12:33 am

Phill_dvsn wrote: Hey Steve.Wait till csnosi see's you commented on the 666th view of this thread.I'm sure he'll have some quip to make lol ********************************* Anyone seen a winged cat? Posted in forum: General Chat.Started by: Steve Jones 16 replies 666 viewsBy: Steve JonesOn: 10-Aug-2009 18:43 Moi?Yessss you How's the Subterannea Leodis project coming along mate?Give Fiona a nudge LOL!