Before Feline Cutaneous Asthenia was diagnosed in the 1990's, some felines were known to be 'winged cats'. 'Winged cats' were being recorded as long ago as the 1890s and maybe even earlier. There are actual cases on file of cats with furry wing-like structures jutting from their backs. Below are a few of those reported cases:

Henry David Thoreau - Reported in 1842 of a cat that it's fur grew thick and flattened out along her sides, forming strips ten or twelve inches long by two and a half wide, the upper side loose, the under matted like felt, and in the spring these 'wings' dropped off.





Karl Shuker - Reported in India, the year 1868 of a 'winged cat' that was shot in the Punch Mehali and its dried skin was exhibited at a meeting of the Bombay Asiatic Society. The skin measured 18 inches in length.





Cambridgeshire, England - August 1894 A live cat with 'wings' resembling those of a duckling was reported England - Reported in 1897 a 'winged feline' that was a large tortoiseshell tom cat with fully grown 'wings' protruding from each of it's sides. What is also odd here, is to see a male tortoiseshell cat.





England - 1899 a 'winged kitten' reported which was normal in every way, except for two fur-covered growths coming out of its back. These flapped around like wings whenever the cat moved.





Oxford, England - In 1933 a 'winged' black and white cat was captured and exhibited at a local zoo. Its 'wings' were 6 inches long.





Wigtownshire, Scotland - In 1936 another 'winged cat' was found. It was a white longhair with one blue and one red eye. Its 'wings' were 6 inches long and 3 inches wide. The 'wings' would rise when the cat ran and fold down into her side when she rested.





Sheffield, England - Reported in 1939 was a black and white 'winged cat' that was sold by its owner to a Blackpool museum of freaks.





Northern Sweden - In June 1949 the largest recorded 'wings' on a cat was to be 24 inches long. This 'winged cat' was shot dead, it reportedly had swooped down on a child. The body of the cat was given to the local museum.





Madrid, Spain - In May 1950 a grey Angora cat was reported to have a pair of 'large fluffy wings'.

There have also been several 'winged cats' reported in the USA, here is one:





Pinesville, West Virginian - in May 1959 a cat was found and became an instant star. After a TV appearance with the man who found her, a woman claimed it was her lost cat and sued. When the cat appeared in court, she was wingless, having shed her 'wings' two months after being found. This suggested that the wings were no more than extensive mats of fur which eventually fell away from the body.





Manchester, England - In 1975 there was a published photograph of a 'winged cat' that lived in England during the 1960s. The cat had a pair of long fluffy 'wings' -11 inches long - protruding from its back. According to reports, the cat could raise its 'wings' above its body, suggesting a deformity which contained muscle as well as flaps of skin.





The two stories just listed above start to give some form of explanation for these 'wings'.

The most likely explanation is a deformity of the skin which just happens to take the shape of wings sprouting from the cat's back. The cat has little or no control over its 'wings' and certainly cannot flap them or fly as reported in the early days.

In the 1990s, cryptozoologists (study of mysterious creatures) and veterinarians found that a rare genetically based skin disorder provided the answer to many cases of 'winged cats'. This rare hereditary medical condition called Feline Cutaneous Asthenia (FCA) causes the skin on the cat's back to be abnormally elastic. Even petting the cat's skin can cause it to stretch.





Cutaneous Asthenia means "weak skin" and refers to the fragility of the skin. There are similar conditions in humans, dogs, mink, horses, cattle and sheep. The human form is called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Elastic-skinned people have exhibited themselves at freak shows, such as Arthur Loose the "Rubber Skinned Man" whose cheeks and jowls hung 8 inches long and James Morris the original "India Rubber Man" who could pull his elastic skin 18 inches from his body.

The skin is also abnormally fragile. It tears at the slightest contact with anything sharp - rough surfaces or even the cat's own claws when scratching or grooming itself. Also, the flaps of skin peel off very easily, usually without bleeding, explaining some of the reports of winged cats who suddenly 'loose their wings'.

Where the defect occurs (cat's back/shoulders) sufficient muscle is included in the flaps of skin, so the 'wings' can be moved slightly. This is why there are reports of cats being able to lift or move their 'wings'. Even where the 'wings' don't contain any muscle, they would just naturally bounce as the cat ran, making it appear as 'flapping wings'.





If you have a 'winged cat', don't exhibit it like some kind of freak. It is a kitten that gives unconditional love & deserves nothing less in return. You will need to modify its lifestyle and environment to make sure kitty doesn't damage its fragile skin. Cats with Feline Cutaneous Asthenia can live a full life if the owner is careful and not squeamish about dealing with the inevitable lacerations and possible infections. Activities likely to cause mild trauma must be avoided; this includes playing with other cats, climbing trees, going through undergrowth or any activity which could bring it into contact with rough surfaces or sharp objects. You will need to remove or pad (with foam) any rough or sharp corners and objects in your home, possibly confining your cat to certain areas which can be made safe for it. To protect kitty from it's own claws use claw-caps such as SoftPaws. If your cat suffers the form of the condition where tears enlarge or skin folds tear away, prompt veterinary attention is necessary to suture or glue any small wounds before they do enlarge or become infected. Skin glues or liquid bandages (or spray-on skin) are expensive but avoid stitches. The vet must also treat any other skin conditions, including skin parasites, which may cause your cat to scratch.





You cannot scruff a cat with Feline Cutaneous Asthenia as you are likely to end up with a handful of skin, fur and even flesh where the scruff tears away completely. You must also watch out for slipping joints, such as hip dysplasia, which often occurs as part of the syndrome. Because the body has to do so much more healing of what would be minor scratches in other cats, the affected cat will probably need vitamin supplements to promote skin growth & anti-inflammatory drugs to combat certain skin conditions and antibiotic treatments. Just make the best life for your special 'winged' kitty.



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