Posted by Helen on: 06.04.2008 /
The Nigerian Tribune reports that a cat allegedly turned into a woman after being hit by a motorcycle (via skepchick)
WHAT could be described as a fairy tale turned real on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as a cat allegedly turned into a middle-aged woman after being hit by a commercial motorcycle (Okada) on Aba/Port Harcourt Expressway.
Nigerian Tribune learnt that three cats were crossing the busy road when the okada ran over one of them which immediately turned into a woman. This strange occurrence quickly attracted people around who descended on the animals. One of them, it was learnt, was able to escape while the third one was beaten to death, still as a cat though.
I’m fascinated that the newspaper doesn’t question the story. Why doesn’t it? Because it includes comments by eye-witnesses? Because the prevailing belief system at the newspaper or among the people who buy the newspaper incorporates this sort of transfiguration?
This type of story illustrates why I’m unconvinced when people say “This was reported by eyewitnesses - it must be true!” It seems that eye-witness testimony can be influenced by the underlying belief system.
On the other hand, it’s my belief system which make it impossible to believe a cat turned into a woman. So maybe I’m the one too prejudiced to see The Truth…
Comment by: Jason Horton
1I’m not sure about transfiguration but I know for a fact that my cat can teleport. One year she pulled down the Christmas tree. One moment she was under it tugging on some tinsel and the next she was strolling nonchalantly into the room with a curious expressing on her feline face. Obviously she teleported.
Hang on though, they beat the cat to death? That’s just wrong. I don’t care if the cat could turn into a woman (or is it woman into cat?) that’s no excuse to murder it. They would have killed the woman too. Crazy beliefs, just crazy.
Comment by: Randy
2Hard core evidence that cats are in fact evil beings.
I was impressed that the eyewitness reported that the ‘catwoman’ said she and the other two cats were on a mission to kill three people, but couldn’t get ‘er done because one of them must have been a pastor. Of course the woman herself, being deluded and an evil deceptive cat, denied knowing what happened.
Clearly eyewitness accounts must be considered in light of the context of the report (and who is reporting it). I doubt this account will endure past this week as a reliable, verifiable report, even in Africa where it “allegedly” (newspaper speak) happened.
Comment by: Helen
3Jason, I remember the nonchalant stroll very well from when I was growing up and we had cats. Not sure my cats ever teleported - yours must have better cat skills than mine.
Randy, I looked and it doesn’t seem like the Associated Press has picked up this story.
There’s another article about it in the Saturday Tribune which looks related to the Nigerian Tribune that ran the first article. In this article the question is raised about whether this is a hoax.
Also a skeptical eyewitness’s account is included:
His account brings out the downside of the belief that she was a catwoman: the people rush over, not to help but to finish the job the vehicle impact started, because they think she’s evil.
There’s an interview with the cat-woman in this second article.
Comment by: Jim J
4Obviously, this guy was looking to get off on a technicality, the woman was a mere feline when he hit her. The motive for lying is obvious, the contradicting eyewitness testimony makes sense, and of course cats don’t turn into women when they get hit. They don’t have to.
Comment by: Helen
5Thanks for your comment, Jim J. That’s a good point - presumably accidentally hitting a cat with your motorcycle would be considered less serious than hitting a woman.
I don’t think anyone would try that excuse in the US.
Comment by: benjamin ady
6But we don’t find it at all surprising, for instance, to flick a switch and have the lights come on, or to step into an airplane and travel at 600 miles an hour at 30,000 feet, or to pick up our cell phone and speak with someone 7,000 miles away.
Anyway–haven’t you seen this cat thing? I can think of at least 4 or 5 times I’ve seen cats turn into women, and vice versa. Happens all the time.
I’m with you on the not believing eyewitness testimony. There’s just too much evidence that we are generally crap at both accurately seeing (perception) and accurately recalling (memory). And … I mean look at all the people who have gotten off death row in recent years, on DNA evidence, who were originally convicted on eyewitness testimony.