Author: Eva Tushenkina
21 June 2022 14:08
Community: Life is not the same without a cat
Tags: Unusual cat animals cat kitten Narnia unusual color unique
22177
13
This beautiful blue-eyed cat named Narnia captivated everyone back in 2022, when he was a tiny fluffy ball with a muzzle clearly divided into black and gray halves. And now he is no longer a baby, but an adult respectable cat, the father of children and a real heartthrob!
1
See all photos in the gallery
Wild colors of cats: a little history
Once upon a time, wild cats lived in Europe and Africa, which did not differ in a wide variety of colors. For example, European forest cats had mostly grayish coats with the addition of ocher. The steppe cat had stripes “painted” on its fur of a sandy or grayish tint. Sometimes stripes replaced spots. That's probably all the diversity. So where did modern colors come from?
About five thousand years ago, the cat was domesticated by humans. Animals traveled around the world on ships, settled in different places, and experienced many mutations, as a result of which their color changed. Selection was of great importance. Some breeders are still working on unusual colors for pets. For example, for lovers of wild animals, cats similar to a panther or jaguar were bred. However, they have a docile nature as pets.
Genes and color
The color of a pet's fur depends on the genes that are responsible for it. And, by the way, there are not so many of them. But if there are different forms of the same gene, the color can change, have different shades and patterns. Sometimes the fur coat is so unusual and painted in such colors that it makes professional breeders and ordinary cat lovers admire.
The basic colors of pets are the basis for the rest. These include only two colors: red (red) and black. Black color appears in the presence of a special pigment called eumelanin, and red color appears in the presence of pheomelanin. The intensity of the color depends on how much melanin is contained in the hair.
Gene brighteners produce completely different colors. The brightener for black is gray (blue), for red – cream.
Cats have genes that produce white coloring with different interpretations, as well as genes responsible for patterns on the fur coat. Therefore, a bizarre pattern sometimes appears on it, ranging from ordinary stripes to mysterious curls, which are also called marble color.
A cat's coat color can be red, black, or a lightened variety of these colors, as they have an XY chromosome set. Females have a set of XX chromosomes, therefore, their color combines a greater number of shades. Therefore, the hair colors of females are more varied and bizarre. A tricolor cat is not uncommon, but it is almost impossible to find a cat of this color.
See also: Costume for a cat - protection and beauty
There are also cats that have a black and red base color at the same time. But these are gene mutations. The set of chromosomes in such animals is XXY.
Now let's talk in more detail about the main colors.
What color Maine Coon is better to choose?
Many breeders tend to prefer wild-colored Maine Coons. They are usually called black tabby. The basis is the belief that this is the color of the coat that the first forest cats, from which the breed originated, had.
Very often, buyers choose blue cats. They are really beautiful. It’s not for nothing that Maine Coons of this color can be seen in popular advertising. But thanks to her, the price has increased.
People prone to mysticism love cats with black fur, are willing to pay huge sums for them and call them by the most unusual nicknames.
Cats with silver fur are attractive. There is something mysterious and attractive about this color.
But they are careful not to buy white Maine Coons, knowing their tendency to deafness.
Whatever color Maine Coon you buy, proper feeding and care of the animal is of great importance. A healthy animal is full of strength, its coat is shiny. A playful man-kun will always please his owner.
Ginger cat
Everyone loves cute saffron milk caps. No wonder they are believed to bring happiness to the house. The mere presence of a sunny cat can improve your mood. The red color is called pheomelanistic. The genes responsible for the appearance of red cats are dominant O and recessive O. In the chromosome they are combined into pairs of alleles (OO), (oo).
There are also genes on which the color intensity depends, the dominant gene (D) and the recessive gene (d). Combining with intensity genes in pairs, the genes form a bright red sunny color (ОD), or cream color (Od).
The colors of females are more varied than the colors of males, but mostly cats are red. The fact is that cats only have a set of XY chromosomes, and the color directly depends on the presence of the X chromosome. A cat becomes red only if it has two X chromosomes, each of which has a gene for red color.
Mr. Cat recommends: the most popular signs
One of the most famous beliefs is that a cat should be the first to cross the threshold of a new home. She will “assess” the energy state of the new home and establish contact with the brownie.
Here are the most common and often true signs associated with cats:
- the cat broke the mirror - fortunately;
- washes his face - to the guests;
- petting a cat if he comes up on his own means good luck and material well-being for the near future;
- There must always be at least one cat on the ship, then it will return safely to the port (the wives of sailors kept black cats in the house so that their husbands would definitely return);
- whoever pours water on a cat loses half his life;
- kittens cannot be given away for free; you must take at least a small coin in return;
- by feeding stray cats, a person patches up his karma, and also ensures a prosperous afterlife existence for deceased relatives;
- Taking home a stray cat and taking care of it will bring money and happiness; driving away an incoming animal will incur punishment from higher powers (it is believed that cats only come to places where they are really needed).
Cats have been living next to humans for a very long time, bringing joy with their mere presence. It turns out that they can bring quite material well-being, as well as protect the house from troubles and ward off death. Therefore, you need to protect and care for your furry pet so as not to incur the wrath of the goddess Bast and her comrades from other mythological stories. 1111
Black cat
People treat black cats differently, although color does not in any way affect the character and behavior of the animals. Eumelanistic or black colors come in three types: black (B-black), brown (b-brown), light brown (bl-brown light). The strongest gene is B, and the weakest is bl. In any pair, the dominant gene predominates: Bb - the cat will be black, Bbl - also black, bbl - chocolate.
Colors also depend on the presence of intensity genes: BBDD – rich black (solid), BBDd black, BBdd blue (gray).
Gene O is stronger than gene B. So a black cat and a red cat will have red kittens.
How to care for an adult pet's fur
A healthy pet's coat should be silky, shiny and flowing. Her condition is affected by:
- proper nutrition, balanced in the amount of vitamins and minerals;
- conditions of detention. For example, a sedentary lifestyle, poorly ventilated rooms and regular stress negatively affect the appearance of the coat;
- proper care. Coons need to be combed 2-3 times a week with a special comb and bathed once every few months with shampoos carefully selected at the veterinary pharmacy. At the time of shedding (it can be seasonal, or associated with hormonal changes in the body of cats aged from 6 to 12 months), the pet must be combed daily.
White cat
Absolutely white albino cats are extremely rare. In fact, white color has nothing to do with albinism. These are completely different things. Albinism is recessive and is designated by the “c” gene, and there are two types of albinos: those with blue eyes and those whose eyes appear red.
Now about the genes that give white color. It depends on two genes, dominant - W and recessive - w. Moreover, the gene itself does not give any color, it simply suppresses other genes, which is why the cat remains white.
When crossing two cats with WW, the offspring will have a white coat, and cats with Ww will produce offspring with pigment. Such cats are more common.
White cats are often deaf due to the fact that the deafness gene is often “stuck” to the W gene or the S gene, which is responsible for the presence of white spots. Moreover, almost half of white animals are born deaf.
Folk superstitions
Our ancestors looked for answers in the behavior of cats to what awaited them in the near future:
The cat joined the house - expect an imminent wedding. Long and diligent licking of fur is good for guests. The pet reaches out to its owner to expect new clothes. But this sign also has another interpretation - someone from one’s close circle will use the person for selfish reasons. To offend a cat means disaster. The animal will definitely do something unpleasant in response, and this will be the best outcome. Cats are associated with the other world, so revenge for an offense caused can be serious. A person who offends a cat may soon fall ill, and only misfortunes and troubles await him.
You can't look a cat in the eye for too long. This can lead to trouble. The pet views a close, prolonged gaze as a threat and may behave aggressively. Cats see brownies and communicate with them. Pets often wake up their owners with noisy, active games at night. But you can’t be angry with a cat and punish it. Together with her, the brownie will also be offended, for which he will definitely take revenge on the household. Cats protect against evil spirits. If an animal suddenly huddles in a corner and becomes wary, at that moment it sees the source of evil spirits. The pet needs help to drive away the evil spirit. To do this, you need to take a broom and use it to drive the evil spirits out of the house, saying protective prayers. A cat protects against the evil eye and damage. If you have had contact with a person who has bad intentions, you should use the strong cat energy. The pet must be picked up and stroked, but only with the left hand
It is important to stroke the cat exactly on the scruff of the neck. If a cat was calmly walking down the street, but, seeing a stranger walking ahead, suddenly changed its route, the person following the animal should take a few steps to the side (it doesn’t matter which way) and then continue on its way. This will protect you from trouble. You cannot kiss an animal on the nose - when a person touches a cat’s nose, it opens an energy channel through which not only his life energy, but also particles of his soul can escape. The cat sneezed
If this happened at a wedding, and the animal was next to the bride at the time of sneezing, this is a good sign indicating that the life of the young couple will be happy. If a pet sneezes 3 times in a row, it will rain or the owner will get sick. The cat sneezes - the owner will have a toothache. To prevent this from happening, after your pet sneezes, you need to say: “Hello!”
Cats heal. And these are not only those situations when an animal lies on a sore spot on the human body. There is a belief that the water in which the cat was bought helps cure serious illnesses. After bathing a pet, the water from the bath should not be poured out; the sick person should bathe in it. Then the water needs to be poured as far as possible from the house so that the disease goes away and does not return.
It is believed that the cat not only sees the brownie, but is also at his disposal.
Tortoiseshell or calico cats
Cats that have spots of two colors all over their coats can surprise anyone with their “outfit.” After all, not all females have red genes on their two X chromosomes. Often, genes for black color are present on the second chromosome, resulting in the birth of such a spotted animal. The main tortoiseshell color is black and red, but there are other colors: blue and cream, chocolate and cinnamon.
See also: How old is a cat by human standards?
Mostly females have a tortoiseshell color. In cats, this color occurs only with a set of XXY chromosomes (as a rule, such cats are sterile).
Colors of ticked cats
The so-called ticked colors are very diverse. Each fur of these animals is divided into several shades: darker turns into light, then again into dark. Ticking is the result of the action of a dominant A gene called agouti. It acts in such a way that in the first stages of wool growth the pigment is released very strongly, then decreases. Alternation occurs several times, and sections of the hair are painted in different shades. When the animal moves, its fur seems to shimmer.
Breeders are very keen on breeding cats of these colors, as they believe that this is not an easy, but very interesting task.
Tabby colors
Tabbies are colors with a specific pattern: circles, stripes, spots on a ticked coat. For this purpose, the T gene is required. Due to the fact that some areas of the fur coat are painted, while others are not, a pattern appears.
For example, the T gene is responsible for the brindle color. For the Abyssinian color, when there are stripes only on the face, and ticked hairs are located throughout the fur coat - Ta.
Cats' fur coats can be not only brindle, but have the most bizarre patterns.
Piebald cats
If a cat has white spots, then its color is piebald, regardless of what color the white is adjacent to. Piebaldness is evidence that the S gene is present, which is also responsible for deafness. The piebald colors themselves are very diverse. The main ones are: van, harlequin bicolor, tricolor, tuxedo.
The van (Sw gene) is considered dominant; the harlequin is recessive to it, but is dominant to the bicolor, which itself is recessive (Ss).
Van cats have a colored cap on their head and a dark tail, and the rest of their fur is white, or rather it is believed that it has such a large white spot.
Van color cat
Pets whose body is covered with colored spots on no more than a third have a color called harlequin.
Harlequin
In animals that are half colored, the color is called bicolor .
Bicolor
The piebald breed also includes the snowshoe breed, which only cats of this breed have, with white shoes and a white shirtfront.
Snow-shoe
There are animals that have very little whiteness, a small speck in the form of a medallion or button. But sometimes the spots on the fur coat are located very close and are almost invisible, so that the cat seems like just a snow queen.
Cat with a medallion spot
Magic abilities
A popular mystical representative of the cat family is Cat Bayun. There were marks on his back in the form of two multi-colored spots, so the brownie took him as his assistant. The magical cat protected the sleep of little children from the Midnighter, and parents often asked him to protect the children during sleep. In addition, Bayun very skillfully told fairy tales and fables to children, cast a spell on dashing people and “averted their eyes.” Thanks to the gift of clairvoyance, he saw what was happening many miles from home and told his master about it. To this day, children enjoy listening to fairy tales from Kot Bayun.
When a pet climbs onto a person’s lap and lies down, curled up in a ball, it means that it is restoring his strength. It may be that his peace of mind is greatly disturbed and the cat decided to take all the negative energy upon itself. It often happens when the owner is sick, his furry pet lies down at his feet or lies on his chest and does not want to leave for a long time. This means that she is trying to remove all the negativity that has accumulated during the illness.
Positive predictions from a cat
There are many good signs associated with the behavior of the tricolor:
If the cat is playful, cheerful, and caresses her feet, it means that favorable changes will soon occur in the house or good news will appear. Has your pet sat on the threshold or windowsill and started preening itself? This means that guests or good profits should be expected soon. In the old days they believed that if a cat came into the house where a girl lived, then it was time for the parents to prepare for matchmaking. If while the bride was trying on her wedding dress, the cat sneezed, then the girl’s family life will be happy. And when such an animal is encountered by young people during a wedding procession, their family will be strong and they will live together for a long time. Those who have a cat in their house will be very lucky. The sign says that she must be allowed into the house first and then good luck and prosperity will come for her
Alien cats are always given special attention, as they believe that they come into the house only of good and bright people. For an omen to come true, you need to pay for it. The payment is three white pennies, which should be placed at the intersection
The payment is three white pennies, which should be placed at the intersection.
Even a simple meeting with a multi-colored cat is considered to be a wonderful omen:
- a person who meets a tricolor animal on the street will receive good news;
- a four-color cat brings good luck in amorous affairs;
- a kitten whose coat shimmers in seven shades is a gift from the Guardian Angel.
Not only the tortoiseshell cat is considered a lucky talisman, but also the offspring it will bear. If she gives birth to a black and a red kitten at the same time, this promises good benefits in business. You should definitely keep the little black cat. When he grows up, he will be able to heal various diseases and drive out evil spirits from the house. The red-haired baby needs to be placed in a good family. By the way, if a small furry ball was brought into the house as a gift, you must give a symbolic payment for it. This is usually done so that the baby gets accustomed to the new family.
Pet warns
Those who have decided to get a tricolor kitten should know that it can grow into a very wayward and independent animal. But his psychic abilities will not suffer at all from this. In addition to the fact that he is able to foretell joyful events, he can also predict some negative phenomena.
You should expect trouble when the tricolor animal sits down near the front door and begins to diligently look for something. This behavior can sometimes mean that the cat has sensed a threat approaching. Well, of course, except for those cases when cockroaches live in the apartment - tricolors, like, in principle, all their counterparts of other colors, really like to watch these insects.
It’s a bad sign if a cat is taken into the house by a lonely woman. He may be the reason that she will continue to live alone.
For those who adore these cute little animals, regardless of breed or color, all signs and superstitions seem like ordinary fairy tales. They just love and pamper them, and the cats reciprocate their feelings.
Cats of gold and amber colors
Cats with golden coats are considered beauties, because their fur, with several tones, always seems unusual. It combines basal yellow color and ticking. The golden tones are produced by the wb or agouti genes.
Colors vary depending on the area of dyed hairs.
See also: How to stop a cat from climbing on the table
If painted:
- 1/2 hair or more, the cat has a smoky-golden coat;
- 1/3 of a hair, the animal has a golden-shaded color;
- 1/8 hair, coat almost yellow, color name chinchilla golden.
In addition, there is a golden tabby, with pronounced stripes of light brown color against the ticking background.
Amber tabby
And the last very interesting color, called amber (amber). Cats of this color have modified genes. Their color is based on a modified eumelanin pigment.
Amber color
Cats with silver color
Animals with silver-colored fur are the most mysterious, if only because scientists have not yet come to an exact conclusion about the formation of silver colors. But it is known for certain that the inhibitor l gene is responsible for them.
Silver color is obtained when part of the hair is highlighted using yellow (silver) or cream (cameo) colors.
The colors are divided as follows: golden: smoky, shaded, chinchilla, tabby.
- Smoky colors are obtained when the root of the hair is white, and the hair itself is lilac, chocolate, black or blue.
Smoky color
- Shaded, when 1/3 of the hair is colored;
Silver shaded
- Chinchilla - 1/8 of the hair is dyed.
Chinchilla
- Tabby is distinguished by the presence of ticking at the ends of the hairs and a pattern on a silver background.
Silver tabby
Unlike silver, cameo has a reddish tint. The colors are formed as follows:
- 1/8 hair – cameo shell;
Cameo shell
- 1/3 – shaded cameo;
Cameo shaded
- Only the hair at the roots is not painted - cameo smoke.
Cameo smoky
- Tabby cameo is a red pattern on a pale yellow background.
cameo tabby
Siamese cat colors (acromelanistic)
If a cat's ears, muzzle and tail are colored, and the rest of her coat is white, then she has an acromelanistic coloration, which is associated with temperature. The fact is that colored spots (points) appear only where the body temperature is low.
The chromosomes of Siamese or Himalayan cats contain cscs alleles, which prevent the appearance of pigment in areas where the temperature is higher.
Himalayan cat
However, color-point colors still occur when the T gene is activated. They are called lynx, lynx-point. Then a drawing appears on a white background.
Towards a change in weather
Increased weather sensitivity allows furry pets to be, in addition to healers, also excellent weather forecasters. This quality is based on the special structure of the inner ear, which subtly responds to environmental changes.
Feeling discomfort associated with fluctuations in atmospheric pressure, the cat diligently rubs its head with its paw, trying to remove them, i.e., washes itself.
Changes in humidity are detected by receptors on the animal's skin, so the cat can easily predict rainy weather. How to understand the signs:
- a cat curled up in a ball or hiding its nose in its tail - a cold snap;
- cleans the fur coat, tail and washes thoroughly - to precipitation;
- asks to drink a lot - the weather will get worse;
- yawning and arching your back - the weather will be good;
- nervous behavior, shuddering in a dream - foresees bad weather;
- chews grass - it will rain soon;
- sneezes - to rain;
- cleans claws on a wall or floor - to the wind and bad weather;
- looking for a warm place or asking to be held in order to sleep - to the cold weather;
- sleeps on his back - summer or warm weather is coming.
Best articles: Structure, role and formation of peroxisomes
