Genetics

The classic blotched tabby (infographic)

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Silver classic tabby Scottish Fold kitten with a WOW appearance

Scroll down for an infographic on the classic tabby cat coat which is also referred to as the blotched tabby. Of the three types of tabby coat: the mackerel, spotted and classic, as stated in the infographic, the classic is believed to have evolved the last in the Elizabethan era due to a genetic mutation. But domestic cat tabby coats have evolved from the original domesticated cats which were all stripped/spotted tabbies as they were domesticated wildcats. Back in the day there was only one type of tabby.

Agouti tabby (infographic)
Click the link above for an infographic on the agouti gene which is responsible for the tabby coat.
The classic blotched tabby

‘Chinchilla’, its meaning in the cat world (infographic)

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Chinchilla Persian miniature cat

The word ‘chinchilla’ is used a lot in the cat fancy and it is associated with Persian cats. Usually not the extreme bred, flat-faced variety but the traditional doll-faced types. But there appears to be a certain flexibility in the meaning and use of the word which I have illustrated in the infographic. In essence ‘chinchilla’ refers to a type of coat in the cat world, specifically the cat fancy. The name has been taken from the name of a South American rodent with the same coat.

Albinism in cats infographic

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albino cat eye color

This is an infographic which summarises albinism in cats. Rarely you will see albino wild and domestic cats. You will see quite a lot of people confusing cats that are completely white with blue eyes or odd-eye colour caused by the dominant white gene and albino cats with light-blue to pink eyes. The eyes are a good way to tell the difference. There are more articles with a reference to albinism below the infographic

Agouti tabby (infographic)

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Common agouti

This is my infographic on the agouti tabby domestic cat coat which we all know. It is the original cat coat.

Infographic on the agouti tabby pattern and genetics.

We all know that the domestic cat tabby pattern is the most common and best known as it comes from the domestic cat’s wildcat ancestor the North African wildcat which has a less contrasty spotted/mackerel tabby coat. Domestication introduced the blotched tabby in the 19th century; a late arrival.

Is a Bengal cat a tabby cat?

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Difference between random bred tabby cat and Bengal cat in appearance

Yes, all Bengal cats are tabby cats. I’ll explain. ‘Bengal cats’ are a cat breed. ‘Tabby cats’ are domestic, stray and feral cats with a certain type of cat coat: the tabby coat. So, the latter encompasses the former. It is a wider classification. An umbrella classification if you like. The Cat Fanciers’ Association …

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Why does the Scottish Fold Straight exist?

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Scottish Fold and Scottish Fold Straight siblings

The Scottish Fold Straight should not exist. It only exists as a by-product of the need to avoid creating horribly unhealthy Scottish Fold cats which have both copies (Fd/Fd) of the gene (Fd) which causes the ear flaps to fold down because of weak cartilage. You’ve probably heard of the Scottish Fold purebred cat. …

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Is the domestic cat a species?

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Domestic cat is a species

Yes, the domestic cat is a species. Although I think it is a slightly tricky question because the domestic cat could be a subspecies. This is the science of TAXONOMY which is fairly settled nowadays but scientists are still making adjustments. As the domestic cat is a domesticated North Africa wildcat (F.s.lybica) the question …

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