What affects us affects cats
A study lead by a conservation biologist at the Zoological Society of London, Simon Dures, has produced compelling but not conclusive evidence that sport hunting of African lions has made them physically less strong than they were 100 years ago because it has made lions’ genetic makeup less diverse. “We show that the genetic …
Lil Bub is probably the second most celebrated Internet cat after Grumpy Cat. Her name is a great success. Her appearance is characterised by her diminutive size and a tongue which is perpetually hanging out. She also has extra toes on each paw, no teeth and an undersized jaw. It has been found that …
On Twitter a cat owner uploaded a picture of her tabby cat with this caption: My cat got shaved for sterilization but new fur become different color XD. I have changed the wording a little but the photograph is interesting: So why is this? The first observation that I have is that the tail …
How has the domestic cat evolved over the approximate 10,000 years of its domestication from the Near Eastern wildcat? We have the beginnings of an answer at least. In 2014 scientists collected DNA samples from cheek swabs of 22 domestic cats. Unfortunately (for me) they were all purebred cats of various breeds including the …
Do wild cats shed as much as house cats? I have the best books on the wild cats and there is nothing in them on the speed at which the wild cat species shed fur, which is unsurprising because it is not something which is awfully important. However, that said, I will endeavour to …
How many genes do cats have? Domestic cats have 20,285 genes and 38 chromosomes (sciencedaily.com). Humans have roughly 20,500 genes (geneticdigest.com). The water flea has 31,000 genes (earthsky.org). Of these only a small number are concerned with the appearance of the cat. For example the difference between a Siamese and a Maine Coon pedigree …
A Quora.com visitors asks, “I’m getting a polydactyl kitten this week aside from extra toes, are there any other things I need to worry about? The answer is probably known to most cat owners which is that there is nothing to worry about other than the usual things when looking after a domestic cat. …
The genetics of the Siamese coat color is a form of Himalayan albinism which is found in many animals including the rabbit (Himalayan rabbit) and mouse. In the Siamese cat more pigmentation is displayed than normal. The eyes are blue rather than pink and the body is slightly shaded rather than stark white. Himalayan …
