- Cat colors
- Why do cats have different colors?
- How to determine the color of a murr?
Cats differ from other animals in an incredible variety of colors. In many respects, this diversity is due to both the large number of breeds and the careful selection that breeders are carrying out to obtain more and more rare suits of pets. Absolutely every cat has its own specific riddles and secrets, uniqueness and feature. For example, pure white is simply magic. A special place among snow-white pets is occupied by a white cat with black spots.
to the table of contents ↑Cat colors
Ancient Egypt is considered the homeland of a domestic cat, because here animals were the embodiment of purity and goodness, and even ranked as saints. The man himself worshiped the pussy and was with her absolutely always. With the onset of the era of travel and the conquest of new lands, domestic cats spread around the globe along with wandering Phoenicians.
Black cat
These animals were very popular in the Mediterranean. Local travelers and pilgrims always took cats with them, and chose only a black suit. It is such a dark mirka that is a unique hunter on the ship, because it is almost invisible at night, and cat catches very quickly and mice catches, considering that the rodents were out of the seafarers' stores at night. So the black kitty became simply necessary, in its grandiose triumph continued until the middle of the centuries.
It was at this time in Europe that the persecution of witches and magicians began, and the murk of dark color found the face of a devilish animal, bringing misfortune and failure.
Important! On the day of St. John in the city squares, once a year, demonstrative executions and burning witches along with their cats were held. Under such a cruel ritual, only those animals that were completely black were found. If a black cat with white spots lived in a house, then it was considered safe for a person - it was not killed.
In addition, in the seventeenth century there was a fashion for the use of black cats for medical purposes. For example, the English "doctor" Edward Topsell came up with a recipe using a black cat without a single white hair for the treatment of eye diseases and blindness.
Important! According to his technique, it was necessary to burn the head of such an animal to the state of a powder, and then crush it and mix it with clay. The mixture was insisted for a while, then filtered. Prepared by means, the patient's eye was digested 3 times a day. Of course, this is a complete charlatanry and brutality, but people believed in the holy to believe in healing, so this belief existed for a very long time.
Although in our time there are signs and superstitions concerning black cats. For example, in Germany, the cats of this suit are most afraid. All ominous signs and superstitions are connected only with human prejudices, but scientists have proved that it is black cats and murres that are most attached to their masters, rather than animals of other colors.
Purely black cats remain, to date, very few, and often animals of this color have a few white spots or light hairs on the wool. In ancient times it was believed that a black cat with a white spot is the representative of the sinister cat on Halloween. But in fact, cats with such a color are very vulnerable, while they are refined and aristocratic.
White mullet
Already in ancient Egypt, white cats were revered with special respect, because they believed that they are the best help to people associated with risk in life and heavy physical exertion. At different times, animals of white color were considered to be personification of purity and purity. According to the standards, the coat of white cats should not have any shades of color or impurities, even inclusions and stains. Although kittens are allowed blotches and stains of any colors on the head, as with time such marks disappear.
A special place among white-fronted representatives of the cat is occupied by murgens with blue eyes. Such animals have a timid character, because they have a slight deafness. However, not all of them belong to the Deaf breed.
Important! Scientists have proved that only 5% of white cats are born deaf, and the rest - they hear quite well.
to the contents ↑Why do cats have different colors?
Not so many genes are responsible for the suits of animals. But taking into account the various combinations and effects of different alleles( clarification, the type of pattern, etc.), and an infinite number of animal suits are created.
Among the main genes that are responsible for the suit, there are genes responsible for a solid tint or suit in combination with white. Also there are genes capable of painting the coat of the cat with various patterns( spots, stripes or whimsical curls).A gene that is able to suppress the manifestation of all such suits makes the individual completely white. And the presence of the gene of acromelanic color creates a white cat with black spots. If we imagine that all these genes work in a group, then it's not difficult to guess why the number of suits is limited only by the imagination of nature itself and today we can see animals in the most unexpected color variations, even if it's a white cat with black spots or a white cat with blackstains.
Important! Cats have a greater variety of cats than the colors of cats, as the genes of black and red suits can be combined in the color of the pussycat. And in cats this is impossible, since the gene of the red shade is associated only with the X chromosome( the chromosome set of the mug of XX, the cat is XY).
to the table of contents ↑How to determine the color of a murr?
If you bought a pet with a pedigree and documents from the breeder, then in the documents the color of not only the animal itself is registered, but the suits of its parents and ancestors to the fourth tribe are inscribed. If the animal is picked up on the street, then its documents can only have a mustache, paws and tail, but in this case, coloring is not so difficult to determine.
Consider the main features of the shades:
- The color of the white kitty is seen and so. It is combined with blue, green, yellow or different eyes, for example, one blue, and one green or yellow.
- If the white person has any spots on the head( "cap"), and the tail is colored in the same color, then this variant of the combination is called "van".After all, in fact, genetically this animal is black, red, blue or other color, depending on the color of the cap and tail. But all its color is covered with a large white spot, and on the animal's body there are only small painted areas.
- If the mulka has a large number of colored spots, but is not more than a third covered by them, has sufficient spaces between spots, then this color is called "harlequin".
- An animal, half painted, and the other half white, has a color called "bicolor."
- There are also colors with a residual white color, for example, a white patch on the breast or small white spots on the abdomen, white "slippers", medallions. This combination with white can have an animal of any basic color.
In the correct name of the color, the first goes - the main tone, the second - the type of drawing, and then - the combination with white. Further, the color of the eyes is indicated if it is unusual for this color, and the usual color of the eyes is not prescribed. For example, the color of a black and white specimen with an equal number of these 2 shades will be called "black bicolor".
In addition, color can be combined with a pattern( tabby).A cat is painted, it differs from a mirka without a pattern, a dark outline of the eyes and the letter "M" on the forehead( this is the main distinguishing feature).For the figure in the cat there are several genes, so the tabby pussycat can be striped, spotted, marbled or ticked. In the striped pussy, instead of spots - stripes. This drawing is called "tiger".
Important! In non-thoroughbred cats, the color of which is not supported by selection, the bands may be ruptured rather than solid, and color, more often than not, is something between the strip and the spot.
A black cat with white spots in many countries of the world and to this day is considered the best assistant to anyone who experiences severe blows to fate. It is he who helps people to endure all troubles more staunchly. According to the Scottish prescription, if a dark cat appears on the porch, then it's to prosperity in the house. We wish you a black cat with a white spot or a white cat with a black spot did not leave your house, and with it happiness and luck.