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Blotched tabby and
black are both caused by recessive genes. Two
black cats will beget more black cats. Two
blotched tabbies will beget blotched tabbies, not
striped tabbies. These recessive genes can stay
hidden in other-color populations for many
generations before resurfacing. If natural or
artificial selection favors blotched or black
cats, the dominant striped varieties die out
because blotched and black breed true. Because
recessive genes can be hidden or masked, striped
tabbies can produce unexpected blotched tabby
kittens so if natural or artificial selection favors
striped cats, the blotched or black
varieties remain hidden but not lost.
White cats are
reputed to be timid or a little dim. Many
blue-eyed white cats, and some odd-eyed whites and
orange-eyed whites, have hereditary deafness. The
white coat color has sometimes been linked to
personality traits of slow thinking, dull
intellect and (mostly in females) timidity of
character - though these traits could equally well
be due to deafness.
Where Did Different Colors
Arise?
Different colors arose in different parts of the world as
spontaneous mutations in local cat populations.
Those populations may also have had distinct
personalities. The colourpointed pattern arose in
Asia and is naturally occurring in Thailand (Siam)
and Malaysia. The lilac color may also have
appeared in that general area. Blue (gray)
possibly arose in Asia where it is now seen in the
Korat breed and this color may have spread from
there into Russia (Russian
Blue).
The ticked and
mackerel tabby patterns (and the spotted pattern
as this is a form of mackerel tabby) are seen in
depictions of ancient cats. Just like the tiger's
stripes, the mackerel tabby pattern provides
camouflage in woodland and grasses at dusk and
dawn. Other colors would stick out like the
proverbial sore thumb and the cat would be a less
successful hunter or would be easy prey for
something else. The blotched tabby mutation is
believed to have occurred in Britain and spread
with throughout the former British Empire with
human colonists. Blotched tabby is found in the
former British colonies, but is less common
elsewhere and unknown in some parts.
The natural
environment the cat lives in will determine the colors
that predominate. Black and white forms
predominate in urban ferals, but rural ferals are
more likely to be tabby. In a rural environment,
striped tabby provides a better camouflage (hence
the European Wildcat is striped) and solid color cats would be at a disadvantage.
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