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The spread of cats
and of different color varieties is closely
associated with human movement. For example, red
(ginger) cats arose in Asia but the main spread of
this color is believed to be via northern Europe
with the Vikings. Hence ginger is particularly
common in Scotland (which had strong links to
Viking countries), but is less common in southern
parts of Britain where black and blotched tabby
are more common. Blue cats spread out of Russia
and France and blotched tabbies spread out of
Britain.
Part of the
influence is through the breeds from which a color
was inherited. It is recognized that breeds
have very distinct personality types. For example
Siamese cats are extroverts and sexually
precocious and this trait is passed on to other
Orientals which are basically Siamese cats in
disguise. The Colourpoint pattern has been
introduced into (or suddenly cropped up in) other
breeds. It may have been introduced in a
roundabout way, but ultimately the pattern traces
back to a Siamese-type ancestor even if it was
introduced a few generations ago from a Birman or
Himalayan.
The extrovert personality may be linked
to the Colourpoint pattern, hence
Himalayans (Colourpoint
Longhairs) are said to be more spirited than self-colored
Persians. If the Colourpoint pattern has managed
to be passed on through many generations and
matings, it is not impossible that some
personality traits have been passed on alongside
it.
Likewise, the Abyssinians/Somalis are considered to contribute a
sweet temperament as well as the agouti pattern
when used as an outcross and the "quiet"
temperament of the British Blue may be linked to
the fact that early breeders did not distinguish
between British Blues, Russian Blues and Korats
and bred them all together. Russian Blues and
Korats are both quiet breeds.
Do People Prefer Some Colors
More than Others?
Research suggests
that color has a strong influence on what cat
people choose. The most popular colors of town
cats in the 17th century were black-and-white, gray-and-white or black. Superstition also plays a
part with black being considered lucky in some
parts of the world. In Japan, mi-ke (tortoiseshell
and white) is lucky. In North America, black is
unlucky. In various countries different colors are considered lucky or unlucky and this affected
the color make up of cat populations as bad luck color
kittens were destroyed.
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