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Wild Looks in Your Living Room
The Bengal
Perhaps one of the most recognizable breeds famed for its coat is the Bengal. Developed by crossing domestic cats with the Asian Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), the goal was to capture the stunning wild look in a companionable domestic pet. The result is breathtaking. Bengals possess a coat that is both luxurious and distinctively patterned. They are primarily known for two main pattern types: spotted and marbled. The spotted pattern closely resembles that of their wild ancestor, with spots ranging from small dots to larger rosettes (spots with a darker outline than the center). The marbled pattern features swirls and flowing horizontal patterns, reminiscent of marble stone. What truly sets the Bengal coat apart, besides the pattern, is its texture – short, dense, incredibly soft, and often possessing a unique ‘glitter’. This refers to an iridescent sheen caused by translucent tips on the hairs, making the coat shimmer beautifully in the light. It feels like stroking pure silk infused with gold dust.The Egyptian Mau
Often mistaken for a Bengal by the uninitiated, the Egyptian Mau holds the distinction of being the only naturally spotted domestic cat breed. While Bengals were intentionally created, the Mau’s spots are a product of nature, not selective breeding with wild cats (though its exact ancient lineage is debated). Their spots are randomly placed and come in various shapes and sizes, contrasting against their silver, bronze, or smoke background colors. The Mau also has characteristic ‘mascara lines’ extending from the eyes and a distinct ‘M’ marking on the forehead. Their coat is medium-length, dense, and resilient, with a lovely lustre.Texture That Turns Heads
Cornish Rex and Devon Rex
If texture is your fascination, the Rex breeds are impossible to ignore. The Cornish Rex and Devon Rex both originated in England as separate spontaneous mutations, resulting in uniquely curly coats. However, their curls are distinct. The Cornish Rex has a coat lacking guard hairs, composed almost entirely of the soft undercoat. This results in tight, uniform waves lying close to the body, often described as feeling like crushed velvet or karakul lamb wool. Their sleek, slender bodies and large ears accentuate this unique, elegant look. The Devon Rex, on the other hand, has all three hair types (guard, awn, and down hairs), but they are sparse, short, and dramatically curled or wavy. This gives the Devon a looser, more suede-like feel and a distinctly impish appearance, often referred to as the ‘pixie’ of the cat world. Their coat can be quite fragile. Both breeds are known for being relatively low-shedding, though not hypoallergenic.The LaPerm
Another curly contender, the LaPerm, offers a different kind of texture. Originating from a spontaneous mutation in a barn cat in Oregon, the LaPerm’s coat is, as the name suggests, reminiscent of a perm. Unlike the tight waves of the Cornish Rex or the suede-like feel of the Devon, the LaPerm sports a coat of loose, bouncy curls and ringlets, giving it a charmingly shaggy appearance. The coat can range from short to long, and the amount of curl can vary. Kittens are sometimes born bald or with straight hair, developing their curls as they mature. The texture is often surprisingly soft beneath the tousled exterior.American Wirehair
Moving from soft curls to something completely different, we encounter the American Wirehair. This breed is the result of a spontaneous mutation found in a litter of farm cats in upstate New York. Its defining feature is a coat where every hair, including the whiskers, is crimped, hooked, or bent. This creates a dense, resilient, and springy texture that feels coarse to the touch – truly ‘wiry’. Despite its appearance, the coat isn’t harsh, just uniquely textured. It’s a rare breed but offers a tactile experience unlike any other feline coat.Intriguing Patterns and Lack Thereof
The Sphynx
Perhaps the most visually striking ‘coat’ is the apparent lack thereof in the Sphynx. Often called hairless, the Sphynx isn’t truly bald. Its skin is covered in a fine, soft downy fuzz, similar to the skin of a peach. Stroking a Sphynx is a warm, suede-like experience. While they lack a traditional coat, they still display colour and pattern – these are visible on their skin pigment itself. You can find Sphynx cats exhibiting tabby markings, points, tortoiseshell patterns, and solid colours, all expressed directly on the skin. Their wrinkles, particularly around the head, shoulders, and legs, add to their unique look. Their lack of fur means they require special care, including regular bathing to remove skin oils and protection from sun and cold.The Lykoi
One of the newest and most fascinating breeds is the Lykoi, often dubbed the ‘werewolf cat’. This unique appearance stems from a natural mutation causing a lack of undercoat and a specific hair follicle structure. The Lykoi has a roan coat pattern, meaning a mixture of pigmented (usually black) and unpigmented (white or amelanistic) hairs scattered throughout the coat. This gives them a grizzled, slightly spooky look. Additionally, they often have sparse hair around the eyes, nose, muzzle, and sometimes ears and feet, creating a characteristic ‘mask’. This partial hairlessness, combined with the roan pattern, truly sets them apart. Their coat texture can feel somewhat unique, neither overly soft nor particularly coarse.Colorpoint Breeds (Siamese, Ragdoll, etc.)
The classic elegance of the Siamese cat comes largely from its distinctive colorpoint pattern. This isn’t just a pattern; it’s a form of partial albinism caused by a temperature-sensitive enzyme. Pigment (melanin) is only produced in the cooler extremities of the cat’s body – the face (mask), ears, paws, and tail. The warmer torso remains pale. Kittens are born white and develop their points as they grow. This genetic trait is also responsible for the striking blue eyes associated with these breeds. Many other popular breeds share this trait, including the long-haired Balinese and Himalayan (often considered a Persian division), the gentle Ragdoll (known for specific pointed patterns like mitted and bicolor), and the Birman with its characteristic white ‘gloves’. While the core genetic mechanism is the same, selective breeding has created variations in point colours and patterns across these different breeds.Understanding Coat Genetics: Feline coat color, pattern, and texture are determined by complex genetics involving multiple genes. For example, the colorpoint pattern seen in Siamese and related breeds is caused by a recessive allele that affects tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in melanin production. This mutated enzyme is heat-sensitive, functioning only in cooler parts of the body, leading to darker extremities. Similarly, mutations in genes controlling hair structure lead to the unique curls of Rex breeds or the wiriness of the American Wirehair. Appreciating this genetic basis enhances our understanding of the incredible diversity within cat breeds.
Beyond Specific Breeds: Unique Markings
While breeds often define unique coats, certain patterns appear across various breeds and mixed-breed cats, deserving mention for their distinctiveness.- Tortoiseshell and Calico: Primarily found in female cats (due to the genes being linked to the X chromosome), these patterns feature patches of different colours. Tortoiseshell (‘tortie’) cats have mottled patches of red (or cream) and black (or blue, chocolate, lilac). Calico cats are similar but also include patches of white. Each tortie and calico has a completely unique distribution of patches.
- Ticked (Agouti): Breeds like the Abyssinian and Somali showcase the ticked pattern. Here, individual hairs have alternating bands of light and dark colour along the shaft, typically without distinct stripes or spots on the body (though some faint barring on legs or tail might exist). This creates a shimmering, multi-tonal effect that resembles the coat of wild animals like rabbits or cougars.
