The Grey And White Spotted Cat: A Feline Mystery

Grey and white cats, also known as piebald or bicolor, are a common coat combination in both random-bred and purebred cats. The white patches on their coats are caused by the white spotting gene. There are several purebred cat breeds that feature grey and white coats, including the British Shorthair, the British Longhair, the Cornish Rex, the Egyptian Mau, the European Shorthair, the Maine Coon, the Norwegian Forest Cat, the Persian, the Ragdoll, and the Scottish Fold.

The grey and white colour combination is caused by several dominant and recessive genes

The grey and white colour combination in cats is caused by several dominant and recessive genes. All cats inherit two copies of each gene, one from the mother and one from the father. A dominant gene only needs one copy to be expressed, whereas a recessive gene needs two copies to be expressed.

The grey and white colour combination is caused by the following genes:

• Solid (non-agouti): The recessive non-agouti (a) gene changes the original wild tabby coat into a solid black by overlaying the agouti (ticked) base colour with melanic pigment.
• Dilution: The blue and white cat carries two copies of the recessive dilute (d) gene, which lightens the colour. The dilute gene causes the hair pigments to clump in some parts of the hair shaft, while other areas have fewer or no pigment granules. This causes a washing out of the coat and changes black to grey.
• White spotting: The white spotting (WS) gene is dominant and causes areas of white on the cat. Cats that inherit two copies of the WS gene have more widespread areas of white than cats that inherit only one copy.

Other genes that influence the colour and pattern of a cat's coat include the Colourpoint (Locus C), Agouti (Locus A), Orange (Locus O) and Locus E genes, which produce the pigments that give the basic colours to the cat. The Brown (Locus B), Dilution (Locus D), Dilute-Modifier Locus and Silver (Inhibitor, I Locus) genes modify the basic colours.

Grey and white cats can be found in both random-bred and purebred cats

Grey and white cats, also known as piebald or bicolor, are found in both random-bred and purebred cats. The white patches on their coats are caused by the white spotting gene. The grey colour is referred to as "blue" in cat fancy.

Grey and white cats are available in a variety of breeds, including longhaired and shorthaired cats, with different patterns and personalities. They can be found in random-bred house cats as well as purebred show cats and pets.

The British Longhair, a close relative of the British Shorthair, is an example of a grey and white breed. These cats are known for their loyalty and affectionate nature, with a dense coat that comes in various colours, including grey and silver. Another breed is the Cornish Rex, a smaller, slender breed with a distinctive appearance, including a short, velvety coat that can be grey and cream.

The Exotic Shorthair, a cross between an American Shorthair and a Persian, is another breed that can feature grey and white coats. These cats are known for their sweet and affectionate nature, with a dense, thick, and plush coat that comes in all colours and patterns.

The Maine Coon, the largest cat breed, can also have grey and white coats. They are known for their intelligence, loyalty, and sweet disposition. With their dense, silky coats and impressive size, they make for striking grey and white cats.

The British Longhair is a cross between a British Shorthair and a Persian

Grey and white spotted cats are often referred to as "piebald" or "bi-colour". This coat colour combination is common in both random-bred and purebred cats.

One breed that displays this colouration is the British Longhair, a cross between the British Shorthair and the Persian cat. Technically, the British Longhair has been around for centuries, but it has only recently been recognised as its own breed.

The British Longhair is a medium-sized cat with long hair and a pleasant, round face. They typically weigh 8-16 pounds, with males usually weighing more. Their coats are dense and straight, standing away from their body, and they can appear larger than they are. Their coats are soft and thick and come in many colours, including black, lilac, chocolate, or golden. They can have a bi-colour, ticked, or colourpoint pattern.

The British Longhair is known for its mild, calm, and tolerant demeanour. They are intelligent, social, and affectionate, and they are loyal to their owners. They are also independent and can be strong-willed, preferring to do things on their own terms. They are loving and tolerant of children, but they do not like to be picked up. They are suited to a variety of living environments and are patient and loving pets for families with young children and frequent guests. They are adaptable to change and are not clingy, making them a good choice for those with busy lifestyles.

The Egyptian Mau is the only spotted cat breed recognised by the CFA

The Egyptian Mau is a breed of cat with a fascinating history and a striking appearance. It is the only naturally spotted breed of domestic cat recognised by the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA).

The Egyptian Mau is a small to medium-sized cat with a short to medium-haired coat. Its distinctive spots occur only on the tips of its hairs and can be found in a variety of colours, including silver, bronze, smoke, black, caramel and blue/pewter. The coat pattern is tabby, and the cat typically has a dorsal stripe running from the top of its head to the tip of its tail. The forehead of the Egyptian Mau features an "M" marking, and the face has "mascara" lines that sweep along the cheeks from the corners of the eyes. The eyes themselves are a bright light green, sometimes described as "gooseberry".

The Egyptian Mau is an intelligent, playful, and affectionate breed. They are loyal and social, bonding strongly with their family members. While they may be initially shy with strangers, they will usually warm up quickly. These cats are also highly active and athletic, with well-developed muscles and a unique skin fold from their flank to their knees, which aids in their impressive jumping ability.

The Egyptian Mau is a rare breed, with a limited gene pool, and there are only around 3,000 worldwide. They are prone to certain health issues, such as kidney disease, bladder stones, and lower urinary tract disease. They are also susceptible to a heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which can impact their lifespan.

The name "mau" comes from the ancient Egyptian word for "cat", and the breed may have descended from ancient Egyptian domestic cats. Ancient Egyptian art dating back to 1900 BCE depicts cats with similar spotted markings, and by 1450 BCE, cats were commonly shown in domestic settings, forming close relationships with humans.

The California Spangled cat was bred to resemble a wild cat to discourage the use of exotic cat fur in the fashion industry

The California Spangled cat is a breed of domestic cat that was bred to resemble a wild cat. The idea to breed this cat came about following the poaching death of a leopard, which inspired anthropologist Louis Leakey to motivate Paul Arnold Casey, Jr. of California to breed a domestic cat that resembled a small leopard, in order to emphasise the importance of preserving the leopard. The California Spangled cat was also intended to discourage the use of exotic cat fur in the fashion industry, as it was thought that people would be less likely to want to wear the same type of fur as their pet.

The California Spangled cat is a crossbreed of many strains, including the Abyssinian, American Shorthair, and British Shorthair. Despite their wild appearance, they are completely domestic. They have a long, lean, muscular body and a low-slung walk, along with spots. The most desired shape of spots is round, yet somewhat blockish, but triangular, oval, or square spots are also acceptable. The coat of a California Spangled cat may be bronze, gold, blue, brown, charcoal, red, black, silver, or white. They have conspicuous cheekbones and light, large whisker pads.

California Spangled cats are known for their affectionate, social, curious, and devoted nature. They are big on eye contact and like to perch in places at shoulder or eye level so they can see what is going on. They are intelligent, athletic, and energetic, and they love to pounce and play games that involve their owner.

The California Spangled cat was introduced to the general public on the cover of the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalogue in 1986, where it was marketed as a "his and hers" gift. This caused controversy among cat lovers, who were unhappy with the commodification of cats. California Spangled cats were also expensive, priced between $800 and $2,500.

Frequently asked questions