https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/p/7446a959-0d29-4ad4-abd8-223451d0881b/
https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/2016-03-11-nl-piebald-cats/
By Dr. Becker
A piebald or bicolor cat’s coat has large areas of unpigmented hair (usually white), combined with patches of pigmented hair (usually black). The skin color under the white fur is also pigmentless, and the skin under the darker fur is pigmented. The alternating color pattern is asymmetrical.
The word “magpie” is a combination of “pie” (from “magpie”) and “bald”, meaning a white patch or patch. It refers to the distinctive black and white plumage of the magpie.
In addition to cats, other animals with piebald coloration include horsesdogs, birds, pigs, cattle and even some snakes.
Piebald patches are the result of an entirely random process
The results of a recently published study suggest that scientists have discovered how piebald spots form in black and white cats during gestation.1
According to ScienceDaily:
“Researchers who set out to study the behavior of pigment cells in mice found that they moved and multiplied randomly early in development rather than following instructions.
Their findings contradict the existing theory that piebald patterns form on animals’ coats because pigment cells move too slowly to reach all parts of the embryo before it is fully formed.2
Professor Ian Jackson, Ph.D. of the University of Edinburgh and co-author of the study offers this explanation:
“The black and white cat has a mutation and it was assumed that because we knew these cells were moving through the skin, it was because the cells weren’t moving fast enough, but what we showed was that is that in reality cells move faster in the dark. and white cat or spotted mouse.
The problem is there aren’t enough of them so they don’t divide enough, they divide more slowly. We always imagined that there would be a signal that would tell them where to go, but they move randomly.
It’s like diffusion: if you put a drop of milk in a cup of coffee, the milk spreads throughout the cup of coffee. Eventually, the cells spread through the skin. »3
The mathematical model used by scientists at the Universities of Bath and Edinburgh could be used in further research to track different cells during early development. The results of their study could potentially shed light on medical conditions that develop in utero, for example holes in the heart.
Pie Models
Piebald or bi-colored cats are found among a number of different breeds, ranging from American Shorthairs to Turkish Vans. There are several commonly seen piebald patterns, including the following:
- Tuxedo model. This is a predominantly black cat with white markings on the chest, belly, paw and sometimes chin and/or nose.
Tuxedo- Cow model. A predominantly white cat with black spots or blotches on its torso.
- Van model. A white cat with black markings only on its head and tail.
- Mask and cloak pattern. A cat with a black back, shoulders and head and a white belly.
- Cap and saddle model. A cat with black on the top of its head, white shoulders, and a large black spot on its lower back, near its tail.
- Medallion template. A black cat with a small white spot on its chest or belly.
Personalities Pie
Whether the color of a cat’s fur influences its personality is a topic of much debate, and there has been no shortage of opinions over the years. In an 1895 book called “The Cat”, author RS Huidekoper wrote the following about bi-colored cats:
“It tends more than any other cat to be fat and indolent, or ragged and miserable, as the case may be. (…) The black and white cat is affectionate and clean, but it is a selfish animal and is not one not one. for the children to play.”4
A study from Bavaria suggests that black and black-and-white cats are more likely to wander away from home than cats of other coat colors. The study covered a wide geographic area, suggesting that this trend may have a genetic basis.5
According to Sarah Hartwell of Messybeast, although most reports about cat color and personality are anecdotal, there are studies in which owners or veterinarians were asked to associate particular colors with particular personality traits. .6 Study participants reported that black and white Persians were “placid,” black and white British Shorthairs were “even-tempered and friendly,” and black and white mixed breeds were “wanderers.”
In a 1973 Pedigree Pet Foods book called “Your Guide to Cats & Kittens,” the author claimed that black and white Persians were “excellent ratters and mice.”7 In the early 21st century, British cattery owner George Ware proposed his own theory of colors and temperaments. Based on personal experience, Ware suggested that black and white cats are:
“True companion cats. Very loyal to their family, especially to a particular family member. Likely to be moody.”8
Prominent Piebalds
- Mistoffelees, the tuxedo cat in the musical “Cats”
- Famous black and white cartoon cats include Tom from Tom and Jerry, Felix the Cat, Kitty Softpaws from “Puss in Boots” (the Shrek spin-off), Sebastian from “Josie and the Pussycats” and Sylvester.
- Dr. Seuss’s “Cat in the Hat” is a tuxedo
- Socks, the Clinton family’s tuxedo cat, lived in the White House from 1993 to 2001.
- Humphrey was the black-and-white “Chief Mouser” at 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the British Prime Minister, for 18 years.
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