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Tag: longhair
Ragdoll: The Most Laidback Cat You’ll Ever Meet
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One of the biggest, fluffiest cats is also the cuddliest and most relaxed. The Ragdoll is an easy-going snuggle bug known for going limp like a ragdoll when held. They are a consistently popular breed, despite being quite expensive and new to the cat fancy [4, 12]. Let’s meet these friendly giants.
The Cat from Space?
The Ragdoll’s origins are fairly mundane, although there are some creative conspiracy theories about them. A woman named Ann Baker developed the breed in Riverside, California in the early 1960s [4-9, 11, 12]. Baker began with a long-haired, white stray she-cat she found in her neighborhood and named Josephine [5-9, 11, 12]. Baker added other domestic longhairs that she owned or found to the breeding program, selecting for gentle temperaments, large size, and long colorpoint coats [4-8]. She recruited other breeders to help expand her new breed [1, 4, 11]. Persians, Birmans, and Burmese may have been added to the program [7, 8].
Ann Baker named her creation the Ragdoll for their tendency to relax limply when picked up [6, 7, 12]. However, she had increasingly eccentric ideas about why the cats behave this way. She claimed that Josephine only had “normal” kittens until she was hit by a car and had to be taken to a veterinary center where Baker said Josephine’s genes were altered [4, 11]. All the litters she bore afterwards, allegedly, had the Ragdoll temperament. The stories only got stranger, incorporating space alien involvement, CIA experiments, and human-to-cat gene splicing [2, 6].
We can’t say why Ann Baker said those things, or if she truly believed them. It is public knowledge that the other Ragdoll breeders she had recruited started to distance themselves from her and developed the breed to show quality without her [4, 6, 11].
Breed Characteristics
Appearance and Patterning
Ragdolls are big kitties, weighing 10-20 pounds (4.5-9 kg) with females typically smaller than males [4-9, 11]. Ragdolls have long, heavy-boned bodies [1, 6, 11]. Their paws are tufted, and their tails are plumed [6]. Ragdolls all have blue eyes [1, 4-9, 11]. Their fur is semi-long, soft, and silky [4-7, 9, 11]. The fur is longest on their necks, creating a ruff [1, 6, 9].
Ragdoll cats come in four coat patterns: colorpoint, mitted, bicolor, and van [1, 4-8, 11, 12]. They can be any color and can also be lynx (tabby), tortoiseshell, or both [4-6, 8, 11, 12]. Colorpoint cats are darkest on their face, feet, tail, and ears. Mitted Ragdolls have a colorpoint pattern except their paws are white, giving the appearance that they’re wearing white mittens [1, 4-8, 11, 12]. Bicolors are white on all four paws, underbelly, chest, and an inverted V on their face [1, 4-6, 7, 11, 12]. Vans are mostly white with full color only on the ears, tail, top of the face mask, and sometimes scattered on the body [5, 12]. Not all cat associations recognize the Van pattern.
Personality
Ragdolls are very people-oriented and affectionate [4-6, 8, 11, 12]. They love to cuddle and spend time with their humans [4, 6, 8, 9, 11]. They are famously gentle and docile [2, 5-7, 11]. Though they’re reputation for flopping about like a plush toy may make them seem lazy, they actually aren’t. While it’s true that Ragdolls are not an active breed per se, they are quite playful [6, 11]. Some even enjoy learning tricks and games like fetch [4-6, 11, 12].
Ragdolls tend to be “floor cats,” in the words of the Cat Fanciers’ Association [4, 5]. They usually prefer being on or near the ground and aren’t much for climbing, high jumps, and feats of aerial acrobatics [4, 5, 6, 12]. That doesn’t mean they don’t need any space to themselves, though! It just means a Ragdoll will usually prefer something shorter like a scratching post or hideaway box.
Ragdoll Myths
1. Ragdolls are hypoallergenic.
Because their pelt lacks an undercoat, Ragdolls don’t shed as much as most cats [4-6, 9]. Because of this, there is a myth that they are hypoallergenic. However, it is cats’ saliva and dander that cause allergic reactions in people with cat allergies [9]. Less shedding may mean those allergens aren’t spread around the house quite so much, so some allergy sufferers might find Ragdolls easier to be around [9]. But there’s no guarantee. Therefore Ragdolls are not considered a hypoallergenic breed [4, 9].
2. All Ragdolls go limp every time you pick them up.
The breed’s name ensures that it’s reputation precedes it. Many people are under the impression that there is a special Ragdoll mutation affecting the nervous system that causes the Ragdoll flop [2]. However, the truth is that Ragdolls were simply bred to be so relaxed and friendly that they just melt when given affection [2]. Not all of these cats will ragdoll like that, though [2]. Every cat is an individual, and every interaction is unique.
3. Ragdolls do not feel pain.
This is an odd but persistent myth that reportedly goes all the way back to Josephine. The theory goes that because she gave birth to the first Ragdoll kittens after being hit by a car, the kittens and their descendants do not feel pain [1]. Medically, that is ridiculous. I suspect the docile and tolerant temperament of the cats made people think they were insensitive to pain, and people made up a reason why that would be the case. This is completely false, however. Ragdolls may be willing to put up with a lot, but they feel pain and discomfort just as much as any other cat [1, 12].
Living with Ragdolls
Ragdolls are considered a low-maintenance breed. Their fur isn’t prone to matting, thus requires only regular combing [4-7, 9, 11, 12]. The lack of undercoat can cause some Ragdolls to build up grease in their fur, so they need occasional baths [4, 6]. There are professionals who do that if you’re feeling intimidated.
This is a breed that gets along with everybody. They love people, are patient with children, and get along with other animals, including dogs [4, 6, 9, 11, 12]. In short, Ragdolls are great family pets. Because they are calm, cuddly, and not super active, they can be good pets for seniors who need some company [4]. They are soft-spoken cats and not very talkative [6, 8]. This can make them a good option for apartment living where a loud cat might bother the neighbors [8].
Ragdolls do need a lot of attention and are prone to loneliness [4]. If you want an independent cat that won’t mind being left home alone a lot, this is not the breed for you. A Ragdoll is likely to meet you at the door, follow you around, and try to participate in everything you are doing [4, 5, 6, 8, 12]. They just want to be your best friend.
Health Concerns
Ragdolls are pretty healthy cats, probably due to their origins among random-bred cats, but there are a few problems they have a genetic predisposition to. Like other large breeds, they are prone to obesity, so their food intake needs to be monitored carefully [9]. They also have an elevated risk of developing Feline Infectious Peritonitis [6].
Ragdoll cats have a predisposition to urinary tract problems, especially bladder stones [4, 6, 9]. Making sure your Ragdoll stays well-hydrated is important for prevention [9]. Finally, Ragdolls have a unique risk for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the most common form of heart disease in cats [3, 4, 6, 9, 10]. There is a mutation of the myosin binding protein C3 gene prevalent only in the Ragdoll breed that makes them more likely to develop HCM [3, 10]. Cats with two copies of the mutation are at much greater risk [3]. Fortunately, there is now a genetic test for this mutation, called MYBPC3 R820W, that enables breeders to choose not to breed cats that carry it [3, 6, 9, 10].
If you are considering bringing a Ragdoll into your home, remember that even purebred cats end up in shelters and rescues. Look first at breed-specific rescues such as Ragdoll Rescue USA or Merlin’s Hope Ragdoll Rescue in Texas, as well as your local shelter.
Fun Facts
- One name considered for the breed early on was Cherubim. [7]
- Ragdoll cats are slow to mature. They take 4 years to finish growing! [1, 5, 6, 11, 12]
- A Ragdoll named Frank and Louie was the longest-living Janus cat, or two-faced cat. Despite his rare congenital deformity, Frank and Louie lived to be 15 years old. [8]
Works Cited
- Alderton, D. (1992). Cats: The visual guide to more than 250 types of cats from around the world. Dorling Kindersley: London.
- Becker, M. & Spadafori, G. (2006). Do cats always land on their feet? 101 of the most perplexing questions answered about feline unfathomables, medical mysteries, & befuddling behaviors. Health Communications, Inc.: Deerfield Beach, FL.
- Borgeat, K., Casamian-Sorrosal, D., Helps, C., Fuentes, V. L., et al. (2014). Association of the myosin binding protein C3 mutation (MYBPC3 R820W) with cardiac death in a survey of 236 Ragdoll cats. Journal of Veterinary Cardiology, 16(2), 73-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvc.2014.03.005
- Braaksma, H. & Guthrie, C. (2022, July 13). Ragdoll. DailyPaws. https://www.dailypaws.com/cats-kittens/cat-breeds/ragdoll
- Cat Fanciers’ Association. (n.d.). About the Ragdoll. https://cfa.org/ragdoll/
- Cattime. (n.d.). Ragdoll cats. https://cattime.com/cat-breeds/ragdoll-cats#/slide/1
- Edwards, A. (2006). The ultimate encyclopedia of cat, cat breeds, and cat care. Hermes House: London.
- Fawcett, K. (2022, May 5). 7 facts about Ragdoll cats. Mental Floss. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/78233/8-friendly-facts-about-ragdoll-cats
- Fratt, K. (2022, June 27). Ragdoll cat: Breed profile, characteristics, and care. The Spruce Pets. https://www.thesprucepets.com/ragdoll-cat-breed-profile-4583144
- Meurs, K. M., Norgard, M. M., Ederer, M. M., Hendrix, K. P., et al. (2007). A substitution mutation in the myosin binding protein C gene in ragdoll hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Genetics, 90(2), 61-264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygeno.2007.04.007
- The International Cat Association. (2018, August 13). Ragdoll breed. https://tica.org/breeds/browse-all-breeds?view=article&id=868:ragdoll-breed&catid=79
- Thornton, K. C. (2018, January 16). The Ragdoll cat: All about this fascinating cat breed. Catster. https://www.catster.com/cats-101/about-the-ragdoll-cat
Published September 11th, 2022
Updated June 14th, 2023
Persian: In the Lap of Luxury
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There’s nothing more symbolic of luxury than a beautiful white Persian lounging on a velvet cushion, it’s long, silky fur looking so incredibly soft and perfect that you’re not sure you’re allowed to touch it. Persians are one of the oldest breeds in the cat fancy, and they remain the most popular breed in North America today (1-3). You don’t have to be an aristocrat or a super-villain to own one. If you did, they wouldn’t be nearly so popular. But these cats do have a certain aura of elegance and refinement that they bring wherever they go. People have known they were special from the very beginning.
A Long and Furry History
The Persian breed is very old, but just how old is hard to say. They are believed to have originated in the cradle of civilization itself: Mesopotamia, later known as Persia and now known as Iran (4). The first domestic cats were shorthairs, and long fur arose through natural mutations. Early Persians may have arisen in the cold mountains of Persia and persisted because the climate favored their long, thick coats (3). However, Egyptian hieroglyphics depicting similar cats as early as 1684 BCE complicate the issue of where, let alone when, these cats first arose (1).
It is generally agreed that Persians took the first step toward the cat fancy in 1626 when the Italian traveler Pietro della Valle brought home the first ones from Persia (3, 4). These ancestral Persians were gray and had the very long, glossy fur the breed is known for today (3, 4). Soon, these new long-haired cats became highly prized, as well as the white longhairs from Turkey known as Angoras (3, 5). Confusingly, these Angoras were a different breed than the one of the same name we know today (5). The Persians and Angoras weren’t considered separate breeds at first and were commonly interbred (3, 5).
Persians started to become a distinct breed in the late 1800s when cat shows became popular (4, 6). Queen Victoria had two blue Persians, helping make them the most prized version of the breed at the time (3, 5). Persians were imported to the United States around the same time, where they outpaced the native Maine Coon as the most popular long-haired cat in the country (4, 6). Over time, breeders made the breed’s distinctive traits more extreme (2, 6).
Breed Characteristics
The Persian is a brachycephalic breed. Brachycephaly comes from the Greek for “short head,” and it means just what it sounds like. The skull is shorter and wider than normal for the species. This gives Persians flat faces with short muzzles and large eyes. The degree of brachycephaly varies. Show Persians, sometimes called Peke-face, have more extreme features and may have more breed-associated health problems (2, 4, 7, 8). Traditional, or Doll-face, Persians have a lesser degree of brachycephaly (2, 4, 7, 8). While they don’t meet show standards, they still make wonderful pets. Both types have small ears, but sometimes less so with traditional Persians (5).
Persians have what is known as a “cobby” body type: stocky, stout, and broad-chested. They’re legs are short and thick. The tail, too, is on the short side. They are on the whole very solid cats. Then there’s the fur.
Persians are known for their very long, thick fur. It has a silky texture and glossy sheen. Their incredibly fluffy coat forms a ruff around their necks and a plume on their tails. Persians often molt their top coats in the summer (5). In the cat fancy, this is called being “out of coat” (5). Even then, though, their coats are pretty amazing.
Personality
It isn’t just the look of Persians that make them so beloved. They also have a charming personality. These cats are sometimes called “furniture with fur” (3). That’s selling them a bit short, but they are seriously mellow creatures. Persians aren’t very energetic or active. They’re moderately playful, usually in short bursts between lounging in their favorite spots. They enjoy attention but don’t demand it. Their soft, melodious voices gently express their thoughts. Persians do tend to prefer favorite people that have earned their trust and affection. They can be aloof towards others.
Persians are pretty adaptable, but they prefer quiet environments with predictable routines. They get along well with gentle children and pets but aren’t big fans of loud, boisterous housemates. However, Persians will tolerate a lot. Daughter wants Fluffy to play tea party? Fluffy probably won’t mind. Fluffy probably won’t be learning any tricks, though. Persians aren’t the most intelligent breed, and are therefore not very trainable.
Caring for Your Persian
Persians may have a low-maintenance personality, but they are still a high-maintenance breed. All that fluff requires a lot of special care, and their long history of selective breeding has resulted in risks of certain health problems.
Grooming
Grooming a Persian is a big job. Their long, soft coats tangle and mat easily and can also cause lots of hairballs. Not to mention the shedding. So Persians require daily combing, preferably with a metal comb (1, 2). That coat also tends to cling to dirt (6) and is so thick that it’s hard for the cat to groom it effectively (9). Persians need a bath at least once a month to keep them clean. It’s important to start bathing as early as possible, so make sure that you start a routine with a Persian as soon as you get them.
Because their coats are such dirt magnets, it is important for Persians to be indoor-only cats. Additionally, Persians are prone to overheat, and purebred cats are at high risk of being stolen. Everybody knows what a Persian is, so there is a serious likelihood of an unscrupulous person realizing what an expensive cat that is and walking off with them. By the by, microchip your animals.
Brachycephaly also has its own grooming needs. It alters the shape of the tear ducts, so a lot of Persians have excessive tearing. This not only causes ugly tear stains but can actually irritate their faces, so make sure to wipe clean the corners and undersides of the eyes every day.
Brachycephalic cats tend to have weird teeth as well, so it’s often necessary to brush a Persian’s teeth regularly. I know, no one wants to brush a cat’s teeth, but no one wants their pet to suffer painful dental problems, either. Ask your veterinarian how often to brush your Persian’s teeth and what cat dental products they recommend. It can differ depending upon your individual cat’s needs.
Health Concerns
Persians are unfortunately prone to quite a few breed-associated health problems. A 2019 study of 3,253 Persians in the United Kingdom found that 65% had at least one disorder (8). Some of these health problems are much more worrisome than others. The same study recorded that the most common disorders were hair/coat disorders, periodontal disease, overgrown nails, and eye discharge (8). All fairly mundane and manageable afflictions. However, there are less common but much more serious diseases that can afflict Persians which owners and prospective owners need to be aware of as well.
Let’s start with the more common conditions. In the last section, I alluded to the problems Persians can have with their coats and teeth without meticulous care. They also tend to have eye problems due to the shape of their skulls. They have large, shallow eye sockets and tears ducts that don’t drain correctly into the nose (9). In addition to the excessive tearing, Persians are prone to conjunctivitis; cherry eye, a protrusion of the third eyelid; and entropion, the eyelid folding inward (4, 6, 8).
Brachycephaly means that there is the same amount of tissue in the skull, but not the same space for it to grow in (10). Because of this, respiratory and eating problems are not that uncommon in Persians. The nostrils can be too short, the soft palate too long, and, obviously, the nasal passage compressed (8-10). This can lead to difficulty breathing, snoring, sleep apnea, and chronic respiratory infections. The cramped airway contributes to the Persian’s heat sensitivity, too. The jaw can be an abnormal shape and/or the teeth can be crowded, leading to the dental problems and occasionally even problems eating.
On the other hand, sometimes Persians have the opposite of difficulty eating. Obesity can be a problem for this breed due to their low activity level. Because they are stoutly built and very floofy to begin with, it can be hard to tell that they’re gaining weight until things have really gotten out of hand. That’s just one reason annual vet visits are important.
There are some genetic diseases this breed is prone to. The most important may be Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), a dominant genetic condition that is inevitably fatal. It causes kittens to be born with microscopic cysts in their kidneys and occasionally livers (10). The cysts grow over time and eventually destroy the affected organs (10). The progress of the disease can be slowed somewhat, but there is no cure. Cats usually start to get sick around 7-10 years old (2, 6, 10). When PKD was first discovered in Persians in the 1990s, it was estimated to be in over a third of the population (9). Thanks to the careful planning of breeders and a genetic test, in 2016 the prevalence was estimated at about 2% (8).
Persians are also at risk for a genetic form of Progressive Retinal Atrophy, which can lead to vision loss and eventual blindness. They also occasionally inherit a rare lysosomal storage disease. Lysosomal storage disease is caused by a mutation which prevents a cat’s body from making enzymes it needs to break down waste products (10). The toxic waste products accumulate and eventually cause the cat’s death early in life (10). These kittens are normal at birth but develop symptoms within a few months (10). The symptoms are mostly neurological: poor balance, poor vision, exercise intolerance, abnormal behaviors, fainting, seizures, and poor growth (10).
Thankfully, most Persians don’t experience these severe disorders. If you are thinking about getting a Persian, you’ll want to make sure you talk to your vet about all the breed-associated disorders at their first appointment. And of course, it’s always best to adopt, not shop. Even these luxurious cats can find themselves homeless. Contact your local shelter, or look for a breed-specific rescue like Persian and Himalayan Cat Rescue of Northern California or St. Francis Persian Cat Rescue.
Fun Facts
- Almost all colors of Persian are required to have copper/orange eyes to be shown (1, 5).
- Persians were shown at the first formal cat show–the Crystal Palace Cat Show of 1871.
- Marilyn Monroe had a white Persian named Mitsou, and Raymond Chandler had a black Persian named Taki (7).
- The world’s largest cat painting sold for $826,000 in 2015. It is titled “My Wife’s Lovers” and features 42 Persian and Angora cats.
Works Cited
- Cat Fanciers’ Association. (n.d.). About the Persian. https://cfa.org/persian/
- VetStreet. (n.d.). Persian. http://www.vetstreet.com/cats/persian#overview
- Petfinder. (n.d.). Persian. https://www.petfinder.com/cat-breeds/persian/
- Cat Time. (n.d.). Persian. TotallyPets. https://cattime.com/cat-breeds/persian-cats#/slide/1
- Edwards, A. (1999). The ultimate encyclopedia of cats, cat breeds, & cat care: A comprehensive, practical care and training manual and a definitive encyclopedia of world breeds. Anness Publishing Ltd.
- Mueller, L. (2019, October 7). Persian cat: Cat breed profile. The Spruce Pets. https://www.thesprucepets.com/persian-cat-4584356
- Basepaws. (2020, October 27). Persian cat: The glamour puss of the world. https://basepaws.com/blogs/news/persian-cat-breed-introduction
- O’Neill, D.G., Romans, C., Brodbelt, D.C., Church, D.B., et al. (2019). Persian cats under first opinion veterinary care in the UK: Demography, mortality and disorders. Scientific Reports, 9, 12952. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-49317-4
- International Cat Care. (2018, October 4). Persian. https://icatcare.org/advice/persian/
- Cat Care Center of Baton Rouge. (n.d.). Persian. https://www.catcarecenter.com/services/cats/breeds/persian
Published December 13, 2020
Coat Length and Texture Genetics
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By special request from Emma S.
I am back with the genetics! A friend asked me if I was going to address the genetics of cat fur length in addition to my previous blogs on coat genetics. I wasn’t sure there was enough information to fill up a whole blog, but I dove in anyway. It turns out, there’s plenty. It’s not just the difference between a longhair and a shorthair, but also hairless cats and sort-of-hairless cats and curly-haired cats. Cats are complicated. Genetics is complicated. That’s kind of the fun of it, though. So, this one is for you, Emma. Enjoy.
Shorthair vs. Longhair
Let’s start with the basics. If you need a refresher on the principles of genetics, look over the first few paragraphs of my coat color genetics post. Ready? Let’s go. The wild-type, or default, fur for cats is short with no texture modifications. Long hair is recessive to short hair [1-4]. This has been common wisdom for a while, but genetic studies confirmed it in 2007 [1, 2].
The researchers discovered four mutations in the same gene, Fibroblast Growth Factor 5 (FGF5), which cause cats to have long fur [1, 2]. FGF5 mutations were already known to cause hair-length variability in mice and dogs at the time the studies were conducted, so this was not a surprising result [1, 2]. In studies with mice, the FGF5 protein signaled hair to exit the growth phase and enter the static phase [2]. When mutations in FGF5 cause the protein to be nonfunctional, the growth phase of the hair lasts longer [2]. Hence, longer fur.
The four FGF5 mutations in long-haired cats were, creatively, named Mutation 1-4 [2, 3]. Mutation 1 seems to be exclusive to Ragdoll cats [2]. Mutation 2 was only found in Norwegian Forest Cats [1, 2]. Maine Coons are most likely to have Mutation 3, but Ragdolls might as well [1, 2]. Mutation 4 belongs to all long-haired breeds and random-bred longhairs [1, 2]. So far, there is not indication that any gene besides FGF5 contributes to the longhair phenotype. The fact that at least four mutations in this gene exist, three of them breed-specific, suggests that the trait has arisen multiple times through a similar mechanism. This is probably because, in certain environments, long fur is advantageous. It has also sometimes been artificially selected for.
Now, we know that there are not just two lengths of cat fur, one long and one short. There are many variations within both the shorthair and longhair categories, and some cats are kind of in-between. This is because very few things are affected by just one gene. An unknown number of modifier genes determine the exact length of a cat’s hair relative to their genotype at the primary hair length locus [4].
Hairless, or Near Enough
Some cats or breeds are more or less hairless. True hairlessness is almost unheard of. Hairless cats present with a variety of traits that we call “hairless.” Most have very thin coats that look as if they aren’t there at all. Some have fur that thins drastically in only certain places. In either case, the degree of “hairlessness” can vary widely. As one would expect with so much natural variation, more than one mutation causes the different patterns of feline hairlessness. Sometimes the trait is dominant, and sometimes it is recessive [3, 4].
A recessive mutation dubbed hr gives the easily-identifiable Sphynx its hairless phenotype [3, 4, 5]. The Sphynx is a typical hairless breed with an extremely thin, downy coat that gives the appearance of baldness [5]. The hr allele is a mutation in the Keratin 71 (KRT71) gene [5]. The keratin 71 protein is expressed in the inner root sheath of the hair follicle and is important for the normal formation of the hair [5]. The hr mutation does not prevent hair from forming, but the hairs are easily dislodged because the hair bulbs are weak, resulting in the distinctive naked appearance of the Sphynx [5].
The Russian hairless breeds, Peterbald and Donskoy, carry the semi-dominant Hp mutation [4, 6]. Other genes affect how strongly the Hp hairlessness allele is expressed [4, 6]. The cats’ coats range from a brush coat–sparse, rigid, curly fur–to hairless all over [4]. Hairless mutations identified in British and French cats, hd and h respectively, are recessive [3, 4]. Sadly, hd is also a lethal mutation [4].
The Lykoi breed displays partial hairlessness. They have a thin coat all over and a hairless face, sometimes with other patches of hairless, especially on the legs. Lykoi molt all of their hair at least once in their life and may molt as often as every shedding season. This arguably makes them a breed that is truly hairless, albeit only for short periods of time. Six different mutations have been found to cause the Lykoi phenotype, but all of them are mutant alleles of the same gene, lysine demethylase and nuclear receptor corepressor, abbreviated HR for “hairless” [7]. Mutations in HR also cause hair abnormalities in humans, mice, sheep, and macaques [7].
Rexoid Variations
Curly fur occurs naturally in quite a few mammals, including dogs, rabbits, and cats. There are five recognized breeds of curly-coated cats, per the Cat Fanciers’ Association and The International Cat Association: American Wirehair, Cornish Rex, Devon Rex, LaPerm, and Selkirk Rex. Several other potential rexoid breeds have been proposed, including the German Rex and Oregon Rex. While all of these cats–and some random-bred cats–have curly coats, there are a lot of different causal mutations.
Remember the KRT71 gene? One kind of mutation in it causes the Sphynx’s hairlessness, but a different KRT71 mutation makes the Devon Rex’s pelt curly [5]. The Devon Rex mutant allele, re, is recessive to the wild-type allele but also to the hr Sphynx allele [5]. Devon Rex cats were used in the early Sphynx breeding programs, so some Sphynx still have one hr and one re allele, but they look just like any other Sphynx [5].
A recessive mutation also causes the Cornish Rex’s curly coat, but in their case the gene in question is lysophosphatidic acid receptor 6 (LPAR6) [8]. The mutant allele, known as r, causes the Cornish Rex to only develop an undercoat, one of the three layers of a normal pelt, and a curly one at that [8, 9]. Humans who are homozygous for LPAR6 mutations have a similar phenotype known as “wooly hair” [8]. Because the Cornish Rex was used to found the German Rex, r is in the genetic background of German Rexes, too [8].
Unlike the Devon and Cornish, the Selkirk Rex mutation, Se, is dominant, although incompletely dominant [9]. This means that cats homozygous for the mutation have a more dramatic phenotype: thinner coats, tighter curls [9]. And, wouldn’t you know it, Se is an unique mutation of our old friend, KRT71 [10]. Both KRT71 and LPAR6 are genes that maintain normal hair growth [5, 8]. It makes sense that different mutations in the same or similar genes would cause similar results.
Works Cited
- Drögemüller, C., Rüfenacht, S., Wichert, B., and Leeb, T. (2007). Mutations within the FGF5 gene are associated with hair length in cats. Animal Genetics, 38(3), 218-221. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2052.2007.01590.x
- Kehler, J.S., David, V.A., Schäffer, A.A., Bajema, K., et al. (2007). Four independent mutations in the feline Fibroblast Growth Factor 5 gene determine the long-haired phenotype in domestic cats. Journal of Heredity, 98(6), 555-566. https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esm072
- Basepaws. (2019, July 14). Cat coat genetics. Basepaws, Inc. https://www.basepaws.com/blog/cat-coat-genetics/
- Hartwell, S. (n.d.) Genetics of colour and conformation. MessyBeast. http://messybeast.com/cat-genetics-basics.htm
- Gandolfi, B., Outerbridge, C.A., Beresford, L.G., Myers, J.A., et al. (2010). The naked truth: Sphynx and Devon Rex cat breed mutations in KRT71. Mammalian Genome, 21, 509-515. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00335-010-9290-6
- Zhigachev, A.I., Vladimirova, M.V., and Katser, I. (2000). Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Russian hairless cats. Genetika, 36(4), 538-544. https://europepmc.org/article/med/10822817
- Buckley, R.M., Gandolfi, B., Creighton, E.K., Pyne, C.A., et al. (2020). Werewolf, there wolf: variants in Hairless associated with hypotrichia and roaning in the lykoi cat breed. Genes, 11(6), 682. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11060682
- Gandolfi, B., Alhaddad, H., Affolter, V.K., Brockman, J., et al. (2013). To the root of the curl: A signature of a recent selective sweep identifies a mutation that defines the Cornish Rex cat breed. PloS One, 8(6), e67105. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0067105
- Basepaws. (2019, July 15). Curly cat coat: A special kind of eye candy. Basepaws, Inc. https://www.basepaws.com/blog/curly-cat-coat/
- Gandolfi, B., Alhaddad, H., Joslin, S.E.K., Khan, R., et al. (2013). A splice variant in KRT71 is associated with curly coat phenotype of Selkirk Rex cats. Scientific Reports 3, 2000. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep02000
Published November 1st, 2020
Updated June 14th, 2023
Maine Coon: Big Fluffy Mystery in New England
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What do you get when you cross a raccoon with a domestic cat? Absolutely nothing, because that’s impossible. However, this is perhaps the wildest of the origin stories told about the State Cat of Maine, the Maine Coon. Maine Coons are an American breed of cat that evolved naturally in the harsh environment of the Northeast. How their forebears came to be in the New England wilderness is anybody’s guess, and theories abound about this big, friendly cat.
The raccoon hybrid idea is ridiculous, but in a less enlightened age it may have made sense. Most Maine Coons are brown tabbies, often with dark circles or marks around their eyes. Add in the breed’s fluffy tail and it’s not so hard to see how someone might think they look like raccoons. This is how they got their names, after all. The early nineteenth century farmers and sailors who first recognized the superb mousing ability of these cats would have known there were raccoons and other cats in the area. So there’s some 1800s logic for you.
A slightly less absurd suggestion is that Maine Coons are hybrids of domestic cats and bobcats. I tried to find any evidence that this is possible, and it appears not to be [1]. Again, I can see where the concept came from, as Maine Coons can be MASSIVE cats, the larger males sometimes reaching over 25 lbs or 11.3 kg (with an average weight of 16 lbs for males and 12 lbs for females). With tufted ears and paws like bobcats as well, and bobcats at least being a kind of cat, it seems reasonable. But still not possible.
Other stories told about Maine Coons suggest that they arose from the more regionally common short-haired cats intermingling with long-haired breeds brought from overseas. This seems much more likely. In a more scandalous version of this tale, a sea captain loyal to the French crown brought a shipload of Marie Antoinette’s valuables over to the new world, including six of her favorite cats. The plan was to return for the queen and rescue her from the over-boiling French Revolution, but the captain was too late to save her, and the cats were loosed in New England. I have my doubts that the queen would have sent her valuables ahead and stayed where the danger was, but who’s to say?
The most likely scenarios, if the traits did not arise spontaneously, would still have us thanking sailors for this immensely popular breed of cat. Some theorize that an English captain named Samuel Coon kept cats on board his ship, as many seafarers did. He specifically favored Persians and Angoras, two long-haired breeds that were popular in England during the American colonial period. As he sailed up and down the New England coast, his cats would disembark from time to time, and long-haired kittens began to crop up in the litters of the short-haired cats on shore. People would say that the mother had met up with “one of Coon’s cats.”
Alternatively, it’s thought that Vikings who visited the New World in the eleventh century may have brought long-haired Norwegian Skogkatts, known today as Norwegian Forest Cats, a breed which has a lot of similarities to Maine Coons. In either case, the long-haired trait was beneficial to wild and semi-feral barn cats surviving outside through the bitterly cold winters, so it began to take hold in the population.
It isn’t only the length of their fur that makes Maine Coons well-suited to their natural environment. Their pelt is thick and water resistant, further insulating them from the weather. The tufts of fur on their ears prevent heat from escaping. Their big, tufted paws serve as snowshoes, allowing them to walk over snow despite their size. Those big paws are also part of what makes them such good mousers!
Maine Coons can take a while to get comfortable with new people, but once they’re sure about you they are very friendly and love to spend time with their humans. They are known for following people around and enjoy attention, although they aren’t usually lap cats. They just want to be where you are. Main Coons are one of the few breeds of cats that like water, so they may want to be with you even in the shower. Close the door if that doesn’t appeal to you. Get out the camera if you think it’s hilarious.
That long, silky fur requires some grooming, but the Maine Coon isn’t as high-maintenance as some long-haired breeds. Occasional grooming to take care of tangles is sufficient for most cats. Since Maine Coons are so affectionate, they usually enjoy grooming.
Maine Coons are said to make great family pets because they get along well with children and other animals. They keep a kitten-like playfulness into old age but are also very easy-going, so they don’t mind the antics of human children. Maine Coons are very intelligent and like to learn tricks, solve puzzles, and play fetch, things that children often enjoy doing with their pets but some dogs can’t even be bothered to do. Not the dog I had growing up, anyways. RIP, Dolly. You were so loyal and so very lazy.
As with any breed, there is an increased risk of certain health concerns. Maine Coons can be prone to hip dysplasia, particularly those of larger size. They also have a genetic propensity for a form of heart disease called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and for spinal muscular atrophy, which usually develops early in kittenhood. There are genetic tests available for both of these conditions.
The Cat Fanciers’ Association named the Maine Coon the 5th most popular breed of 2018. They are such beautiful cats, and full of personality, it’s easy to see why people love them. They fit into a wide variety of homes as well. Not to mention that anyone who owns one will never have a rodent problem. In all the time since being removed from the New England wilderness, they haven’t lost that edge. Soft and fluffy yet built tough as nails, these unique cats are truly the stuff of legend.
Fun Facts
- The Best Cat at the first major United States cat show (1895 in NYC) was a Maine Coon. She was a brown tabby named Cosey.
- There was so little demand for the Maine Coon that it was declared extinct in the 1950s! They might have spoken too soon.
- Unlike most domestic cats, Maine Coons do not finish growing until they are 3-5 years old.
- The most common color of Maine Coon is brown tabby, but they come in 75 different color combinations and many different patterns.
- Their eyes may be green, gold, green-gold, or copper. White or bi-color Maine Coons sometimes have blue or odd eyes.
- The longest cat on record was a Maine Coon. Mymains Steward Gilligan, or Stewie, was 4 ft 0.42 in or 123 cm long!
Works Cited
- Hartwell, S. (1993). Domestic Hybrids with Bobcat and Lynx. Messy Beast. http://messybeast.com/small-hybrids/rufus-lynx-hybrids.htm
Published December 30th, 2019
Updated June 14th, 2023
