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How important is a cat\u2019s color? It depends. Some people prefer cats of a specific color or of a different color\u2014they are fascinated by unusual shades and patterns on the cats they choose to spend time with. But what do we know about a cat\u2019s color and how it might determine her personality? I think it\u2019s a fascinating topic, especially since science has taken notice and studies are being made and published.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/oliviahomecoming-225x300.jpg\")
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I came across a great article on the topic of cat color recently and I want to share it with you. First, a story about a cat I know and love and his surprising DNA story. As you know, I write cozy mysteries with cats. My mother\u2019s cat, Smokey is the ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/smokeyduckie-300x225.jpg\")
model for my cat character, Rags. In one of the stories I wanted to introduce Rags\u2019s father, but I had no idea what he would look like. Smokey came from a litter of kittens my sister-in-law\u2019s purebred Himalayan cat had after a fling out of doors. There were two ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/catMillicentsMac-300x226.jpg\")
Himalayans in the litter and two short-haired grey and white cats (as I recall). Yes, the female had gotten out. My sister-in-law saw a black-and-white cat around about the same time and we all figured that was Smokey\u2019s father. But I wanted more information. So I contacted a DNA expert I\u2019d read about and asked what she could tell me.<\/p>\n
Surprisingly, she responded. I sent her a picture of the mother and the litter and the kittens. Her response was super surprising: ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/winfieldIMG_1781-300x225.jpg\")
\u201cOrange tabby,\u201d she said. What? I went back to my sister-in-law to ask if she may have seen other cats or another cat in the area when her Himalayan got out that time. She said, \u201cWell, yes, but he couldn\u2019t have sired that litter because he was an old orange cat.\u201d<\/p>\n
True story. Cat DNA is a fascinating topic. In ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/catanniecactus-225x300.jpg\")
fact I had Olivia\u2019s DNA tested and I now know quite a bit about her lineage\u2014down to the interesting fact (?) that the wild cat she\u2019s most closely related to is the cheetah.<\/p>\n
So what did I learn by reading the article (link ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/catshowtxtiger-225x300.jpg\")
provided), that there are 3 basic cat colors\u2014red, white and black. Cats are basically black unless they\u2019re orange. All cats are tabbies. And dig this, these scientists did an experiment where they asked 189 cat owners to describe their cat color and personality. Then they compiled a report attributing certain personality types with the coloring\u2014for example: orange cats are friendly, tricolors are intolerant, white cats are aloof. I\u2019m sure many of you have had the opposite experience with cats of certain colors, but it\u2019s a fun concept to consider.Here\u2019s the link. Enjoy:<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.catster.com\/cats-101\/different-cat-colors<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" How important is a cat\u2019s color? It depends. Some people prefer cats of a specific color or of a different color\u2014they are fascinated by unusual shades and patterns on the cats they choose to spend time with. But what do … Continue reading