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Cats/Is my cat albino or a rare gene result
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Question
I have four year old cat, his mom was completely dark back and his dad a was a lighter black with a few grey spots on his face and body. But my cat is snow white all over except with dark black on his face in opposite placement of his fathers with a tiny black spot on his nose plus a dark black spot on his butt, back of his back and front leg left side, and a dark black tail with numerous white hairs. He has the same color eyes but pink skin while his parents had white. I understand he may be inbreed because his family are barn cats. Also he was had 4 other siblings all identical to there mom in every way. I have a picture of him but not his family tragically they all stayed barn cats and was eaten by coyotes, aside from the ones that were adopted. And if its any conciliation he has a allergic reaction to flea bits that cause him to itch intensely and hair to fall out and/or get scratched out.
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Danial,
Your cat has a gene called the piebald white gene that can express many different ways, from one white toe to the entire cat being white. This is a dominant gene, so either the father or mother or both had to have at least one copy of the gene. He is not an albino (in albinism, the cats will have blue eyes with a pinkish cast), true albinos are very rare in cats, especially feral cats.
The particular pattern of white your cat has is called a "van" or "harlequin" pattern where the color tends to be on the head and tail with one or two small body spots.
Flea allergies are common in cats and quite common in the feral population.
Mr. Bigglesworth is quite a handsome fellow.
Best regards... Norm.
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | You answered my question clearly and effectively without causing and other questions. I will be sure to ask you if i should have any other questions involving my or my mothers two cats, one of which is my cats half brother. | ||
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Answers by Expert:
Norman Auspitz
Expertise
I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.
Experience
I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.
Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.
Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook
Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.
Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.
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