My cat is a mutt, adopted from a shelter at a baby. I specifically spent half a summer looking for a grey kitten because I am very enamoured of russian blue and chartreaux cats. While I by no means want to refer to my cat as pedigreed in any way, or even as a mix, I did some casual research on his coloring and characteristics as he has some odd characteristics for a DSH.
I am merely wondering if anyone can provide tidbits or comments in a discussion about pedigree traits that make their way into a domestic populations. As I live in an area chock full of pricey pedigree dogs, I find it entirely possible that some unaltered pedigree cats might be lurking around (good taste, of course, can never be taken as responsibility).
I thought I'd list some traits my kitty has, using him as an example of a kitty with a POSSIBLE pedigree ancestor:
1. Full grey except with some white spots on throat and belly- his fur had some faint tigerish stripings as a kitten which went away as he grew
2. I had the opportunity of seeing his entire litter which came into the shelter together- 3 solid greys- is grey coloring a dominant gene or is this a possible indication (along with others) of a pedigree ancestor?
3. Mauve paw pads- I have read this is a trait of Russian blues, where as domestic cats are more likely to have slate paws
4. Slate grey nose
5. Very long, lithe body with a smallish, distinctly shaped head
6. Yellow/green eyes (definetely NOT the green eyes of a russian blue)
7. Very soft fur- I don't know if he has the characteristic "double coat" but he is sure softer than most cats I've known
8. Faintly darker tail rings, which I have seen on many russian blue pure-breds in pictures
Any comments? Has anyone observed a pedigree cat interbreed with domestics and then observed pedigree traits in the subsequent generations? I just find this kind of interesting. Thanks!
I am merely wondering if anyone can provide tidbits or comments in a discussion about pedigree traits that make their way into a domestic populations. As I live in an area chock full of pricey pedigree dogs, I find it entirely possible that some unaltered pedigree cats might be lurking around (good taste, of course, can never be taken as responsibility).
I thought I'd list some traits my kitty has, using him as an example of a kitty with a POSSIBLE pedigree ancestor:
1. Full grey except with some white spots on throat and belly- his fur had some faint tigerish stripings as a kitten which went away as he grew
2. I had the opportunity of seeing his entire litter which came into the shelter together- 3 solid greys- is grey coloring a dominant gene or is this a possible indication (along with others) of a pedigree ancestor?
3. Mauve paw pads- I have read this is a trait of Russian blues, where as domestic cats are more likely to have slate paws
4. Slate grey nose
5. Very long, lithe body with a smallish, distinctly shaped head
6. Yellow/green eyes (definetely NOT the green eyes of a russian blue)
7. Very soft fur- I don't know if he has the characteristic "double coat" but he is sure softer than most cats I've known
8. Faintly darker tail rings, which I have seen on many russian blue pure-breds in pictures
Any comments? Has anyone observed a pedigree cat interbreed with domestics and then observed pedigree traits in the subsequent generations? I just find this kind of interesting. Thanks!