5 Amazing Genetic Mewtations In Cats

What makes our favorite fuzzy jerks so cool? Turns out it's in their genes. Cats are awesome and there’s no getting around it. It’s almost mind-blowing to think about how a single creature could come in so many sizes, shapes, colors, and floofs. There’s a whole amazing world of genetics behind what makes the internet’s favorite animal look as cool as it does, and every day we discover more about them. Take a look at just a few of the most interesting genetic mutations in cats that manifest in unique physical traits.

1. The Karpati Mutation

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The Karpati Mutation, also known as the Carpathian Mutation, is a gene that affects pigmentation in the fur of cats. It specifically occurs in cats from the Carpathian region: Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania. This gene, which is similar to vitiligo in humans, can result in the progressive loss of pigment in fur in a great range of patterns. It can even result in the darkening and changing of a cat’s nose color!

2. The Lykoi Gene

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The Lykoi gene is a spooky mutation that has appeared in domestic shorthair cats in the past twenty years. This visually shocking gene results in cats that look like werewolves! The gene itself affects the cat’s fur- these cats have hair follicles that cannot produce or maintain normal fur. They don’t have an “undercoat”, but they do grow an interesting pattern of top fur. Although it may be similar to the mutation that hairless cats and Rex cats have, it is not actually related.

3. Polydactyly

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Polydactyly is a physical mutation that causes a cat to be born with extra digits, or as cat lovers call them, beans. A normal cat has 5 digits on both front paws and 4 digits on both hind paws, totalling at 18 toes. A polydactyl cat can have as many as 28! Polydactyl cats are well known for their giant feet and are loved by everyone, but especially in New England where they can be found in particularly high numbers. Ernest Hemingway was a lover and collector of polydactyl cats, and they are sometimes referred to as Hemingway cats for this very reason.

4. Cleft Lip

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Cleft lip is a condition that is present in many mammals. It happens when the kitten’s lip fails to form properly in the mother’s womb. The severity of this condition ranges widely. In some cases, an affected cat may look a little strange but can still live its life normally without veterinary intervention. In other cases, surgery may be needed to make sure the cat can eat properly. Lots of cats like blossoming Facebook star Smush are showing off how purrfect cleft lip cats can be when they are allowed to thrive in a happy home!

5. Curly Fur

Remy Boudreau

Cat breeds such as LaPerms, Selkirk Rexes, Cornish Rexes, and Devon Rexes sport a uniquely curly hairdo that is a result of a spontaneous genetic mutation which occurred about 25 years ago in a single kitten from a rescue litter. These cats have no outer protective fur coats, but only a silky, crimped undercoat of fur that feels like touching downy feathers.