Harlequin Cat: Pictures, Rarity & History – Nirantara

A harlequin cat has a specific coat coloration that models them apart from completely different felines. They’re primarily white, with solely spherical 25% of 1 different shade. They’ve an inclination to have large, irregular patches of 1 different shade, though this completely different shade could also be one thing the least bit. Usually, harlequin cats even have tabby markings of their colored patches.

This coloration solely refers to a cat’s coat shade. It’s not a particular breed, though this shade does solely occur in positive breeds.

On account of harlequin cats don’t belong to a specific breed, their measurement, and temperament are totally up throughout the air. You possibly can’t inform how large a cat will develop or what they’ll act like based mostly totally on their coloration. Happily, not like harlequin canine, these cats don’t have additional properly being points than completely different felines. Furthermore, harlequin cats are far more widespread than harlequin canine.

Let’s examine additional about this distinctive cat shade.

Earliest Info of the Harlequin Cat in Historic previous

Cats have had amount of white of their coat as a result of the beginning of their domestication. We don’t know exactly when these felines appeared, as of us didn’t keep info of cat coloration 1000’s of years prior to now.

You’ll be capable of normally uncover cats with over 50% of their coat white in your native shelter, though not all breeds will exhibit this coat coloration. In some explicit breeds, it would even be unusual. It largely relies upon upon the exact breed we’re discussing.

We do have footage of cats with over 50% of their coats white, relationship to the ten^th century in Europe. As a result of this reality, these cats have existed since a minimum of then. That said, they’ve been most likely spherical quite a bit prior to that.

How the Harlequin Cat Gained Popularity

The harlequin cat is a dangling, distinctive pattern that many people are drawn to. Nonetheless, it isn’t additional widespread than completely different coat types.

These cats most likely developed pretty naturally all by the years. On account of these cats aren’t unusual, it’s seemingly that they didn’t have to be notably chosen by individuals. They weren’t selectively bred for his or her traits like positive cat breeds. Instead, harlequin cats most likely merely develop to be additional widespread over time by way of pure breeding.

Formal Recognition of Harlequin Cats

Harlequin cats are acknowledged by nearly every cat fancy membership available on the market. Nonetheless, the exact specification and establish used to determine this coloration varies.

For instance, the Governing Council of Cat Fancy defines harlequin cats as having additional white than bi-colored cats nevertheless not as quite a bit white as a result of the van pattern. As you might guess, there’s quite a lot of personal need at play proper right here, and the traces can get smudged. You possibly can’t measure the exact proportion of white on a cat’s coat very effectively, in any case.

That said, they do say that the cat have to be predominately white. In numerous phrases, a cat have to be a minimum of 60% white to be considered on this class. These necessities solely acknowledge positive cats as approaching this coloration, as correctly. Snowshoe and oriental shorthairs are two of the breeds that do.

Excessive 3 Distinctive Data About Harlequin Cats

These cats might be not very unusual, nevertheless there are some particulars that you might be not discover out about them:

1. These cats are all distinctive.

No two Harlequin cats are the an identical. They each have a novel pattern, which can vary pretty a bit. Ideally, each spot have to be larger than a thumbprint, nevertheless that’s all that the same old says about this coloration’s explicit pattern.

2. The genetics behind this shade aren’t completely understood.

Each cat is unique largely because of there are many genetics at play. We don’t understand exactly how these genes work, so breeders can’t breed for explicit patterns. The piebald gene that outcomes on this pattern has a lot of variations in itself, and there are a selection of additional genes that play a job, too. As a result of this reality, the depth and pattern fluctuate extensively from cat to cat.

3. What counts as a harlequin cat relies upon upon who you ask.

Typically, a harlequin cat is between a bicolor cat (which is a feline with about 50% white) and a van cat (which is a cat that’s practically totally white). Nonetheless, these explicit proportions are laborious to measure on a cat, which ends up in some cats being acknowledged as having a lot of fully completely different colorations. In plenty of situations, it would depend on who you ask.

Does a Harlequin Cat Make a Good Pet?

We don’t counsel basing your adoption selection on a cat’s coat shade. No matter some widespread misconceptions, coat colors don’t generally impression a cat’s temperament or properly being. Harlequin cats would possibly look distinctive, nevertheless that doesn’t basically indicate that every harlequin cat is suitable in your home. The cat’s properly being and temperament are far higher parts than what the cat seems like.

In case you’re adopting from a shelter, take time to get to know the cat and ask those who work there in regards to the feline’s temperament. If attainable, get particulars in regards to the cat’s earlier life and properly being info, too. Most rescue organizations will give the feline all the healthcare they need, nevertheless it’s always good to confirm!

In case you’re shopping for a kitten, be sure that the breeder isn’t marking up their cats because of “rarity” of the harlequin coloration. Even when the breeder doesn’t mark up their kittens, be sure that they breed for temperament and properly being—not merely coat shade. Perform your entire common steps you’d take to ensure that a breeder is producing quality kittens.

Conclusion

Harlequin cats aren’t a particular breed, and exactly what counts as a harlequin cat can vary.

Happily, these cats don’t seem to have additional properly being points, as is true for harlequin canine. You’ll be capable of depend on a harlequin cat to be merely as healthful as each different cat with none added chance of deafness or vision problems.

Whereas we don’t generally counsel harlequin canine to the frequent proprietor, we’re capable of counsel harlequin cats wholeheartedly.

Featured Image Credit score rating: doypui, Shutterstock