Breeds, Oddities, and the Price of Beauty

Some cat breeds are controversial. Not because of their color, but because their bodies have been changed in ways that may hurt them.

The Scottish Fold has ears that fold forward. It was discovered in 1961 by a Scottish shepherd. The folded ears make the cat look sad and sweet. But some folds develop thickened joints and tails. That’s a serious defect. Breeders have tried to eliminate it, and many folds are now healthy. But some cat organizations still ban the breed because they fear ear problems or deafness.

The Sphynx is hairless. It was discovered in Ontario in 1966. It’s a normal cat except for the lack of fur. It has a charming personality, but it gets cold easily. In winter, it needs to stay indoors or wear a sweater. If you can afford central heating, it’s fine. But many cat associations refuse to recognize it.

The Ragdoll goes limp when you pick it up. It lacks the normal feline defense response. It won’t struggle. That sounds sweet, but it’s dangerous. A careless child could hurt it, and it wouldn’t fight back. Many associations ban the breed.

The Peke-faced cat has been bred to have an extremely flat face, like a Pekingese dog. The flat face causes eye, tooth, and breathing problems. Tears may overflow because the tear ducts are blocked. The teeth may not meet properly. Breathing gets harder with age. It looks like a “super baby,” which some people love. But it suffers for its looks. In the UK, it’s not accepted as a champion breed.

The Manx has a shortened spine, which causes problems too. But cat shows accepted the Manx long ago, so no one protests anymore.

Of these four, three can live comfortable lives with proper care. The Scottish Fold needs clean ears. The Sphynx needs warmth. The Ragdoll needs to be kept away from rough children. But the Peke-faced cat is different. No amount of love can fix its breathing. For its own good, the breed’s extreme flat face should be moderated. But once humans start competing for the flattest face, moderation is hard.

Temperature can change a cat’s color. Siamese kittens are born white. As they grow, dark pigment appears on the nose, ears, tail, and paws. By one year, the cat has its adult pattern. This happens because the Siamese gene makes fur darker in cooler parts of the body. The mother’s womb is warm, so kittens start white. The extremities are cooler, so they darken. If a Siamese cat is raised in a cold environment, it gets darker all over. If raised in a hot environment, it stays pale. If you bandage a Siamese cat’s leg, the fur under the bandage grows in lighter, because the bandage keeps it warm. A fever can also lighten the coat. And as Siamese cats age, their body temperature drops slightly, so their coat darkens. That’s why show Siamese cats often retire young.

Cat sizes vary less than dog sizes. The largest breed is the Maine Coon, which can weigh up to 13.6 kilograms. The smallest is the Singapore cat, also called the drain cat. Males average only 2.7 kilograms, females 1.8. It’s popular in apartments because it’s so small. The British Shorthair is sturdier than the Siamese, because it evolved in a colder climate. Colder climates produce bigger bodies. That’s a general rule in biology.

Can cats predict earthquakes? The simple answer is yes, but we’re not sure how. They may feel tiny vibrations that our instruments miss. Earthquakes build up gradually, so cats may sense the early tremors. They may also be sensitive to changes in static electricity or the Earth’s magnetic field. Maybe they use all three.