|
Tortie is a Domestic Short-Hair!
The term Tortoiseshell simply means "mingled colors". Some standards call for a complete mingling or brindling of the colors; while other standards prefer that the colors be distinct. The color combinations usually consist of black with red, grey, blue, cream, brown, or orange and are usually distributed asymmetrically over the cat's body.
If a tortie has white, the colors are usually in distinct patches and they are considered to be a Calico or Mosaic. Most Calicos have white on their belly, throat and lower legs.
Most breeds are capable of producing a Tortie and they can have long or short hair. This is a difficult color to breed. Most are females because the color genes reside on the X chromosome & females have 2 X chromosomes. The few male torties born are usually sterile because their color is caused by a genetic mutation in the color producing genes during the embryonic stage of growth.
The colors of a cats' hair is produced by skin cells that feed pigment into the hair. A gene called the inhibitor gene allows pigment to fill only the first part of the hair to grow. This produces a variety of subtle patterns that appear to change as the cat moves. Different degrees of shading give us shaded and silver colors and silver tabbies, which have appreciable colors, and "frosted" coats.
We are pleased to welcome Tortie to our practice!
|
