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Cat Genetics & Biology terms
Cat genes and bodies: genome work, coat and breed genetics, disease genes, senses, purring, sleep and anatomy research.
Arachidonic acidAn omega-6 fatty acid that cats cannot make from plant oils in sufficient amounts and so need ready-made from animal fat.Bicolour catA cat whose coat combines white with one other colour, in patches of varying size, from a few spots to mostly white.BobtailA cat with a naturally short, stubby or kinked tail, a trait that occurs in several breeds and mixed-breed populations.BrachycephalicHaving a short, broad skull and flattened face, as in Persians and Exotic Shorthairs, which often brings breathing, eye and dental problems.BritchesThe long, full fur on the backs of a longhaired cat's hind legs, which forms a pair of fluffy trousers.CalicoA cat with large patches of white, black and orange, a coat pattern that occurs almost only in females.Carnassial teethThe large cheek teeth, a cat's upper fourth premolar and lower first molar, that slide past each other like scissors to slice meat.ColourpointA coat pattern with a pale body and darker ears, face, legs and tail, caused by a temperature-sensitive pigment gene.CrepuscularMost active at dawn and dusk, the pattern cats follow because their natural prey is busiest at those times.DewclawThe small thumb-like claw higher up on the inner side of each front leg that does not touch the ground.Double coatA coat made of a soft insulating undercoat beneath longer, coarser guard hairs, found in many cold-climate and semi-longhair breeds.FelidAny member of the cat family, Felidae, from the house cat to the tiger, and including extinct cats such as the sabre-toothed cats.Folded earsEars that bend forward and down because of a gene that also affects cartilage throughout the body, as in the Scottish Fold.Guard hairsThe long, coarse outer hairs of a cat's coat that shed water and dirt and carry its colour and pattern.Hairless catA cat bred for a coat that is absent or very short and fine, so the skin shows; the Sphynx is the best-known example.Hyoid apparatusThe chain of small bones and ligaments supporting the tongue and larynx, whose structure helps explain why some cats roar and others purr.MelanismAn inherited excess of dark pigment that turns an animal's coat black or very dark, as in black leopards, black jaguars and many house cats.Obligate carnivoreAn animal that must eat animal tissue to get nutrients its body cannot make for itself, as domestic cats must.Paw padsThe thick, cushioned, hairless pads on the underside of a cat's feet that absorb shock, give grip and help it walk quietly.PheromonesChemical signals that cats release from glands and in urine to communicate with other cats, sensed through the nose and a special organ.PiloerectionThe upright bristling of a cat's fur, most often a sign of fear or arousal, which makes the cat look larger.Polycystic kidney diseaseAn inherited condition in which fluid-filled cysts grow in the kidneys, best known in Persians and related breeds.PolydactylA cat born with extra toes on one or more paws, caused by a common dominant inherited trait that is usually harmless.PurringThe continuous low rumbling sound many cats make when relaxed, and sometimes when hurt or frightened.Retractable clawsCat claws that rest sheathed inside the toe tips and extend only for climbing, gripping and hunting, which keeps them sharp.Rex coatA curly or wavy coat caused by an inherited mutation, seen in breeds such as the Cornish Rex, Devon Rex, Selkirk Rex and LaPerm.Righting reflexThe reflex that lets a falling cat twist its body in mid-air so it lands on its feet.RuffA collar of longer fur around a cat's neck and chest, most obvious in breeds such as the Maine Coon and Norwegian Forest Cat.ScruffThe loose skin at the back of a cat's neck, which a mother cat grips to carry kittens but which adult cats should not be lifted or held by.TabbyA coat pattern of stripes, swirls or spots with a dark M-shaped mark on the forehead, found in many breeds and in mixed-breed cats.Tapetum lucidumA mirror-like layer behind a cat's retina that bounces light back through the eye, improving night vision and causing glowing eyes in photos.TaurineAn amino acid cats cannot make in enough quantity and must get from food, essential for heart muscle, eyesight and reproduction.Third eyelidA thin fold of tissue at the inner corner of a cat's eye that sweeps across the surface to protect and moisten it.Ticked coatA coat in which each hair has several bands of colour, giving a soft, shimmering look with few or no stripes on the body.Tongue papillaeThe tiny backward-facing hooks on a cat's tongue that work like a comb for grooming and a rasp for stripping meat from bone.TortoiseshellA coat of mixed black and orange, or their diluted forms, in patches or brindled swirls, almost always seen in female cats.Tuxedo catA black cat with a white chest, belly and paws, so named for resembling a formal suit, found in many breeds and in mixed-breed cats.UndercoatThe soft, fine, dense layer of fur closest to a cat's skin that provides most of its insulation.Vomeronasal organA small scent-analysing organ in the roof of a cat's mouth that reads chemical signals such as pheromones.WhiskersThe long, stiff, touch-sensitive hairs on a cat's muzzle, brows, chin and forelegs that help it sense nearby objects and air movement.