Whether you’re bringing a cat into your home for the first time, or you're a seasoned cat parent, there are some things you will want to understand about our feline friends. Let’s explore one question you may not have considered: can coat color predict a cat's personality?
For years, researchers have tried to determine whether cat coat colors have an impact on cat personality traits. Rumors have circulated among cat parents that their orange tabby cats were notoriously friendly, compared to their gray and white counterparts who were seemingly more aggressive. In order to try to uncover whether the genes that impact cat coat color also play a role in the development of cat personality traits, researchers took a closer look.
Cat Coat Color and Personality Traits
In order to understand whether cat coat color has an impact on its personality, it's important to recognize how cats inherit their coat colors. Coat colors are determined by genetics, and largely by the sex-linked genes. These four categories often define a cat's coat color:
Control Spotting
Pigment Intensity
Orange and Agouti Color Switching
Patterns
Female cats, for example, are more likely to have certain types of coats, including tortoiseshell coloring and calico patterns. It is rare to find a male cat that will have these types of coats. So, in that sense, coat color can influence personality — but the gender of the cat also may have a significant impact on their personality as well.
Purebred cats are more likely to have defined personality traits rather than typical domestic shorthair cats that are mixed-breed. For instance, a Siamese cat is going to have a very distinct coat color and pattern. Due to its breed, it also may inherit specific personality traits, such as being more vocal or even demanding.
There is certainly enough evidence to suggest that sometimes a cat's coat color can influence its personality, but some experts believe it has less to do with the actual color of the coat and more to do with other genetic factors.
Myths vs. Reality
In all actuality, the idea that coat color influences a cat's personality is more about human perception. Recent studies indicate that cat owners do feel that cats with specific coat colors may exhibit certain personality traits. These are a few examples of common perceptions about cats and their coat colors:
Gray-and-white cats are often perceived as being the most aggressive cats, regardless of their gender. A University of California study noted that these cats often exhibited the most aggressive behaviors during routine veterinary appointments.
Calicos are often perceived to be more irritable cats. The same study from the University of California found that cats with this type of coat did not enjoy being handled by veterinarians.
Many cat owners have felt that black cats are more comfortable with indoor living and plenty of people.
Obviously, perceptions are highly subjective and a person's perception of a cat and its coat color can be influenced by their own background and experiences. It seems that perception drives the impression that cat coat colors influence personality rather than genetic makeup.
Which Factors Influence Cat Personality?
So, if coat color does not determine a cat's personality, then what does? There are several important factors that will ultimately determine what type of personality traits a cat exhibits:
Parental Genes — Cats are likely to inherit personality traits and certain behaviors from their parents. Some studies indicate that cats inherit many of their socialization skills from their fathers. It also has been noted that cats will naturally inherit certain behaviors from their parents. For example, if a cat's mother was particularly loving and cuddly, a young kitten may also exhibit that same personality trait. On the other hand, a cat who had a father that was jumpy and skittish may also have a tendency to be the same way.
Socialization in Early Life — The American Association of Feline Practitioners notes that the first few weeks of a kitten's life are critical for socialization with people. A house cat should be introduced to people between three and nine weeks old so that it can become accustomed to human contact and interaction.
Treatment in Adulthood — A cat's personality is likely to remain relatively stable for the first few years of its life, but its treatment into adulthood can influence its behaviors over the course of time.
Regardless of your cat's coat color or its genetic history, you are going to want to give it the best possible life. One of the ways that you can do this is to feed your cat a nourishing and fulfilling diet. At Life's Abundance, we have a variety of cat foods, treats, and care products that will help your cat to thrive, no matter what color coat they have.