Harlequin Cat: Pictures, Rarity & History

February 12, 2024

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Earliest Records in History
Rise in Popularity
Formal Recognition
Unique Facts
Does a Harlequin Cat Make a Good Pet?

A harlequin cat has a selected coat coloration that units them other than different felines. They’re primarily white, with solely round 25% of one other colour. They are inclined to have massive, irregular patches of one other colour, although this different colour will be something in any respect. Sometimes, harlequin cats even have tabby markings of their coloured patches.

This coloration solely refers to a cat’s coat colour. It will not be a specific breed, although this colour does solely happen in sure breeds.

Because harlequin cats don’t belong to a selected breed, their dimension, and temperament are utterly up within the air. You can’t inform how massive a cat will develop or what they’ll act like primarily based on their coloration. Luckily, not like harlequin canines, these cats don’t have extra well being issues than different felines. Furthermore, harlequin cats are rather more frequent than harlequin canines.

Let’s be taught extra about this distinctive cat colour.

Earliest Records of the Harlequin Cat in History

Cats have had a good quantity of white of their coat because the starting of their domestication. We don’t know precisely when these felines appeared, as individuals didn’t preserve information of cat coloration 1000’s of years in the past.

You can usually discover cats with over 50% of their coat white in your native shelter, although not all breeds will exhibit this coat coloration. In some particular breeds, it might even be uncommon. It largely depends upon the precise breed we’re discussing.

We do have footage of cats with over 50% of their coats white, courting to the tenth century in Europe. Therefore, these cats have existed since at the very least then. That stated, they had been in all probability round a lot sooner than that.

Harlequin cat Image Credit: akirEVarga, Pixabay

How the Harlequin Cat Gained Popularity

The harlequin cat is a hanging, distinctive sample that many individuals are drawn to. However, it isn’t extra frequent than different coat varieties.

These cats in all probability developed fairly naturally all through the years. Because these cats aren’t uncommon, it’s doubtless that they didn’t must be notably chosen by people. They weren’t selectively bred for his or her traits like sure cat breeds. Instead, harlequin cats in all probability simply change into extra frequent over time via pure breeding.

Formal Recognition of Harlequin Cats

Harlequin cats are acknowledged by virtually each cat fancy membership on the market. However, the precise specification and title used to determine this coloration varies.

For occasion, the Governing Council of Cat Fancy defines harlequin cats as having extra white than bi-colored cats however not as a lot white because the van sample. As you may guess, there may be a variety of private choice at play right here, and the traces can get smudged. You can’t measure the precise proportion of white on a cat’s coat very efficiently, in spite of everything.

That stated, they do say that the cat needs to be predominately white. In different phrases, a cat needs to be at the very least 60% white to be thought of on this class. These requirements solely acknowledge sure cats as coming on this coloration, as properly. Snowshoe and oriental shorthairs are two of the breeds that do.

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Top 3 Unique Facts About Harlequin Cats

These cats will not be very uncommon, however there are some info that you could be not learn about them:

1. These cats are all distinctive.

No two Harlequin cats are the identical. They every have a distinct sample, which might fluctuate fairly a bit. Preferably, every spot needs to be bigger than a thumbprint, however that’s all that the usual says about this coloration’s particular sample.

2. The genetics behind this colour aren’t absolutely understood.

Each cat is exclusive largely as a result of there are a lot of genetics at play. We don’t perceive precisely how these genes work, so breeders can’t breed for particular patterns. The piebald gene that results in this sample has a number of variations in itself, and there are a number of further genes that play a task, too. Therefore, the depth and sample vary broadly from cat to cat.

3. What counts as a harlequin cat depends 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 nearly utterly white). However, these particular proportions are laborious to measure on a cat, which results in some cats being recognized as having a number of totally different colorations. In many instances, it might rely on who you ask.

a harlequin cat outdoors wearing a collar with a bell Image Credit: MR.WICHAI THONGTAPE, Shutterstock

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Does a Harlequin Cat Make a Good Pet?

We don’t suggest basing your adoption choice on a cat’s coat colour. Despite some frequent misconceptions, coat colours don’t sometimes impact a cat’s temperament or well being. Harlequin cats might look distinctive, however that doesn’t essentially imply that each harlequin cat is appropriate to your dwelling. The cat’s well being and temperament are far greater components than what the cat appears to be like like.

If you’re adopting from a shelter, take time to get to know the cat and ask those that work there concerning the feline’s temperament. If attainable, get details about the cat’s previous life and well being information, too. Most rescue organizations will give the feline all of the healthcare they want, however it’s at all times good to test!

If you’re buying a kitten, ensure that the breeder isn’t marking up their cats because of the “rarity” of the harlequin coloration. Even if the breeder doesn’t mark up their kittens, make sure that they breed for temperament and well being—not simply coat colour. Perform all the common steps you’ll take to make sure that a breeder is producing high quality kittens.

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Conclusion

Harlequin cats aren’t a specific breed, and precisely what counts as a harlequin cat can fluctuate.

Luckily, these cats don’t appear to have additional well being issues, as is true for harlequin canines. You can anticipate a harlequin cat to be simply as wholesome as every other cat with none added likelihood of deafness or imaginative and prescient issues.

While we don’t sometimes suggest harlequin canines to the typical proprietor, we will suggest harlequin cats wholeheartedly.

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