There are quite a few people in the world who admire black cats. Their fur seems deep, velvety, like a night without a single star. When on the street or at home near us appears a cat with a solid black color, most people have the feeling that this is the “perfect” black cat – a real masterpiece of nature. However, it is worth a closer look, and even in the darkest wool can sometimes be seen light brown or reddish shimmers in the sun, single white hairs or undercoat of another shade. All this makes us wonder: are there cats that are actually completely black, without any admixture of color, or is it an illusion created by our perception?
The human eye is sensitive to shades and the slightest changes in color, but at the same time our idea of “perfect black” is often romanticized. Cats with black coloring look very distinctive from most other animals, and therefore appear particularly pure and solid in their coloring. However, the true completeness of the black color is already a matter of genetics, physiology, and even light.
Genetics and physiology of black color in cats
Black coat color in cats is determined by the presence of a special pigment – eumelanin, which gives a deep, saturated shade. The main role in the formation of this color is played by the gene B (Black). It is responsible for the production of black-brown pigment and suppression of other colors. However, even in the presence of a dominant gene, a completely black cat is a great rarity in nature.
In most “black” cats, the coat has certain nuances. First, the undercoat is often lighter in color than the main body coat. Secondly, with age, cats, like people, have gray hairs – separate white or silver hairs. Third, prolonged exposure to sunlight can change the structure of the pigment, and the coat becomes “rusty” – with a slight brown or red cast. Also, many black cats have a few white hairs or spots on their chest or belly that are not always visible at first glance, but they are there. Another factor is the physiology of the hair itself: in bright light, even the blackest black cat can appear dark brown or with a barely noticeable purple, grayish tint.
The most “black” cats are found among these breeds:
- Bombay – this breed is bred specifically to achieve the effect of an all-black, lacquer-shiny coat that resembles polished anthracite.
- British Shorthair – very rich black colors are found in the breed, but even here perfect “blackness” is not guaranteed in every representative.
- European shorthair – black individuals are often found among domestic cats, but the purity of the color depends on genetics.
- Oriental shorthair – some of the cats of this breed have a very rich coat color.
- Maine Coon – among Maine Coons there are black cats, but due to the thick undercoat, the shades can vary.
American Shorthair, Persian cat – can also have a rich black color.
It is worth adding that even among pedigree cats you can meet animals with a very pure black color – this is the result of genes, but no breed can guarantee a hundred percent “absolute blackness” of all representatives.
Are cats completely black?
It is scientifically proven: perfectly completely black cats do not exist in nature, if by this we mean the total absence of other pigments, spots, white or rusty hairs and any shades. This is due to the peculiarities of genetics, the natural aging of the coat, the influence of the environment and even optics. However, for the human eye and perception “all-black cat” – this is quite a real and achievable picture: in good lighting, with saturated pigment and shiny wool such animals seem really black, almost like a velvet silhouette on the background.
The closest to the ideal are the Bombay cats, which were bred specifically for this effect. But even they may have “surprises” in the form of single light hairs or a slight brown tint on different parts of the body, in different light or with age. This does not reduce their beauty, but on the contrary – makes each black cat unique.
For owners of black cats, the main thing is not to chase the ideal of “absolute blackness”, but to appreciate the special charm that gives such a color: spectacular appearance, bright eyes on a dark background, mysterious look. This is what makes black cats favorites of many generations – regardless of how many white hairs on the chest or how uniform the color of the undercoat will be.
