First bald cats
Structure of cat's fur, as well as our knowledge
What naked cat differs from the woolly? How - what? The absence of wool, of course! And what is the wool? And what rex differ from Sphynx? Answers to the last two questions are not so obvious.
The average domestic cat, like most other animals, has three types of coat: long, hard coat, a little softer thick beard and a soft downy undercoat. Each hair grows from the hair bulb. Onion nourish the blood vessels so that hair can not develop normally, they are suitable nerve endings (in other cats could not raise the hair on end). In addition, the wool needs to be lubricated, which provide a gland lying in the skin. Due to the dye, pigment, grains which are arranged in a special way in her hair, cats have a particular color. All variety of external features and the degree of their expression, as related to the structure of wool (the presence of all three components, the absence or drastic change any of them and their relationship to each other), as well as color, are hereditary.
Some issues associated with genetics, are still in high school, and some - in feline courses. The author of this book's mission is to such an interesting breed, like a sphinx, acquired indifferent people who can independently find the information they need.
Breed-based mutation
The appearance of certain species is closely related to socio-cultural processes taking place in human society. Decorative shapes of cats and dogs is proof of this civilization: the people, but need the practical use of animals, additional spiritual needs. Wonder goldfish or decorative dogs were "invented" in ancient China - a country with an ancient highly developed civilization.
Interest in the various original mutant cats began to reveal itself with the end of the nineteenth century, but fully manifested itself in Europe and America until the middle of the twentieth century. It was at this time rapidly blossomed selection of cat breeds, differing in structure and length of wool and the diversity of colors. Since ancient times before the man held a succession of generations of his four-legged companions, and he was literally surrounded by mutants. But - for the most part - it selects those in whom needed from a practical point of view. For example, sheep, goats and rabbits with long hair, suitable for pyardeniya. Long-haired and long-haired cats (bearing the name "Persian" and "Angora") have long been present in the cat populations. In any case, mention of them have been preserved in historical sources, though these cats are not quite resemble the representatives of those breeds. Whom the title match today. It is possible that they recognized as an ideal feline beauty rather similar to the sheep and goats, but not by themselves ...
And only in the twentieth century, a man fully gave free rein to their imagination. In 50-ies of XX century in Cornwall (England) on one of the farms appeared kitten with curly hair: the covering of his coat and beard were thinned, very short, curved. The veterinarian, who showed this wonder of nature, advised the hostess, when the kitten grows up, cross it with the mother-cat. So there Cornish Rex. Devonshire (England) decided to keep up with Cornwall: there bvla registered reksovaya second mutation - Devon Rex. These cats from outercoat remained only a few hairs and beard was soft and short, and her curls were not such a clear focus, like a Cornish-rex. The genetic basis of both Rex was different. More cats cats reksoidnogo type poured as from a horn of plenty: they were discovered in California, Germany, Denmark and came to our Urals. Question: how many times have occurred in these populations cat mutation? This is the twentieth century has been particularly fruitful for her due to their mutagenic factors or past people believed these cats just freaks and did not pay attention to them, though their hair and looked like zavitochki such close and they understand things like astrakhan fur coat?
In the early twentieth century, the first American cat shows were shown hairless cats, which attributed the origin of the ancient Aztec cats: Indians extinct civilization used naked cats as a living hot-water bottles. This story was about the transcription itself bare of Mexican dogs, and bred in America in the early last century. With regard to the legend, then to trace its origins is difficult. But the last couple of naked cats, before reaching the 30-ies, left documentary evidence of its existence - about them in newspapers, and reports show they mentioned. However, these cats have left the main - the biological progeny. According to descriptions, hairless cats have long whiskers and a long body, wedge shaped head with amber eyes. In the winter time on the back and tail of these animals grew hair, disappearing in summer. Legends, legends, but with regard to their genetic basis, so it has remained unknown. Say something sensible on this issue is impossible.
Remembering history reksoidov, we could assume that the hairless mutation will not be known only to the New World. Happened.
Its disparate manifestations were recorded in populations of domestic cats around the world. In 1938, French geneticist E. Letarom was described mutation caused the gene h - in a litter of Siamese cats appeared bald kittens. Similar cats were born in Britain and the Scandinavian countries. However, their hairless perceived as a freak of nature. No one from time to time not tried to fix this feature and get a different breed.
By L. Chebykina