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In 1995, a green kitten "Miss Greeny" was born in north-west Denmark. Mrs Pia Bischoff found the green kitten near a hay loft. Its fur and even its claws were green and the discovery created a sensation among zoological experts in the country and geneticists hoping the colour was due to a genetic mutation. Mrs Bischoff, whose 5 year old daughter adopted the kitten, said she had tried to wash out the colour without success. A vet who examined the cat said it was perfectly healthy but confirmed that it had a copper patina, apparently present since birth, from the tip of its fur to the hair follicles. Samples of Miss Greeny's fur was sent to study at Rigshospitalet; no chenmicals were found to be present (such as hair dye), but the hair was green all the way down in the hair follicles so the colour had been produced as the hair grew. There was a similar human case in a southern Swedish town in which the hair of several blonde women turned green due to the amount of copper present in corroded water pipes. It was possible the kitten was excreting excess copper through the skin although others believed it was due to a metabolic defect.

The green colouration did in fact turn out to be due to the high copper content in water in the area - this had caused a verdigris effect on the kitten's grey fur. Such high levels of copper are often toxic. The kitten and her 5 year old owner became celebrities for a while, but the green colour vanished as the kitten moulted her coat and new fur grew through; the new fur was unaffected by copper because the kitten was no longer drinking copper-rich water. A metabolic defect would normally reduce a cat's lifespan, but Miss Greeny reached the age of 14 years.

Copper-contaminated kittens apart, why are there no green-furred mammals? Fur colour is related to camouflage. Disruptive colouring such as stripes and spots are more advantageous because habitats tend to be dappled and a pattern breaks up the animal's outline. Dirty brown colours are more useful for camouflage against dirt or tree trunks. In regions with a snowy season, green would be a real hindrance and the animal would have to moult (which uses up a lot of energy) and grow pale fur (brown stoats living in such areas become white ermines in winter). Other studies suggest that normal green may be impossible in mammals because the production of green pigments may have toxic effects on the animals.

British scientists at the Roslin Institute produced fluorescent green pigs and chickens using a lentivirus to introduce the green fluorescent protein gene (GFP) from jellyfish. Three generations of GFP chickens have been produced, showing the gene is stable. Fluorescent green pigs are the closest yet to green mammals. In 2007, South Korean researchers cloned cats and modified one of their skin genes to fluoresce red under UV light. They used skin cells of a female Turkish Angora cat and modified its genes using a virus. The modified cells were inserted into feline ova which were implanted into the womb of the donor cat. Three kittens were born in January and February 2007 by caesarian section, but one died during the procedure. The two survivors grew to become adult Turkish Angoras, weighing 3kg and 3.5kg. Under UV light, the genetically modified kittens glow red while an ordinary kitten appears to be green.

In October 2008, scientists announced "Mr Green Genes" a transgenic ginger tabby cat that glows green under UV light. His eyes, gums and tongue glow a vivid lime green. Mr Green Genes was the first fluorescent cat in the United States and contains the "enhanced green fluorescence protein" from jellyfish. The researchers at the Audubon Centre for Research of Endangered Species in New Orleans wanted to learn whether a gene for fluorescence could be introduced harmlessly into the feline genetic sequence. The next step is to breed him and see if the gene is inherited by his offspring. While Mr Green Genes may lead a normal life (away from UV lights), his less lucky descendents will eventually be destined for animal experimentation. This is part of an experiment that could lead to treatments for conditions like cystic fibrosis where cats are used because of their similarity to humans. The fluorescence gene will be inserted next to the cystic-fibrosis gene and make it easy to spot to see how things work inside animals and even inside cells.

Because of the way the tortoiseshell colour is inherited, all tortie and calico cats should be female. Occasionally males torties occur, but these are unusual and are due to genetic defects or unusual development in the womb. See Mosaicism and Gender Anomalies for information on the various causes of tortoiseshell tomcats.

Pandora (owned by Bill B, Granby, MA, USA) is a brindled cat with what appears to be an unusual mutation. She has the brindled pattern normally seen on tortoiseshell cats, but the patches which should be red are white! The brindling and facial pattern is typical of tortoiseshell cats, but it seems that 15 year old Pandora has a mutation that prevents her producing red pigment. An alternative explanation is that Pandora is chimera formed when a black embryo and a white embryo fused in the womb; however chimeras tend to have a patched appearance rather than being thoroughly brindled, this makes chimerism a less likely explanation. A third possibility is that Pandora has additional X chromosomes (XXX or XXXX instead of the normal XX female), however this genetic anomaly is associated with mental retardation and physical anomalies/deformities (this is not Klinefelter syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome is only found in males e.g. XXY or XXXY). These two conditions can be identified using tissue samples, but this isn't recommended in an older cat as it involves sedation or anaesthesia. It seems likely that the gene that should produce red pigment is faulty or that some other gene is masking the red pigment out. Since Pandora was spayed before Bill obtained her, it isn't possible to breed her to see if it can be inherited. I have seen the opposite mutation - where a tortoiseshell cat produced red pigment, but not black, resulting in a red, cream and white brindled cat - but this is the first time I have seen a black-and-white brindle where the red is absent.

Antiquarian accounts must always be taken with a pinch of salt since facts may be obscured by mythology. Thai literature speaks of an old Thai variety (i.e. old-type Siamese or European Burmese type) with black fur, black teeth, black eyes and black tongue. This creature was known to Thais as the "Ninlaret" (or black/dark sapphire/pearl) and is a candidate for cryptozoology or veterinary science rather than the modern showbench.

What is the likelihood of an "all-black cat"? The Chow dog breed has a purple tongue, which may appear blackish, so a feline "black-tongued" mutation is feasible. The human medical condition porphyria can cause teeth and nails to stain red or black-red and this would explain the Ninlaret's black teeth. It might conceivably cause dark red staining of the eyes, which would explain the Ninlaret's black eyes. Possibly the Thai Ninlaret cats were an inbred group of cats which had porphyria. Porphyria may also occur intermittently and is also associated with dementia ("The Madness of King George") and photosensitivity (intolerance of bright light); in humans it accounts for some reports of vampires.

The trait, if it is more than a folktale, has vanished and no such cats have been reported in recent times. As a cautionary note to would-be breeders of black-eyed, black-tongued, black-clawed, black-toothed cats, a debilitating medical condition such as porphyria is emphatically not a sound basis for a breed! Alternatively, it is an exaggerated account of a Siamese-type cat which did not have the gene which causes the colourpoint pattern; analogous to the Foreign (Oriental) Black. From later discussion with a traveller to Thailand, it turns out that "Black Pearl" is the name given to very dark grey/indigo Korats!

Not quite an all-black Siamese cat, but certainly worth of mention is the black-tongued black cat owned by Nickolas Heckman. This cat, which died in 2003, was black-furred and had black paw-pads, but golden eyes - so far quite unremarkable. She also had black-streaked teeth and a black tongue. She was adopted while Nickolas was living in Texas around 16 years ago. Being born to a barn cat, her exact origins are unknown, but the mother was a colourpoint cat that closely resembled a Siamese. This black-tongued feline had one litter of kittens, but none survived as she refused to care for them.

Old Thai writings are littered with strange coloured cats; for example the "Ratana Kampon", a pink cat with a band around its body. The description of "pink like the inside of a conch shell" corresponds to the "cameo" colour of red tipped and shaded Persians in the West. During the 1970s, "Pink Persians" (cameo Persians) were exhibited on the BBC's "Nationwide" programme. The Ratana Kampon was possibly a red shaded or red tipped Oriental. However, a more likely explanation of the Ratan Kampon is the presence of a gene known to modern breeders as the dilute modifier (or "caramelising" gene).

Some Oriental breeds carry dilute modifier genes which change a cream colour into a pinkish cream called "apricot". Oriental breeds are mainly derived from Thai cats and the apricot colour is very likely to have shown up in its native Thailand. In colourpointed (Siamese) cats, there would be a wide pale band around the body. The Ratana Kampon is probably a Foreign (Oriental) Apricot, Apricot Burmese (European style) or an Apricot Colourpoint. Modern apricot equivalents of the ancient Thai cats can be found on many showbenches where they are considered "new" varieties! When the first seal-point Siamese were exhibited in England, these were described as unnatural freaks!

A rare condition in cats produces a "cobweb" or "snowflake" effect that is most easily seen on black cats. White spots appear on the coat; these become more extensive with age until the cat has a white lace pattern on the coloured fur. Ultimately the cat may go completely white or be left with diminishing isolated patches of colour. This condition has been seen in black leopards ("cobweb panthers") and similar conditions are found in humans, dogs and other animals. It should not be confused with the normal age-related "salt and pepper" sprinkling of white hairs or white hairs associated with scars. I have seen only 4 cases of "cobweb" or "snowflake" cats: 2 relating to black leopards and 2 relating to domestic black cats.

"Leukoderma" ("white skin") is a generic term for piebaldism that occurs during an animal's lifetime ("aquired depigmentation"). It is usually progressive and is sometimes triggered by illness or environmental factors. A cat with leukoderma may end up almost entirely white. A type of leukoderma has been identified in some Persian cats and these are used as laboratory subjects in the study of depigmentation conditions.

One form of leukoderma, vitiligo, is occasionally seen in cats. It usually causes loss of pigment on the face and feet. Antibodies are formed against the pigment-producing melanocytes. The melanocytes are destroyed leading to the white areas. Another rare condition, periocular leukotrichia, causes the fur around the cat's eyes to become pale - as though the cat is wearing spectacles. "Leukotrichia" means white hair.

Jocelyne Durrenberger of the Metrowest Animal Awareness Society reported the case of Sticky-Furred cats in October 2006. Several cats and kittens were removed from a cat hoarder's house. There was evidence of inbreeding. In three different litters, 4 kittens had sticky fur. At first it was belived to be a saliva problem of the mother, but no matter how the kittens were bathed, the problem did not resolve. They also had sticky eyes and were diagnosed with keratitis, possibly herpetic. They get twice daily drops and lysine supplements. All are FeLV/FIV negative and their basic chemistry (bloodwork) was normal. It seems to have a genetic component, but the costs involved prevent proper study by a geneticist are prohibitive for the rescue shelter and would be unlikely to change their treatment.

Two cats, Lucy and Hilary are shown here. It is causing problems with having them adopted, because they are unattractive with the continual staining near their eyes (black/brown crusting), and their fur has an unsettling feel. The stickiness does not feel moist, it feels tacky and is uniform across the coat. When they were kittens it was much worse. One vet believes it may be a malfunction of the oil glands.

WINGED CATS

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