Black cats are often associated with good or bad luck but some less well-known characteristics of black cats are often overlooked
Here are five things that you may not have known about black cats
Gene Factor
To be a true black cat both of the parents need to carry the black color gene.Though this sounds a fairly simple equation, what you may not know is that the dominant cat fur gene is actually tabby!
Only the presence of a recessive gene known as a non-agouti suppresses these tabby markings.
In a cat where this gene is not fully suppressed you may notice that close up, or more especially in bright sunlight, you can make out the faint tabby stripes
There are said to be around twenty breeds of cat that can produce a black offspring but the only breed of cat that is all black is the Bombay cat and they are often referred to as miniature panthers
Appearing To Rust
A high degree of exposure to sunlight can lead to a black cat's fur to temporarily take on a rusty reddish- brown appearance.
This rusty appearance can also be seen when the cat has an absence of an enzyme known as Tyrosine.
Interesting Immune System Quirk
Early studies have indicated that black cats may very likely be more resistant than other cats to certain diseases such as Feline HIV and that their genetic makeup may well be of benefit to their immune system
Golden Eye Factor
A black cat's eyes are typically golden, or yellow, in color.
This is because the over-production of melanin that makes their fur so black often causes the cat's irises to reflect this melaninism and produce the pigment that gives this golden or yellow coloring
Worldwide Appreciation
There is a growing appreciation of black cats around the globe
This is shown in the fact that there are days designated to the celebration of the dark furred felines
Some of the celebration days actually have different dates and this has caused some confusion on social media among the black cat loving fraternity.