 |
| Does coat colour predict aggressive behaviour in cats? |
They say you should never judge a book by its cover, but
can you predict a cat’s behaviour or temperament from its coat colour?
This month the Journalof Applied Animal Welfare Science published a study examining the
relationship between feline coat colour and aggressive behaviour. The paper
reveals that plenty of us make assumptions about temperament and behaviour
based on coat colour: vets and vet nurses have strong beliefs that certain coat
colours are linked to certain behaviours or personality traits. Ever heard the
expression “naughty tortie” or “tortitude”? Ever assumed that examining a
ginger cat will be a cakewalk compared to examining a white cat? These are widely-held
assumptions, and they might even impact our relationships with cats.
So researchers at UC Davis sought to determine whether there
is any basis to these assumptions.
First some interesting background about coat colour. Coat
colour pattern genes in cats can be divided into four categories:
- Spotting – the amount of white
- Dilution – the intensity of pigment
- Pigment-type switching – orange and agouti pelage
- Pattern – ticked, tabby or spotted
Orange and black are carried on the X chromosome. The
tortoiseshell pattern is an orange-black pattern produced by random X
inactivation. Male cans cat only display the tortoiseshell pattern if they are
XXY, which is why they are as rare as hen’s teeth.
In this study, researchers surveyed owners to determine
whether cats of any particular coat-colour pattern would be more likely to
engage in: aggressive behaviours towards humans, aggression toward people
during handling (they looked at punishing, petting or grooming), or aggression
during veterinary visits (and I must confess to a strong interest in the
results of the latter category).
They found that torties are indeed more likely to be
aggressive towards humans. The surprise finding was this: so were black and
white cats and grey and whites.
But before you go selecting your next cat on this basis
or judging your next patient, there are some big qualifiers. As with many such
studies there was a small sample size, and the respondents were self-selected
cat guardians. It was an online survey, and no objective observations or
neutral observer validation was possible. Things not measured – such as the
home environment or the behaviour of handlers – can hugely impact behaviour.
And some coat colours had few representatives.
So how do vets predict aggression in feline patients?
Until we all learn to talk fluent feline, our best (though imperfect) indicators
may be past behaviour
(make good clinical records), asking the owner and
reading body language.
Reference
