The big cats, such as the leopard and the jaguar, have spots. So does the cheetah. So does, also, the lynx and the bobcat. These cats live in the wild, often in jungle environments, and these spotted patterns on their coats help to provide camouflage so as to give them an added security for their survival.
That begs the question: Then, why do domesticated cats have these patterns? Many house cats have coat patterns similar to their cousins in the wild. In contrast, dogs generally have coats that are vastly different than that of wolves. Why is this? There could be two possibilities. First, it could be because cats were domesticated far later than dogs were (and there’s even debate as to how domesticated cats really are). Second, maybe we humans had a hand in the natural process of adaptation to suit our purposes.
Attraction Business
It’s a scientific fact that domestication of animals has resulted in the coats of those animals to have changed colors. Not so much that domestication itself magically changes fur to change color but because with domestication, there is little to no “natural selection pressure” for the species to stamp out an unusual color pattern. A tuxedo cat, for example, would be hard pressed to blend in with a natural landscape of a forest or grassland with its stark black and white coat. When there is a genetic mutation that causes a unique coat color, we humans generally find that appealing. We tend to like novelties. However, in the wild, that unique animal could be more easily killed by predators or not be “attractive” enough to find a mate to pass on that trait. This attraction business is a real thing in nature, by the way. Humans aren’t the only ones to be particular of one another’s appearance.
Crossbred
As for cats with spots, how did they get that way, are they descendants of the jungle cats who needed camouflage protection? Scientists aren’t completely sure yet. While it is true that some domestic cats were crossbred with wildcats, many cats with spotted fur are true domesticated cats. An example of this is the Ocicat. The Ocicat looks like a miniature cheetah, complete with spotted fur on the body, and some black lines on and around the face. However, are these cats wild by nature? No, they are not. It was merely an attempt to breed a house cat to look like the big cats from the wild.
Exotic Beauty
Breeders found a way to break up the stripes that are prevalent in mackerel tabbies. This interruption of stripes resulted in a pattern that resembled spots. So, in the case of the Ocicat, they do not have any wild cat DNA in their gene pool. Of course, some cats with spots are descendants of the European and African wild cats. One look and you would not be able to tell the difference between those wild cats and house cats. However, one cannot deny the beauty of those wild cats, and perhaps that can explain why so many breeders chose to incorporate the spotted coat into the modern house cat. It seems it’s the best of both worlds, the exotic beauty of the wild with the familiarity of the domesticated cat. Who wouldn’t love that?
Famous Spotted Cat Breeds
Bengal Cat - The Bengal is arguably the best-known of the spotted domestic cat breeds. They look like a leopard, although obviously much smaller. It is a highly active cat and will enjoy spending time on top of cupboards and units or anywhere that is high off the ground. They are very intelligent, loves to spend time with people, and can even be trained to perform tricks. As well as being one of the very few spotted breeds, the Bengal holds the distinction of being the only domestic cat with “rosettes” that are similar to the spots on leopards and ocelots.
Egyptian Mau - It is often said that cats never let us forget that they were worshipped as gods by the Egyptians, and this is especially true and fitting of the Egyptian Mau breed. Although the breed obviously has Egyptian heritage, it was actually developed in Italy. With thier green eyes, the Mau can come in silver, bronze, or smoke coloring and despite their aloof appearance, they will actually form a very close bond with their human owners. The spots of the Mau are randomly situated on the body and may appear more like stripes in some instances.
Ocicat - Despite its name, the Ocicat was not bred from the Ocelot, but for its resemblance to the big cat. In fact, it was created by accident when breeders tried combining a Siamese with an Abyssinian. Many colors of this cat are now accepted, but originally only four were considered standard—chocolate, silver, black, and lilac. The Ocicat is muscular and strong, with plenty of energy, but like the Bengal and the Mau, he is a loyal and loving cat that will bond closely with his human owners. The spots of the Ocicat may be elongated, which makes them look more like stripes in some instances.
Savannah Cat - The Savannah is a large and athletic cat. It has a distinctive black nose, stripes down its back, and spots that may be round, oval, or elongated. This breed requires daily interaction with its owner, and despite its stunning appearance, it remains a rare breed that is not widely recognized around the world. The Savannah was created by breeding a Serval and a domestic cat, and the first example was born in the 1980s. While it has become more popular, it still remains a rare breed to this day.
Pixie-bob - The Pixie-bob is a big domestic cat that looks like a brawler. It has a bobbed tail and its hair can be short or long. Many examples of this breed are polydactyl, which means that they have one or more additional digits on their feet. This is another breed that originated in the 1980s. They tend to be tabby in appearance, with small spots, and they can have brown or green eyes. This rare breed is recognized in the USA and has yet to spread or gain recognition outside the country.
Serengeti - The Serengeti is a relatively new breed, having been first bred in the 1990s. It is a descendant of the Bengal, which was bred with the Oriental Shorthair, and they have long ears and long legs. The breed is very agile, loves to spend time with its humans, and has a tendency to be quite vocal, which only serves to make the stunning cat stand out even more. They can also get along very well with other cats and other pets, as long as they enjoy a proper introduction.
California Spangled Cat - The California Spangled Cat is very rare, and it is reported that there are only several hundred examples of the cat alive today. They look like house leopards but, despite their appearance, they are actually quite docile and much prefer to spend time on the lap of their human, rather than running around outdoors. This cat was first bred with a very noble goal when writer Paul Casey and anthropologist Louis Leakey teamed up to create a domestic cat that looked like a leopard, in the hope that people would be far less likely to want to wear leopard fur if they looked like a domestic cat fur.
Spotted Domestic Cats - Spotted cat breeds are rare and unique, although it is possible to find some examples of other breeds that have spots as their markings. However, the seven breeds above are examples of the only breeds that are known and indeed recognized for having spotted markings. While they might look like wild cats, most of them love the attention of their humans just as much as the next domestic cat breed.
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