Why? Because the womb is very warm and blocks the cat's color gene from reaching her fur. Most Siamese cats are born completely white and develop their markings in the weeks following birth. Colorpoint cats have a mutated version of the enzyme which is sensitive to heat. When the body produces melanin, it uses an enzyme called tyrosinase. The lack of melanin in the eye creates blue eyes. Because a cat's body is cooler around her nose, ears, paws, and tail, that's where pigment is most commonly deposited on Siamese cats. Without melanin, we get light colors, such as white or cream in the coat.
These wildly patterned pets vary in size and temperament because they encompass so many different breeds, but tabby enthusiasts. Once a Siamese cat's body drops below approximately 100 degrees-or the cat is in a colder environment-her genes for coat color turn back on and carry pigment to her fur. It is no surprise the tabby cat is ubiquitousthe gene for the tabby pattern can be found in all domestic cats (look at a coal-black cat in the sun, and you may see hidden tabby markings). But, thanks to the magic of science, the modifier gene for albinism can only affect the cat's fur above a certain temperature-or between 100 and 102.5 degrees, to be more precise. Genetics 101, right? Well, Siamese cats have a special modifier gene that inhibits pigment from developing in the fur, resulting in albinism. The color of a cat's coat is determined by several sets of genes and the patterns of their coats are determined by modifier genes. Grab your lab coat and get ready for a little bit of biology.
As we said, Siamese cats' coats can be an incredible range of colors-and those colors aren't only determined by genetics.
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