| Author |
Message |
    
Cavebear
flint knapper
Username: Cavebear
Post Number: 1115
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 1:06 am: |     |
I read years ago about cat "tear-lines", as in tears from the eyes, not a rip. Cats seem to have a pattern of darker-colored fur extending from the outside corner of the eye for about an inch. I could understand it as a part of camouflage, but why is it always from the corner. Logically, it could just as well be anywhere. Even in my cat that has black fur around the eyes, I can detect a slightly darker line.
Is this really true of all cats, does it have a cause (other than general camouflage), and does it have some other purpose?
I thought I was wrong once, but it turned out I was mistaken about that. |
Annie
storyteller
Username: Annie
Post Number: 850
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 2:12 am: | |
I'll just use this chance to show off my kitties... 
My Pitsy doesn't have a line on one side, but she's mostly white on that side. White may override other tendencies. Come to think of it, there are many all-white cats, and they obviously don't have such lines either. Fluffy seems to have them on both sides.
One possible advantage I can come up with in having these lines "continue" the cat's eyes, is that they make the eyes look bigger - this would give the impression of their being the eyes of a larger animal. That would fit in with the (IMO very convincing) theory that a startled cat's hair stands on end because it is trying to intimidate and discourage whatever startled it by looking as large as possible. |
Cavebear
flint knapper
Username: Cavebear
Post Number: 1121
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 4:29 am: | |
The tear lines are obvious on the darker cat.
I thought I was wrong once, but it turned out I was mistaken about that. |
Rhi
storyteller
Username: Rhi
Post Number: 174
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 7:53 pm: | |
Okay, I went to look at my cats to see.
The all white cat and the all black cat, have no difference in the face colors. (Well, I'll take a look at the black when he comes in, to see if he has a darker part around the eyes.)
The two flame siamese (white, cream and orange colors) are interesting. Instead of the darker color around the eyes, the tear mark is white, in a face that is mostly orange.
And my black and white's face is colored just like Annie's there, except she doesn't have the tear lines on either side.
I've never thought about a purpose for this coloration. But I do know that the two siamese are the best hunters.
Mostly Harmless |
Anndee
storyteller
Username: Anndee
Post Number: 129
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2004 - 2:01 am: | |
Our gray cat has tear lines. The black cats don't. But in the right light, you can see the "M" between their eyes. The gray female and the black male are great hunters. The black sister is hopeless as a hunter (but is too cute for words). |
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