Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Myron's Magical Coat

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Myron has always looked a little messy. When we first met him, as I'm sure you all recall, he and his siblings were all learning to eat so his rumpled suit was often covered with his last meal. He had many wipe downs, half baths and full baths, but always seemed  a little greasy.  It looked like his hair was clumped together, revealing much of his white skin beneath.

Upon close examination this weekend, we realized it wasn't white skin, it was white fur.  While the tips of of his hair are solid black, the undercoat is white! They call this coloring "black smoke".

Take a close look - you can see it best when his hair is parted.

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It's getting more defined as he grows bigger, and now when you watch him move about, you can see the white ripple, and he almost has an iridescence to his coat.

We've had many colors of kittens over the years, but is a first for us.

Myron, your coat is magnificent!




34 comments:

  1. I had noticed he had a dash of white under his bib but I didn't think he'd be like that all over! What a beauty!

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  2. So neat! Hope we get to see what his coat looks like when he's all grown up.

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  3. What a beautiful boy! I've been through that too -- Arthur was the oddest one of the litter because of his weird fur. Later we realized he was a black smoke tabby, and now he's one of the most beautiful cats I've ever seen -- even the vet says so! <3

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  4. I didn't know there was a name for this! My Persephone is black with a white undercoat, I'd never seen it before, thought she was just some weird mix.

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  5. Wow, that is some special coat! Our black cat is black all the way through his fur (except for his few gray hairs now). Myron is going to be extra-stunning when he is a big boy!

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  6. He's beautiful! I had a kitten with a coat like this once. When he lost his baby fur, he turned all black. I was disappointed at first, but it wasn't too disappointing for long. He was one of the sweetest boys I ever had. His name was Harry, and he lived to the ripe old age of 22!

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  7. Charlene has a new flavor kitten to bathe!

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  8. I have two cats with smoke coats, one short hair and one long haired. They do look really cool.

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  9. Myron the Magnificent!!!

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  10. In all my millions of years of having, or knowing, or loving a cat- I haven't EVER had one like that. That is fantastic!!! I have to go look that up so I can see the adult kitties with that coat. I feel like someone just discovered aliens!

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  11. Wait- we DID- our silver tabby, when you brushed her coat, was white at the base. It's still exciting because a black cat has such contrast.

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  12. Is this Myron? https://www.flickr.com/photos/lalalaurie/17934107861

    I noticed the faint tiger-stripe pattern and had never seen that before either.

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    1. That's Ramona. All black cats often have a subtle tabby striping that you can only see when the light hits it just right.

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  13. AWWWWWWWWWW. Myron Ulysses has an amazing technicolor dreamcoat!!!

    This makes him doubly adorable!

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  14. Both of our house cats have this coloring, and we've never known how to describe it. Thank you for sharing!

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  15. Years back I had Simon a longhair, who had such a coat. From some angles he looked like he was solid black, then you saw that magnificent undercoat. He was one of the most handsome cats I have ever had.

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  16. Black Smoke cats are invariably very beautiful and striking when they grow up, anything from beautiful understated mottling to dramatic ruffs and contrasts. Can't wait to see how he grows up, hansom lad :-)

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  17. I never heard of a smoke coat before. I like black cats anyway, this would just make him even better.

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  18. In all the years of having cats, I have never heard of a Smoke Coat! Thanks for sharing, Myron. Your coat is FAB! Can not wait to see what you look like as an adult cat.

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  19. There looks to be a bit of a wave in his fur also.... extraordinary!

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  20. I'd heard of such a coat but had never encountered a kitty who had one. Myron is one spectacular boy!

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  21. Makes one wonder what his fur will look like when he's full grown. He's a real cutie regardless :)

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  22. How unusual! Nice work, Myron! Jo x

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  23. Fascinating! How fun to learn something new with a big dose of cute!

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  24. Lisa (mom of Chai)May 27, 2015 at 1:55 PM

    How wonderfully unusual! Bet he'll be a beauty as he grows up. Hope we'll get updates from his family!

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  25. I used to have a tuxedo cat who had pale gray "roots" under the black parts, but I've never seen one that's pure white at the roots and black at the tips before.

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  26. Awww, Myron! You are an adorable tinycat, and you will be a beautiful big kitty!

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  27. never saw that before. he looks like he needs a trip to the hairdresser for a root touch up! he is so very cute!

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    1. I wanted to say that, but was afraid I would sound snarky! You didn't sound snarky at all, though.

      Buddy, Tiger and Mr Mistofelees' Mom

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  28. Ha ha! I have the same kind of hair. I call it "overdue for a dye job." :)

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  29. One of my foster's has the same think! Right under his neck.

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