In many cultures, black cats are symbols of good luck, guardians of the supernatural, and, paradoxically, harbingers of bad omens. They’ve been featured in countless myths, legends, and stories, from witches’ familiars to revered protectors.
Yet, there exists a curious peculiarity -why are most black cats male?
Cat fur color is determined by specific genes, located on the X chromosome, which, simply put, explains not only why almost all calico cats are female, but also why most black cats are male.
Female cats need two copies of the gene to have a black coat color, while males only need one. So if you see a black cat, there’s a 75% chance that it is a male.
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Furthermore, evolutionary pressures may have influenced this gender distribution. It’s theorized that the black coat color provided a camouflage advantage for male cats, aiding their survival in the wild, making it more prevalent in their genetic makeup over time.
Scientists theorize that black cats are more resistant to disease for a few reasons. One, the coat color is more common than you’d expect of a recessive trait, suggesting that black cats may have other inherited qualities that make them stronger against disease.
Also, the genetic mutation that presents as black fur is similar to one that causes resistance to HIV in people, suggesting that black cats may be more resistant to the feline form of the disease, FIV.***