Genetic Mutation Underlying Finland’s “Salty Licorice” Cats Identified

The genetic basis for a distinctive new coat coloring — known as “salmiak” — has been identified in domestic cats in Finland

© by GrrlScientist for Forbes | LinkTr.ee

Swedish salty licorice “Djungelvrål” (in English: roar of the jungle). (Credit: Marcin Floryan / CC BY-SA 2.5)

Oh, this is fun: a collaboration of scientists at the University of Helsinki and at the company Wisdom Panel, have identified the genetic mutation responsible for a new, distinctive coat color pattern that arose recently in domestic cats in Finland. Originally known as “the Finnish mutation” when it was first spotted in 2007, this coat color is found in just a single feral cat population that is characterized by their black-and-white “tuxedo” coat coloring. But this new coat color pattern is unique because the fur is colored only near the base, and becomes progressively whiter along its length. These cats also have white tail tips.

This color pattern was named “salmiak” after the variety of salty licorice that is popular in Finland.

Salmiak cats tend to have the classic “tuxedo” pattern with an all-white neck, chest, belly, and paws — although spots of color sometimes cover parts of the white markings, according to Heidi Anderson, a senior scientist at Wisdom Panel (formerly Mars Veterinary/Wisdom Health) based in Helsinki, where she specializes in feline genetics and molecular diagnostics. Dr Anderson also serves as a Scientific Advisor at EveryCAT Health Foundation.

Salmiak coloring in a domestic cat. (Credit: Ari Kankainen / Wisdom Panel)

Captivated by the look of these cats and in possession of a genetic sample, the University of Helsinki researchers contacted Dr. Anderson and the Wisdom Panel team for help identifying the genetic origin of this distinctive coat color and to better understand its genetics.

“Since first observed, cats with this color pattern have remained a rare sight in central Finland,” wrote Dr Anderson in a blog post. “They descend from the same wild population, and only non-pedigreed cats are known to have this coat pattern.”

Dr. Anderson and collaborators began their investigation by genotyping a salmiak cat for coat color variants using the MyCatDNATM panel screening…