Golden Coat

The golden coat in Siberian cats is a modification of the tabby coat called "Sunshine Tabby" which consists of a warm coloration with bright tabby markings.

Definition

The golden coat in cats is a phenotype characterized by a warm coloration of the coat with brindle markings and a cream or white area around the nose extending towards the chest, accompanied by a pink nose without dark shades. This color pattern is determined by the CORIN gene, which regulates the production of pigments responsible for the golden hue and acts as a suppressor of the ASIP pathway. A variant in the CORIN gene causes an increase in pheomelanin production by reducing suppression of the ASIP pathway.

Genetic basis

The golden "sunshine tabby" coat in cats is the result of a specific mutation in the CORIN gene: c.2383C>T. This trait is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, which means that it requires the presence of two copies of the genetic variant for the expression of the phenotype. Cats that have only one copy of this variant will not show the trait, but can transmit the allele to their offspring with a 50% probability.

Other relevant information

This genetic variant could have been naturally selected in certain environments where golden fur offers advantages, such as better camouflage in sunny or golden habitats, helping cats to avoid predators and improve their hunting ability.

Bibliography

Abitbol M, Dargar T, Gache V. The story goes on. Anim Genet. 2022;53(4):543-545.

Beauvois H, Dufaure de Citres C, Gache V, et al. Siberian cats help in solving part of the mystery surrounding golden cats. Anim Genet. 2021;52(4):482-491.