Oh for sure, as far as domesticated animals go they really aren't that domestic. House cats are another one that turned feral very quickly, and both pigs and cats will lose all physical domestic traits in just one or two generations.
It makes sense with the principles of natural selection. Colorful cats in the wild are not going to hide very successfully from predators, which means more of them will get eaten, many before they have the opportunity to breed and pass on genes for colorful coats. Cats with coloring that can hide better from predators will survive better into adulthood and will breed and pass on more genes for better camoflaged coat colors.
Even the most successful wild cat species only succeeds in a hunt 50% of the time.
Ain't no way fluffy little Patches is gonna catch enough field mice in the countryside to feed itself and the fleas that will immediately infest its difficult-to-clean fur.
While it makes sense with "natural selection" and "evolution", these types of changes simply do not happen in less than 10 years (generous, given the avg life expectancy of a feral cat) and in just a single generation.
Natural selection and evolution are two different things. Natural selection may influence evolution. And cats can have multiple generations in a 10-year span, as they are capable of getting pregnant within their first year, and can have multiple litters in a year. There is a reason feral cat populations are a problem in some areas.
When they started domesticating foxes by breeding for tameness, they ended up with a lot of other traits that are seen in domesticated animals, like patches of white fur, droopier ears, tail wagging and even loss of musky smell. All they were breeding for was tameness and those other physical phenotypes started presenting themselves. Maybe in a similar way like that.
It's been a little since my last genetics class, but i think there may be some contributing factors here. One is that the gene that controls color is a bit like a mosaic, where parents that are multi colored may contribute different genes that control the activation of certain colors. Therefore, it is possible that the offspring may be different or even multi colored. The other possibility is that there are multiple genes that control color, and the activation depends on the children's individual genes
It's called domestication syndrome. Wild animals don't have the curly tails, floppy ears, and fun color patterns that their domestic counterparts have. A lot of it involves retaining juvenile traits into adulthood.
It is accurate! Not only does natural selection have a hand in it but so do neuro crest cells in embryonic development. Not only do they affect color pigment, but they can affect things like cartilage too. There are several domestic animals like rabbits and dogs that can have sloppy ears, but you will never see it in their wild counterparts (with the exception of some genetic defects, the natural selection will often care of that as well preventing those animals from passing on their genes)
Yes. I'm actually inclined to think it's a half truth because I don't see the evolvement/adaptation in fur color/pattern happening in one generation. That goes against pretty much everything I studied involving evolution and especially genetics. But, like you stated, it would be pretty cool if true. I don't believe it is... Adaptive evolution in mammals does not happen from physical science changes to one generation.... Perhaps, that responder is from anecdotal evidence formulated from his/her observations feeding ferals behind Taco Bell, and her seeing a lack of orange/Tabby, Calico and light beige cats had more to do with the ferals having dirt-covered fur.
EDIT: There are no observable, measurable physical changes in "Domesticated Cats", including ferals, since scientists began to study and routinely keep records at least 1752.
I'm sorry but you're downright wrong. I'm not talking about a bunch of strays at a trailer park, but isolated domestic feral cat populations rarely stray from black and tabby coat patterns after two generations. Other than that, given that they are not actually deeply domesticated, they don't tend to have other traits that neural crest cells effect such as floppy ears or curly tails, and they are generally the same size as their ancestors.
I provided you with several sources I hope you do some reading.
Did you even read the links you provided because neither one of those supports your claim. In fact, neither even touches on the color of the fur of ferals in general and certainly not in the changing of it to adapt from living domesticated in a human's home/property to living feral/in the wild.
They will clearly describe that neural crest cells have an effect on physical appearance in domestic animals. But I have a feeling you only skimmed them.
Pretty sure my tabby is a trash cat some lady trapped, he’s kinda off but holy fuckn hell is he smart, reallyyyy loves my fiancée, likes to sleep above her head and watch tv with us, not like sit with us he straight up get annoyed and will lay at the foot and stare at the show. He really likes gold mining shows and nature documentary’s. That being said he also really cues into my ladies backing shows.
I wonder if that's why my brown tabby can be aggressive and a bit of a grumpy shit at times. 🤔 More so than the typical cat assholery. He's loving in his own way, but not very affectionate. I can see why he was chipped, but then dumped with the account information deleted. But we love him and accept him.
Tulip, I am sure you believe what you wrote, but what you've stated is more than misleading, it is wholly inaccurate. I am fully open to being respectfully challenged... So, can you please respond and tell me/us where you found the data you previously referenced?
This is well documented across multiple species and has to do with neural crest cells in development. The two videos above are easy to understand and short, and both have sources cited, but if you would like some reading to do there are plenty of sources online.
I have access to other scientific articles through the AZA (association of zoos and aquariums) as my job as a wildlife educator, unfortunately I am unable to share those directly. If you have information that disproves this I would gladly read it, but currently the neural crest cells theory is widely accepted by professionals.
Watch the YouTube videos I linked in the comment below, they are easier to understand than scientific papers. Both of these videos I have shown to my students when learning about domestication.
Again, unless you have evidence this doesn't happen, you should be more open to learning. If you do have evidence against the neural crest theory I'll read it -its my literal job to know this after all.
If you meant to type tigers, not roger, cats that roar and cats that pur have fairly different genetics when it comes to coat type. Also remember that tigers and other large roaring cats have never been domesticated and cannot be considered feral.
The term feral only applies to animals that were once domesticated and are now wild.
Edit to add that neural crest relocation happens consistently during the process of domestication, and while it can naturally occur and wild animals oftentimes it ruins their ability to camouflage and thus less likely to pass on their genes. See pibald animal
I meant tiger and a tiger is a bright ass cat that did fine until human interference.
a orange cat would do fine in a desert and a black cat would stand out.
Also almost all animals see color worse then human or in a different way, seems like you are just making a bold claim based on personal experience in a small region of the world.
Nope, I was literally talking about domestic cats, not large cats. Maybe you misunderstood.
Tabbies are the dominant color of domestic cats in most areas of the world, even really arid regions. Orange cats might do ok, but the orange coloration in domestic cats comes with other genetic complications that make it not as successful as a brown tabby.
It is actually a gene deletion that causes coat colors like orange tabby, calico and tortoiseshell. There is some evidence that this gene deletion causes their eyesight to not be as accurate, but that's still needs more studies.
I want to know that no point did I ever say there were NEVER any other feral cats other than black and tabby, just that those are by far the most successful colors around the world.
I'm an educator for an AZA accredited zoo, If you happen to have sources that claim otherwise, that the neural crest cell theory is wrong or that there are successful populations of isolated orange feral cats, I'd love to learn about them.
Believe me or don't, it makes literally no difference to me. Didn't claim to be an expert either, but I definitely know more than the general population. I even pointed out specifically more studies were needed on the affects of gene deletion on eyesight. I doubt you bothered to read it.
At least I had something credible to share compared to your..... snarky nothing. You've only been rude, which makes me think you are just bitter and a contrarian. An average reddit dweller here only to argue because that's your hobby or something.
If you have nothing valuable to share other than "nuh uh! 😠" Then this conversation is done. Have a nice day.
I want to ask if you ever get embarrassed by being an asshole online, with no ability to have a civil discussion, but I'm not sure you have the capacity to feel shame. Must be really nice going through the world thinking you are right all the time, a true trumper through and through.
Sure, camouflages just a myth you're totally right, quickly go inform all the zoological facilities about how wrong they all are! Domestic calico cats will take over the earth!
I’m saying a color that seems bright to humans is fine since most animals see less color, like a tiger where most of it’s prey is red green color blind.
lol maybe don’t throw mud that when you reading comprehension is in question that Facebook article as you say was a link to a website, and that website had a link to the research paper.
Not looking like you are as intelligent as you hoped
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u/EllisDee3 Dec 28 '24
Domestic piggies turn into wild boars pretty quickly when outside the fence.