![orange tabby cat long hair orange tabby cat long hair](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/e6/9d/6c/e69d6cfd5d94457f4a8bc7d3c587ac5d.jpg)
It is possible that other mutations causing long hair may exist which have not yet been identified.
![orange tabby cat long hair orange tabby cat long hair](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/5f/b8/3b/5fb83bbe25e6fd22cd1a4086a8b2b86b--orange-maine-coon-ginger-cats.jpg)
This test for long hair that detects the 4 common mutations in cats (listed above). Mutation 4 ( M4): present in all breeds of long hair cats, including Ragdolls, Maine Coons, and Norwegian Forest Cats.
![orange tabby cat long hair orange tabby cat long hair](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/51/a6/88/51a6883c15e61401e158c0b39554375d.jpg)
Mutation 3 ( M3): present in Maine Coons and Ragdolls Mutation 2 ( M2): present in Norwegian Forest Cats Despite the Siberian cat’s long, thick coat, it tends to resist matting and only has to be brushed occasionally. Three of the mutations are fairly breed specific, while the fourth is present in all long-haired cat breeds and crossbreds, as follows: Their coat will be longest and thickest in the winter but they will shed this thick winter coat for a lighter summer one when it gets warm. Long-haired cats can carry two copies of the same mutation (homozygote recessive) or have two different mutations, one on each chromosome (compound heterozygote). Four mutations in FGF5 have been identified that are associated with long hair in cats. Short hair is a dominant trait determined by the wild-type form of FGF5. One gene – fibroblast growth factor5 (FGF5) – determines hair length. If bred to a long-haired mate, they will produce only long-haired kittens.Ĭat hair coat colors, patterns, and texture are determined by the combined action of several genes. They can have variations like classic, mackerel, or ticked tabby patterns. The orange color is caused by the O gene, and the long hair gene determines their coat length. They will transmit a long hair variant to all of their offspring. Long-haired orange tabby cats, found in breeds like Maine Coons, Persians, and Norwegian Forest Cats, have a thick and fluffy coat that requires regular grooming.