{"id":1032,"date":"2020-05-22T10:41:07","date_gmt":"2020-05-22T10:41:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/?p=1032"},"modified":"2020-05-22T10:41:07","modified_gmt":"2020-05-22T10:41:07","slug":"do-black-cats-have-stronger-immune-systems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/do-black-cats-have-stronger-immune-systems\/","title":{"rendered":"Do black cats have stronger immune systems?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Are you thinking of adding a black cat to your family?&nbsp; Other than being beautiful, affectionate and elegant, there\u2019s actually a lot that black cats have that other colored cats don\u2019t have.&nbsp; One of those things is an amazing quirk in their immune systems brought by the same gene that\u2019s responsible of their black fur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/do-black-cats-have-stronger-immune-systems\/#Genetically_awesome\" title=\"Genetically awesome\">Genetically awesome<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/do-black-cats-have-stronger-immune-systems\/#They_can_change_color\" title=\"They can change color\">They can change color<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/do-black-cats-have-stronger-immune-systems\/#Black_cats_are_just_like_any_other_cats\" title=\"Black cats are just like any other cats\">Black cats are just like any other cats<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/do-black-cats-have-stronger-immune-systems\/#Common_questions_about_cat_health\" title=\"Common questions about cat health\">Common questions about cat health<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/do-black-cats-have-stronger-immune-systems\/#Do_cats_hide_their_pain\" title=\"Do cats hide their pain?\">Do cats hide their pain?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/do-black-cats-have-stronger-immune-systems\/#Can_cats_be_vegan\" title=\"Can cats be vegan?\">Can cats be vegan?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/do-black-cats-have-stronger-immune-systems\/#How_often_should_my_cat_visit_the_vet\" title=\"How often should my cat visit the vet?\">How often should my cat visit the vet?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/do-black-cats-have-stronger-immune-systems\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Genetically_awesome\"><\/span><strong>Genetically awesome<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Black cats are black because of their genes. Through generations, they pass down the gene responsible for having black fur.&nbsp; One of the genes responsible for it is called MC1R.&nbsp; MC1R is also a gene found in humans.&nbsp; It makes some of us have red hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another thing that cats and humans share is that cats have their own version of HIV called FIV or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.&nbsp; It\u2019s an infection that can pass from one cat to another via fluid contact.&nbsp; The most common way they can pass the infection on to another cat is through bites.&nbsp; While it\u2019s not unheard of for two cats, one positive and one negative of HIV to live together and the FIV not spreading, it\u2019s still something a lot of owners worry about \u2013 that is unless one of their cats is actually immune to the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recent studies show the very same genes that give black cats their black fur is actually helping them resist some diseases like FIV.&nbsp; Since this particular gene is also present in humans, scientists are currently working with black cats to see how this discovery could help humans defeat HIV, Alzheimer\u2019s, Cancer, and more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Who knows, maybe one day, we\u2019ll wake up to find that the cure to cancer is hiding in Mr. Fluffy Pants\u2019 genes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"They_can_change_color\"><\/span><strong>They can change color<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You may find that one day, your plain black shiny cat\u2019s fur is turning into a different color.&nbsp; If it\u2019s turning gray, it could be because your cat is getting on in years.&nbsp; In that case, good job on taking very good care of your cat!&nbsp; Another reason is if your cat likes basking in the sunlight too much, the sun could gradually bleach their fur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, there are also some less benign reasons as to why your cat\u2019s fur has changed colors \u2013 that is, if they have a deficiency in their diets.&nbsp; Black cats who don\u2019t have enough meat in their diet could turn reddish-brown.&nbsp; This happens if they don\u2019t have enough Tyrosine.&nbsp; Tyrosine is one of your cat\u2019s ESSENTIAL amino acids, aka their building blocks of proteins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your cat is turning a bit rusty, consider it an early warning from their body.&nbsp; Go visit your vet and change up their diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Black_cats_are_just_like_any_other_cats\"><\/span><strong>Black cats are just like any other cats<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the western world, the cats have gained a bit of a bad rep in history.\u00a0 They\u2019re so often associated to bad luck or being supernatural \u2013 when it\u2019s the farthest thing from the truth.\u00a0 Just like any <a href=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/what-color-cat-is-the-friendliest\/\" >cat with any other color<\/a>, they\u2019re an awesome addition to any family, in need of love and cuddles.\u00a0 With the possibility of your black kitty being immune to some diseases, what\u2019s not to love?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[crp]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_questions_about_cat_health\"><\/span><strong>Common questions about cat health<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_cats_hide_their_pain\"><\/span><strong>Do cats hide their pain?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One thing that a lot of cat owners may not know is that cats are very good at hiding pain.&nbsp; That\u2019s because when their ancestors were prancing about in the wild, they\u2019re both predator AND prey.&nbsp; Pain is a sign of weakness \u2013 which makes cats who show pain a target to their predators.&nbsp; The modern house cat has not forgotten this.&nbsp; They won\u2019t cry out in pain, until it\u2019s absolutely unbearable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, cats will show some signs of pain before it\u2019s too late.&nbsp; Here are some signs to look out for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol type=\"1\"><li><strong>They\u2019re not as active as they usually are.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>They don\u2019t want to be touched in an area they used to not mind being touched.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>They\u2019re limping.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>They have changed their grooming habits.<\/strong>&nbsp; Like if they are licking an area more, or they don\u2019t groom themselves as often.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_cats_be_vegan\"><\/span><strong>Can cats be vegan?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Nope.&nbsp; Cats are what you call an obligate carnivore.&nbsp; The HAVE to eat meat because they won\u2019t survive otherwise.&nbsp; They haven\u2019t evolved to survive on a no-meat diet and will be immensely deficient of the nutrients their bodies need if they take a vegan diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Taurine is one of the things they\u2019ll miss out on if they don\u2019t eat meat.&nbsp; Cats who don\u2019t have enough taurine could develop heart problems.&nbsp; Cats also need a lot of protein which they just won\u2019t have enough of in a plant-based diet.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_often_should_my_cat_visit_the_vet\"><\/span><strong>How often should my cat visit the vet?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As a general rule, cats should visit their vets at least once a year.&nbsp; If your cat is still a kitten, they\u2019ll need to see their vets a lot more to make sure they\u2019re growing up healthy and are up to date with their vaccinations.&nbsp; Once your cat turns 7 years old, they\u2019re considered seniors.&nbsp; In this case, they\u2019ll have to visit the vet twice a year to check if they\u2019ve developed any age-related diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Black cats are awesome \u2013 not just because they look amazing on the outside, but also because they have some amazing immunities on the inside as well.\u00a0 The same genes responsible to giving them their dark fur is also responsible of keeping them disease free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/animalsa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Do-black-cats-have-stronger-immune-systems-2-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1035\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you thinking of adding a black cat to your family?&nbsp; Other than being beautiful, affectionate and elegant, there\u2019s actually a lot that black cats have that other colored cats<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1033,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v16.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Do black cats have stronger immune systems? 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