Pointy ear kittens are a special kind of cat. Kitten season happens around wintertime, so as soon as it gets warmer, people look forward to the new kittens coming into the world.
Kittens are fun because they are playful and adorable. Their cuteness factor is off the charts! Plus, you can choose your kitten based on color and personality.
But some cats just aren’t meant to be pets. Many shelters have programs where they will place cats in shelters or homes in other countries to help reduce overcrowding and increase the number of safe places for cats to live. This is a good thing because it means there are more opportunities for cats to have a home.
But what about all of the unique colored or shaped cats? How can these cats get placed in good homes if they do not fit the normal play-by-the-rules cat protocol? Well, there is a way! Adoption fairs come around often so that potential adoptees can meet potential pets.
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Genetics
While there is no specific gene for pointy ears, there are several genes that play a role in the shape and length of the cat’s ear.
The Frizzled gene is what determines whether the tips of the cat’s ears will be covered in special hairs called frizzled hairs. A frizzled gene means that there will be points on the tips of the ear.
If a cat has one copy of the recessive non-frizzled gene, then it will have shorter ears with no points. If a cat has two copies of this gene, then it will have very short rounded ears. There is also a possibility of having one copy of the non-frizzled gene and one copy of the frizzled gene, which can produce slightly pointed ears.
The tailless trait is also controlled by genes. The tailless trait can be caused by mutation in several genes including vestibular domain calcium channel alpha2 (VCNCA) and transforming growth factor beta receptor 2 (TGFBR2).
The tip of the cat’s ear resembles that of a fox
Looking at a cat’s ear tip is like looking at a fox’s ear tip. Foxes have a thin, pointy piece of fur on the top edge of their ear.
Most cats have fur on the top edge of their ears, so this is one feature that distinguishes a Persian cat from, say, an Egyptian Mau. The Mau has almost no ear fur, while the Persian has thick ear fur.
The reason some cats have thin ear tips is due to genetics. Some cats are born with thicker ears that do not genetically carry this feature.
This can be seen by comparing siblings: one may have the pointed ear tip and the other may not even though they are genetically identical. This is because some kittens are born with thicker ears due to genetics.
Cats with pointy ears are more popular
While cats with tufted ears are just as beautiful, cats with pointy ears are more popular. The reason for this is because they are considered more aesthetically pleasing by most cat lovers.
Most people consider cats with tufted ears cute, but they do not find them as attractive as cats with pointy ears. The shape and length of the ear seems to make a big difference in the overall aesthetic of the cat.
Some people even prefer cats with long, pointed ears like the Scottish Fold or Japanese Bobtails. These cats have very distinctive looks that draw attention to them.
There are many reasons why a cat may develop tufted or pointed ears. Thankfully, it is not something that is passed down from parent to offspring.
It is a sign of good breeding
Pointy ears is a feature that is admired in cats. It is a sign of good breeding, as it is hard to achieve. Only cats that are purebred can have ear tips that are pointy.
Almost all cat breeds have fur on the tips of their ears, so being able to see the shape of the ear through the fur is what makes it considered pointy. A common mistake people make is thinking all orange cats have pointed ears!
Some breeds, like Ragdolls and Birmans, have very soft fluffy fur that makes their ears appear slightly more rounded. This does not take away from their beauty, though!
There are different theories about why pointed ears are a desirable feature in cats. Some believe it suggests agility and stealthiness, which may be attractive qualities in a pet.
Some cultures believe that cats with pointed ears are more intelligent
It may seem like a silly fact to mention, but there are some people who believe that cats with pointed ears are more intelligent.
People may associate pointed ears with intelligence because of how precise their hearing is. They can hear even the smallest of sounds!
Beyond that, though, it is hard to say why this belief exists. Perhaps it is because they can locate the source of a sound easily?
This may be the reason some people believe that cats with pointed ears are more intelligent- they can hear well and quickly and determine what the sound is.
Whatever the reason, there is no denying that these cats look pretty smart. Even if this isn’t true, they still look really cute! Pointed ear kitties can be very playful and fun too.
Cats with pointed ears may have an easier time hearing high-frequency sounds
One reason some cats have pointed ears is because of their hair texture. Cats with soft, fluffy fur have points that look more natural than those with tight, smooth fur.
However, there’s another factor to consider: the texture of the ear itself.
Cats have sensitive hearing and large, organized inner ear structures that help them detect sounds. When sound waves enter the inner ear, it is amplified and sent to the brain, where it is processed as “sound”.
Since cats can rotate their ears in almost any direction, they are able to better pinpoint where a sound is coming from. The rounded shape of the ear helps to transmit sounds further into the inner ear structure, making it easier to identify what it is.
If the tips of the ears were straight, this would make it harder for the cat to identify which direction a sound is coming from.
Have a better sense of smell
While some cats may seem to have a weak sense of smell, most cats have a better sense of smell than dogs.
This is due to the fact that dogs have more odor detecting cells in their noses than humans do. Cats also have a larger olfactory brain area than humans, which helps them process smells.
Since they have better odor detecting cells and a bigger area in the brain to process smells, cats can detect smells much more clearly than humans can. This is why you may hear your cat meow at nothing or run off into another room to find something that it can’t see but it can smell.
Cats typically like smelling things so they will track down a scent and investigate it. Some may even try to mark their territory by spraying urine or leaving faeces at the source of the smell.
May be more aggressive than other cats
One of the major concerns with cats with tufts or points on the tips of their ears is that they may be more aggressive than other cats. Because of the prominence of the ear tip, it can make them feel more vulnerable.
Since cats are usually very territorial, they will try to protect what they consider theirs by being aggressive. If a cat feels like their territory is being threatened, they will attack to deter someone from coming any further.
Because of this, cats with tufts or points on the tips of their ears may feel like they have to fight to protect what they feel is theirs. This can lead to problems in the home as well as outside in the community.
If you find a cat out in the community with prominent ear tips, please do not harass or threaten them. Try to find them a safe place to go and then take them to a local shelter so they can be given a home.
