Coat Colour Salmiak

The lack of melanocytes, caused by mutations in the KIT proto-oncogene, is a primary reason for several white coat coloration across numerous domestic animal breeds. Originating in Finland, a recent recessive mutation in the KIT gene leads to cats with “frosted” white markings known as Salmiak or Salty Licorice.

Affected cats exhibit a “tuxedo” pattern, characterized by a white ventral area and a unique gradient in the dorsal fur. The hairs transition from full color at the base to white tips, creating a frosted appearance. This gradation is most pronounced on the body, with less color change near the head. Some individuals display a darker band across the shoulders. White markings may also feature colored spots, particularly on the legs and chest, and the tail typically ends in white. While showing individual variation, all observed salmiak cats have yellow or green eyes, which are common in domestic felines. The salmiak patterning of white hairs is most noticeable in solid black cats, but it also occurs in cats with a different base colour.

It has been known that animals with mutations in the KIT gene have significant more health issues and are sometimes not viable as homozygotes. For this specific mutation, no health issues are known yet.

Coat colour is an intricate trait that involves a combination of multiple different genes. Testing for a range of different loci will give the most complete prediction of a cat's coat colour genetics.

Pubmed ID: 38721753

Omia ID: 1737