Rockstar stray with a “mohawk” meows his way into a family’s home, only for the online cat community to reveal that his unique markings are actually a rare genetic phenomenon: ‘I guess he's officially our cat.’

Cats never cease to surprise us.

Even after millennia of cats living side by side with us (as they graciously permit us to), even after years upon years of sharing amazing stories online of cats from all over the world (just as the online feline family does best), after decades of scientific research into cats (because they're that interesting) - cats seem to still hold so many suprises up their paws, and we are constantly amazed by every new discovery we make. No wonder we love cats so much - they always keep us on the edge of our seats.

So imagine you care for a stray cat outside your home, and you're mesmerized by how unique and beautiful his fur patterns are. He's such a rockstar cat, he even has a "mohawk". So you do all the work to bring him inside, and once you do, you inform the community online, only for them to inform you back - dear family, you've got a very special boy there, with a rare type of fur! Very exciting, right?

Indeed, very exciting. This is what happened with Lenny, the street cat with a long, almost grueling adoption story (told below in full) - but the family who cared for him never gave up on the little guy. Because, like all cat people, they know - all cats deserve a home. Whether they're the plainest of colors, or unique just like him - his fur genetics explained by kind people who were mesmerized by his added pictures. Truly, such a handsome cat.

"Wants to be our cat - update"
I just wanted to give an update on this cat I posted a couple of months ago. He got a lot of attention on this page. Right after that post, he left for a few weeks and we didn’t see him at all. Then he came back a couple of times, but would always leave the next day.
Last week he started coming every day, and was incredibly attention seeking and meow at the door. He was so needy for both food and cuddling. He would climb my daughter’s leg just to be held. Once he came around reliably for a few days, I called my vet and scheduled him for an immediate neuter.
So, yesterday he was neutered, vaccinated, had a snap test done for any kind of illness. I guess he’s officially our cat. Meet Lenny. Full name Leonard Long Legs. Reason for that is the resident, previous stray, cat has short legs and short tail. She’s still not thrilled by him, but is becoming more tolerant. Last night when he came home, and today, has been a bit chaotic. He is frantic in a new place with all the new smells and noises. He’s fairly convinced that the guinea pigs are prey, as are the White’s Tree frogs. So we’re going to have to change that notion.
-Pendergraff-Zoo
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CaptainAmeliaflying
Just give him time. And then more time. Don't try to love on him. Just basically ignore him in that regards. He will see how you are treating your other cats and how much you care for them. Talk to him and treat him like the others. Get some phernome defusers that may help. If he was a stray it will take him time to get used to everything. Especially if he wasn't the friendliest cat before. It could take 6 months or so. He will come around in his own time. Best wishes and good luck. Your cats are gorgeous.

Pendergraff-Zoo
Oh my God. He wants only attention. He will climb your leg, trying to get attention. He’s just a little out of sorts inside the house because he hasn’t really had any free reign in here. He’s settling in a little today.

Capital-Debate7619
considering every pic he’s hanging from someone i’d say you got that covered haha- he’s very compelling.
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OOIIiiooiiIIOO
Such a serious look on that boy, he means business

Pendergraff-Zoo
Mostly serious about food and attention.

OOIIiiooiiIIOO
He looks very content in the last pic

ShalomRPh
He looks like a lynx in that last picture, not a domestic cat.

Pendergraff-Zoo
Yes! Someone commented when I posted him originally that he looked like a bobcat. He does have that agouti ticked fur like a lynx or a bobcat.
vampirologist
Oh my god I love him. He has no body stripes bc he put them all on his head. So funny

ToeMas72
I like Lenny’s toupee, looks like a Mr. T Mohawk

BlurredPenguidvs
He's definitely rocking the "new cat, new haircut, new attitude" look

Pendergraff-Zoo
I keep calling it a mohawk too.

nafarba57
Good!! His coloring is brilliant😀😀

Pendergraff-Zoo
He’s beautiful and it’s a really different coat.

db17k
Little punk rocker dude

Pendergraff-Zoo
Yes!
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StormofRavens
Lenny is a heterozygous ticked tabby! That’s why he’s only got stripes on his head, legs and tail and the ticked or agouti pattern on his body. They are pretty rare in wild populations.
Congratulations on your stunning rare boy!

Pendergraff-Zoo
Thanks for the Information. We kind of decided we thought he was an Abyssinian mix. Mostly due to the agouti ticked pattern of his fur, and his long and lean body.

StormofRavens
Both can be true. Abyssinians are homozygous ticked tabbies, meaning they have two copies of the masking “ticked” gene. That’s why even their legs and faces are ticked.
Abyssian mixes are usually heterozygous and have the leg stripes but it’s also found in wild populations unrelated to abyssians and in some other breeds of cat.
Either way, Lenny is stunning and rare!

Pendergraff-Zoo
I didn’t know any of that, so thanks for the info. Much appreciated.

StormofRavens
I have one of my own

Pendergraff-Zoo
Beautiful 😍
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via StormofRavens
Just to add, for those who are curious - what is a heterozygous ticked tabby cat anyway?
A heterozygous ticked tabby is a cat that possesses one dominant "ticked" allele and one recessive allele for another tabby pattern (such as mackerel or classic tabby). The ticked pattern is often associated with the Abyssinian breed (which is probably why they thought Lenny was one in the first place), where each individual hair has multiple bands of color, giving their fur a shimmering and unpatterned look, a "salt-and-pepper" agouti.
But because it is heterozygous, the cat often displays residual "ghost" markings, including bars on the legs, tail rings, and a necklace, rather than being completely barless. They're like the feline fashion icons of all tabby cats, but all natural.
Cats truly are a special kind of animal. We tend to forget that, having lived side by side with them for so long, as if we're “used” to them. It makes us forget how unique cats actually are - as evident here.