black cats, baldy eyebrow bits???

[moggymommy]

Sorry for the strange title!
I was just looking at Snoofs pics of Ninja and noticed he has the same bits-that-seem-to-have-less-hair over his eyes as my Angel does.
A few people have commented to me that its a shame as she has bald patches but its obviously normal but does anyone know why?
And is it only black cats who have this, or is it just that its more noticable? :?

[CathyW]

yea mine have baldy bits over their eyebrows as well. (just looked :lol:)

[moggymommy]

My mum says its camoflage for their eyes, so if they're in a fight or catching prey the baldy bits will get mistaken for eyes and the rival will go for that bit instead thus saving the real eyes from being scratched or pecked.

Could be true I suppose!

[yola]

Moggysmum, that is a very good rationale. Ferdy (my black cat) used to have these too. So I guess there must be a genetic/evolutionary reason for it. It's difficult to see with the persians coz they're all hair :-D

[Snoof]

I think it's just a patch where the hair is less thick than everywhere else, maybe to keep the ears clear or to prevent interference for the eyebrow-whiskers. I think it just shows up more on black cats because their fur is so dark by contrast... Of course in long-haired cats it wouldn't show up as much.

[Fran]

Mine have these too. I think it is more obvious on black cats ;)

[dandysmom]

I'd never noticed this! Must check my neighbor's black cat!

[Donna]

My Misty has them too!!

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c362/donnamcg/Misty/mar4023.jpg

Her fur is thinner around the eye/ear so dont know whether its black cats or not. Chloe doesnt seem to have thinner fur.

[dinahsmum]

I think it's just the way things are. Maybe the curve of the brow there allows the hairs to 'splay' rather than lay flat, thus allowing a sight of the skin beneath. The contrast between the black hair and the pale skin is greater in black cats than others.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v393/Dinahsmum/movingcat.gif

[Sweet]

Mau Mau is mostly black with white, and she has this on her eyebrows x

[blackcatlover]

Slinky has these too