Cats come in all shapes and sizes. We have big fluffy ones, tiny shorthairs, and a myriad of potential patterns and markings. When it comes to cats, although some may look alike, no two are exactly the same. Every once in a while, however, you come across a kitty that is just “a bit more” different than the others — a cat you’ve never really seen before. This is one of those cats.
Narnia was originally featured by Caters News after she was photographed by Jean-Michel Labat in France. The story didn’t have much information, but quite frankly, I don’t we need the details. I mean, JUST LOOK AT HER FACE!
This amazing cat has “two” beautiful faces. Her right side is smoky grey while her left is a dark midnight black. Both colors come together and are split down a perfectly straight line in the center of her face.
Caters News explains, “Her unique markings are extremely rare and thought to be the result of two embryos fusing together— the merging of two non-identical twins.”
An animal with this type of fused coloring is called a chimera. They are named after the Chimera monster of Greek mythology that was composed of a lion’s head, a goat’s body, snake’s tail. Like the mish-mashed parts of the classic chimera, chimera animals look like they’ve been put together from completely different bodies.
During my time writing cat stories, I’ve come across other chimera kitties in the past. I’ve seen Venus and Quimera— but they are both orange and black.
Leslie Lyons, a professor at the University of California, told National Geographic that “chimeras are really not all that rare”. However, many cats that are assumed to be chimeras are not. Some cats (like Venus), likely got their coloring as a result of a genetic phenomenon called X-inactivation.
The only way to tell if a cat is a chimera (by the true scientific definition of the word) it to conduct genetic testing. Lyons explains, “We can do a DNA fingerprint— just like on CSI.” In the case of X-inactivation, the kitty will have the same DNA on both sides of their body. In the case of a chimera, Lyon said, “The DNA from one side of the body should be different.”
Honestly, though, I don’t care what science says about this cat. She is completely stunning, regardless!
