Scientists Discover “Salty Licorice” Cat Coat Pattern Caused by Genetic Mutation – Modern Cat
Genetic mutation behind Finland’s “salty licorice” cats identified
Last Updated:
Read Caption
Featured Photo: Ari Kankainen
Here’s some fun science! A collaboration between the University of Helsinki in Finland and the pet genetic testing company Wisdom Panel has identified the genetic mutation behind the recently discovered “salty licorice” coat colouring seen on some Finnish cats.
The striking new cat coat pattern nicknamed “salty licorice” is turning heads in the feline world. With its unusual mix of black fur sprinkled with white hairs, the look resembles the popular Nordic candy that inspired its name. Now, scientists say this eye-catching pattern isn’t just a quirky colour variation—it’s the result of a newly identified genetic mutation, offering fresh insight into how cats’ coats develop.
Salty Licorice or Salmiak Cats
The striking “salty licorice” cats with their distinctive white fur pattern were first spotted in the Finnish village of Petäjävesi more than 15 years ago. They were given the name “salmiak” or “salty licorice” by researchers due to the unique coat colouring’s resemblance to the popular Finnish candy—black licorice dotted with white salt.
AdobeStock/Tobias Arhelger
The name “salmiak” or “salty licorice” comes from the popular Finnish candy: black licorice dotted with white salt.
Rare Cat Coat
Salty licorice cats look similar to tuxedo cats but with distinctive colouring: ombré strands of fur that start out dark at the base before fading to white. These felines have dark markings on their faces, but their fur becomes increasingly white towards the back of their bodies, ending with the tip of the tail being primarily white.
New “Salty Licorice” Cat Coat Pattern Linked to Genetic Mutation
Geneticist Hannes Lohi and his researcher team at the University of Helsinki—which houses a biobank of 5,000 blood samples from more than 40 feline breeds—were curious how these cats got their unique look, so they studied their DNA, with cat owners and breeders offering their cat’s DNA for the research.
Photo: Ari Kankainen
The scientists’ study, published in the journal Animal Genetics in May, found that a novel gene mutation is responsible for the exceptional fur pattern.
Cat Genetic Mutation
The team called the gene variant w-sal, for salmiak. Each of the salmiak cats had two copies of the recessive gene. A few of the other cats had one copy (not resulting in the unique salty licorice colour), while the rest of the regular-coloured cats had none.
The gene is a variant of the KIT proto-oncogene (KIT) gene, which is “associated with an absence of melanocytes in the skin and hair follicles,” the researchers found. Gene variants that give cats and dogs white fur can sometimes cause deafness, though that doesn’t seem to be the case with w-salmiak.
Feline Genetics
Lohi says the main goal of this work, “is to understand the molecular and environmental causes of feline disorders.”
Are salty licorice cats going to be the next big thing?
“It is possible that breeders will choose to develop a population of salty licorice cats,” says Lohi. “However, the health of the salty licorice cats should be followed in more detail to confirm the absence of any colour-related health issues.”
This article originally appeared in the award-winning Modern Cat magazine. Subscribe today!