Did you know there is a scientific explanation behind the white “socks” that some cats seem to wear? It’s due to a condition called piebaldism. This condition is caused by a mutation in the KIT gene, which is responsible for distributing melanocytes, the cells that “program” pigment throughout a cat’s body. Genetics tends to make my head explode, so rather than trying to explain this further, I’m going to send you to our friends Cole and Marmalade’s blog for a detailed explanation.

If you missed any of the stories featured on the Conscious Cat this week, here’s a recap: on Monday, we told you about a new study that showed that 1TDC™ reduces periodontal disease within six weeks,on Tuesday we shared information about the collaboration between Sleepypod and Assisi Animal Health which resulted in the Assisi Loop Lounge, on Wednesday, we told you about a fascinating study that explores the connection between genetics and the behavior of Siamese Cats, on Thursday we reviewed the Scratch Lounge, and on Friday, we reviewed the latest installment in Gwen Cooper’s Curl Up with a Cat Tale series, Scenes from a Move, Part 1.

I was looking for a beach themed video for this first unofficial weekend of summer, and came across this lovely video by our friend Kitten Lady about Cat Beach Sanctuary in Thailand. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!

The Conscious Cat is an award winning website published by writer and cat expert Ingrid King, author of Buckley's Story and Purrs of Wisdom. Here at The Conscious Cat, we're passionate about cats. Our mission is to educate cat guardians so that every cat, and every cat's human, can have a happy, healthy life together.

On this site, you will find expert advice from a seasoned cat consultant. The Conscious Cat features articles on cat health, cat nutrition, cat behavior, cat lifestyle, pet loss, and, of course, pictures of cats. We'll bring you product and book reviews, as well as news from around the cat world.

We'll also share Purrs of Wisdom: lessons in conscious living, inspired by the cats who share our lives. Other features include our Mews and Nips; fascinating feline stories from around the globe, and Allegra's World and Ruby's Reflections; written from the perspective of Ingrid's two feline companions. After all, who better than a cat to teach us a thing or two about how to live a joyful life!

And let's not forget, we have a soft spot for tortoiseshell cats and their unique personalities, also known as "tortitude."

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