And Meow: Spotlight on the Salty Licorice Cat

Attention, feline enthusiasts: Meet the new kitty in town! The Salty Licorice Cat sports a gorgeous coat that is in line with current fashion trends. These stunning felines, also known as salmiak cats (salted licorice cats), have ombre, or gradient, colored fur that is primarily black at the roots and white at the ends. Continue reading to learn more about this cute cat from a local Lexington, VA veterinarian.

Where Did The Salty Licorice Cat Come From?

Fluffy comes from the Finnish hamlet of Petäjävesi. The hamlet is located in a scenic setting and is famous for its lakes, farms, and splendid 18th-century wood-log church. Or, at the very least, it was renowned for these things. The Salty Licorice cat must now be added to the town’s roster of famous individuals, must-see attractions, and intriguing residents.

What Do The Cats Look Like?

Fluffy resembles a tuxedo cat, with the exception that the dark portions of her coat are speckled with white. While Salmiak cats’ deeper fur is usually black, they can also have blue, brown, or tortoiseshell coats beneath their distinctive pattern. (We think the brown ones should be named Salted Caramel kittens, but this has yet to happen.) Their tails are usually white or partly white. Fluffy’s eyes are typically a stunning green or yellow tint.

Why Is The Salty Licorice Cat’s Fur So Unusual?

Genetics is the solution. A formal study was led by geneticists and animal rights campaigners, with Hannes Lohi, a geneticist at the University of Helsinki, in charge.

Lohi’s team looked at five Salty Licorice cats. They determined that none of the cats had the gene alterations responsible for white fur. (Note that these changes are also linked to deafness, which explains why so many white dogs have hearing loss.) They then examined the cats’ whole genomes and discovered a unique mutation in a gene known as KIT. This gene is linked to piebald patterns in horses and other animals.

In addition to the five Salmiak cats, the researchers included 178 other cats with normal fur in their study. All Salmiak kittens had two copies of the relevant gene variation, now termed as w-sal or salmiak. A few other kittens also had a copy. Because the gene is recessive, none of the carriers were able to wear Salmiak colors or patterns.

In May, the findings were published in the journal Animal Genetics.

Is The Salty Licorice Cat A New Breed?

Fluffy is not yet officially classified as a new breed. The name relates to the colour of her coat. This holds true for many different felines, including tabbies and tuxedos.

Why Is Fluffy Nicknamed The Salty Licorice Cat?

The kitties get their name from a popular Finnish dish.  The treat, known as salmiak licorice or salmiac licorice, is popular in Scandinavia, northern Germany, and the Benelux countries. As one might assume, it’s made of salmiak salt-coated licorice.

When Was Fluffy Born?

Nobody knows! We also don’t know who discovered or adopted the Salty Licorice Cat. Fluffy rose to prominence in 2007 after it was revealed that many of Petajavesi’s cats exhibited avant-garde kitty fashion sense. Initially, no one knew whether the cats could breed because all feral felines of that color had been fixed. The mystery was solved when one of the fashion-forward felines was observed giving birth to some darling kittens.

Are Salty Licorice Cats Expensive?

It’s hard to say right now. The kitties are still quite rare. And, to the best of our knowledge, they have not yet departed from Finland. 

While we must admit that Salted Licorice kittens are beautiful, as animal lovers, we are obligated to raise awareness about the negative aspects of the designer breed mania. Unfortunately, this leads to long-term problems such as pet overpopulation, hoarding, and mistreatment. The motto ‘Adopt, don’t shop’ is definitely appropriate here. There are many attractive, friendly felines in shelters  looking for a new home!

Is Licorice Okay For Cats?

We do not recommend giving Fluffy Licorice as a treat. The only real danger it presents to our feline friends is the chance that a bigger piece could be a choking risk. In fact, studies show that it has anti-inflammatory qualities and may even help cats with respiratory disorders. However, additional research is required. Of course, you should never give your furry friend any plants or medications unless your Lexington, VA vet advises you to.

Putting that aside, a few cats like the taste of licorice. Fluffy is most likely attracted to the texture or scent. Our feline companions have a DNA quirk that stops them from tasting sweetness. Some felines seem to have missed the notification on that, as Fluffy has been known to eat cake, cookies, and donuts.  It would be nice to enjoy a donut with your feline pal, but you should avoid giving her any sweet treats. Not only are they heavy in sugar, but many include xylitol, often known as birch sugar, which is toxic to cats.

Your Lexington, VA veterinarian can provide more information on feeding treats to your cat.

What Is The Origin Of Salted Licorice?

These Small black candies first gained popularity in the 1800s. Galle and Jessen, Danish candy makers, are credited with creating the culinary fad. You have to agree that curling up on a chilly night with a purring cat and a dish of sweets sounds very tempting!

There are several recipes available online. These are essentially slight variants of the same central idea.

A typical recipe is as follows:

In a saucepan, add eight tablespoons unsalted butter, one cup sugar, half cup sweetened condensed milk, 1/4 cup blackstrap molasses, and 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt. Bring to a boil. The next step is to take it off the stove and mix in 1/2 cup of dark corn syrup, 3/4 cup of whole wheat flour, 1.5 tablespoons of anise essence, and 1/2 teaspoon of black food dye. For a healthier option, use condensed milk in place of heavy cream and dark corn syrup in place of brown rice syrup. Transfer the mixture to a pan that has been lined with parchment paper. Allow it to settle for a period of 30-45 minutes before removing it and reshaping it. Do not forget to season it with salt! You’ll want to let it cool again.

If you want to make these snacks in kitten shape, you can go the extra mile and buy a mold. You can even call them katjes, their Finnish name. In fact, several candy businesses are already doing this!

Conclusion: The Salted Licorice cat is a new coat color, not a new breed. The kitties resemble tuxedo cats, but the darker parts of their coats are ‘frosted’ or ‘ salted’ with white. These adorable, fashion-forward felines are unique to Finland’s Petäjävesi region and are named after a popular local snack: salted licorice.

Book an Appointment at Your Lexington, VA Pet Clinic

Does your feline friend require a check-up, vaccinations, or parasite control? Has it been a while since your cat has come inside? Please contact us, your Lexington, VA pet clinic, for all of your cat’s veterinary needs. We are always glad to help.