Cat With Two-Tone Face Becomes Father To Kittens In Each Of His Colors

Jun 24, 2020

Narnia, the extraordinary cat whose head is half black and half gray, has recently fathered two kittens in each of his colors. Phoenix has gray fur and Prada has black fur, each taking a color from one side of their father's face.

Narnia’s genetic anomaly is rare and usually caused by a condition called chimerism. Chimerism results when an organism, or chimera, has more than one set of genes, meaning it has multiple sets of DNA. It is thought to be caused by the joining of embryos in the early stages of development. In essence, a chimera is his or her very own fraternal twin!

Stephanie Jiminez is Narnia’s owner and a professional cat breeder. She decided to have him tested and the results make Narnia’s case even more remarkable: Narnia only has one set of genes! He is not actually a chimera at all.

There may never be an explanation for Narnia’s condition, but we do know he is able to sire offspring that may inherit his unusual genes. Narnia’s bright blue eyes also set him apart from other cats, as this trait tends to happen more frequently in white cats. Both kittens, Phoenix and Prada, have green eyes.

As reported by People, Jiminez recalls, "When Narnia was born, I was extremely surprised. I knew immediately that he was exceptional. Narnia was born with a double black and grey face, which is very rare–normally a cat cannot be black and grey."

Narnia continues living with Jiminez in Britain, while Phoenix and Prada have moved into their forever homes. If Narnia continues breeding, it will be interesting, and adorable, to see how his offspring turn out with these unique genes, or if they will pass them on to their own offspring.

Narnia’s chimera-not-chimera status is truly intriguing, especially when each of his two kittens possesses one of his two colors. We might not know how his particular markings are possible, but we do know that this stunning kitty can pass on his colors to his kittens.

What cat-lovers in your life would totally love this story? Do you have a chimera cat? Let us know your thoughts about this unique and awesome anomaly.