Carpathian Cat: The First Hungarian-Related Cat Breed Has Been Born

In 2014, some cats with very intriguing colors and patterns were reported from the Carpathian region. These cats appeared in Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, and Romania. These animals, typically black with silvery-white fur on their faces, ears, tails, and paws, often sought new homes as neutered pets, leaving the reason for their unique pattern unknown for some time. According to various sources, this coloration is widespread in the region, quickly catching the attention of breeders who began incorporating it into LaPerm cats, which was also reflected in the breed standard.

So let’s see what we know now about the Carpathian cat!

How the LaPerm Standard Defines the Carpathian Shade

„Kárpáti is a unique pattern that delays or restricts the development of pigment in the hair shaft. It occurs in combination with all other colors and patterns and is independent of any other color or pattern. Kárpáti has 3 unique aspects: white hairs in the coat, lighter points, and shading. The body has white hairs interspersed with normal pigmented hairs throughout the cat’s coat. The further away from the spine, the greater the percentage of white hairs resulting in the lighter appearance of the points.

Shading is when the base of some of the pigmented hairs are significantly lighter than the tips. Shading should not be confused with a bad smoke or unsound color. Color is strongest along the spine and fades out down the legs. The area of increased white hairs on the tail starts about approximately an inch up from the base. Red/Cream colors are slower to develop the pattern. Allowance for white at the base of pigmented hairs on kittens due to delayed color development. Ear  furnishings are white, and whiskers are both white and pigmented. Nose leather and paw pads: consistent with those of the base color

In the dog world, a similar coloration is called “roan”, seen in breeds like Australian Cattle Dog.

The Budapest Carpathian Cat

Gertrude Hainzl (Aquilaaltairral LaPerm) began breeding the Carpathian pattern, initially named “Salt n Pepper,” with the help of her cat Netti. Netti originated from a private home in Budapest, with unknown parentage. Over the years, her coat darkened, and Gertrude discovered this was a dominant trait naturally occurring in the wild. The degree of darkening varies, but the pattern appears temperature-sensitive, much like the distinctive pointed coloration of Siamese cats, responding to seasons and the cat’s age.

In long-haired cats, the Carpathian pattern may superficially resemble smoke or shaded patterns, but separating the fur reveals no white undercoat. Cats with more pronounced patterns may display “reversed colored points,” where the tail, legs, nose, and ears can be white. It was also determined that the Carpathian gene is not linked to the lykoi gene, meaning it only affects pigmentation without structural changes to the fur.

Carpathian Pattern Sphynx?

In 2021, Terri Hunt and her sister Janet Michael, from Brisbane, Australia, bred second-generation Carpathian-patterned hairless Sphynx cats from their first-generation furry Carpathian Sphynx female. This might raise some eyebrows, but even on hairless cats, the Carpathian pattern is clearly visible on their skin.

The sisters, who have bred Sphynx cats for nearly 20 years, aimed to introduce a healthy crossbreed to enhance the vitality and genetic diversity of Sphynx cats. Since the Carpathian pattern is a pigmentation mutation that does not affect the cat’s physiology or structure, it was a safe addition to the gene pool.

Skeptics doubted the pattern could be expressed in Sphynx cats due to their lack of fur. However, Terri and Janet believed that even if they were wrong, they would still achieve their primary goal: a healthy new breeding line that increased the genetic diversity of the breed.

Transylvanian: The Newest Natural Cat Breed

The Transylvanian is an indigenous breed found in the Carpathians with the Carpathian pattern. The only allowed colors are black Carpathian and blue Carpathian. This is a strong, muscular, medium-sized, short-haired breed with eyes ranging from yellow to deep orange, though green is also accepted. The ear tufts are grayish-white, and the reversed points on the paws, legs, tail, ears, and face range from light gray (almost white) to gray. The pattern begins to develop around two months of age and, as mentioned earlier, is temperature-sensitive.

Recently, the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF), a UK-based cat registry organization, officially recognized the Transylvanian as a registerable cat breed. In their Instagram post, they highlighted that this is the world’s newest natural breed and that it has a Hungarian connection. Detailed tests conducted so far show no evidence of genetic or hereditary diseases in the breed’s litters. The breed standard has not yet been finalized.

(The cover image is illustrative, featuring a lykoi.)