Michis in the game: Nata

By Jorge

Nata is no longer with us. But her memories will remain forever in the pictures that her mom took of her, and you can see some of her pictures in Saving The Michi! AR.

According to her owner he appeared to be a pure white Domestic Shorthair (DSH) cat, with possible Turkish Angora ancestry, though without pedigree papers, she’s best classified as a mixed-breed white cat. And no matter if any michi or dog do not have pedigree, they always give inconditional love and that same inconditional love must be reciprocal towards them. But according to Nata's owner, Nata was not very friendly towards humans, or any other living creature 😅 a common behavior in many cats. 

 

Nata modeling for the camera

 Based on the stories that Nata's mom and the pictures shared by her, let's analyze if we can find out something about her breed:

1. Breed Identification

Key Observations

• Coat:

  • Solid white (no visible tabby markings or color patches).

  • Medium-length fur (slightly longer than typical DSH, suggesting possible Angora influence).

• Eyes: Gold/yellow (common in white cats without the blue-eye gene).

• Facial Structure:

  • Triangular face with tall ears (Turkish Angora trait).

  • Slender body (not as stocky as a British Shorthair).

Possible Ancestry

• Turkish Angora Traits:

  • Long, silky fur (though Nata’s is shorter, it may be a mix).

  • Elegant posture and almond-shaped eyes (visible in her side-profile photo).

• Domestic Shorthair:

  • More common in mixed-breed populations.

  • No other distinct purebred features (e.g., flat face of a Persian).

 In conclusion, it's likely a white DSH with some Turkish Angora lineage, but not a purebred.  

2. Genetics of White Cats

• Causes of White Fur:

  • Dominant White (W) Gene: Masks all other colors (linked to blue/gold/odd eyes).

  • Albino (c/c): Rare; pink/blue eyes and pale skin (Nata’s gold eyes rule this out).

• Deafness Correlation:

  • 15–40% of white cats with blue eyes are deaf.

  • Nata’s blue eyes suggest higher deafness risk. 

 Nata's owner stated that Nata was not deaf, so we can rule out that deafness theory.

3. Personality Traits (Common in White Cats)

• Alert & Playful: According to her mom, when Nata was young, she was very playful and sweet, a characteristic that faded away when she got older.

• Social: Many white cats bond closely with owners (Turkish Angoras are famously affectionate). Nata was cranky and angry when got old, but it seems that during her youthness (mid age) she was not very social either, according to her owner.

• Vocal: May "talk" more than other cats (a trait shared with Siamese ancestry). Not Nata, according to her owner, she was talkative when young but she did it less and less when growing older.

 

Nata in her senior ages

Health Considerations if you own a white cat

• Sunburn Risk: White cats are prone to skin cancer on ears/nose; it is recommended to limit sun exposure to prevent issues

• Grooming Needs: Brush 2–3x weekly to prevent mats (especially if Angora mix)

• Diet: High-protein food to maintain muscle tone

 

Nata's life

Nata's owner can't remember how was Nata's behaivor when Nata's was a kitten, since at that time, Nata lived with the whole family of the owner. It was when the owner and Nata began to live independently that Nata had a more personal interaction with the owner. 

Nata had a more cranky personality when she was growing older, but also had demonstrations of love when cuddling on the bed. Also scratching the owner's arms was a rare way to show affection.

Nata lived a long and cosy life during 16 loving and great years. The owner tatooed a silouette of Nata and the number 16 in the same silouette to remember that they were together for that amount of time.

Nata has 4 pictures in the game, can you find them all?