Cat Pattern Symmetry Means Good Health?

Rarely, do we see cats with perfectly symmetrical patterns. Sometimes, perhaps most times, it is due to selective breeding. Cat breeders focus on appearance so in certain breeds a nice symmetrical pattern will make the cat more desirable. Siamese cats are naturally symmetrical. The classic inverted "V" on the forehead of the Turkish Van is symmetrical. That cat is all white except for a patterned tail so the classic Turkish Van is symmetrical. You'll find that the most attractive Japanese Bobtails have symmetrical patterns. These are bicolour cats and the bicolour lends itself to nice symmetrical coat patterns. Tabby coats are more random.

I would say that there are more purebred cats with symmetrical patterns than there are random bred. But when random selection, Darwin style, throws up a nice symmetrical pattern is it a sign that a cat has better health than other cats? In purebred cats I don't think that a symmetrical pattern means better health because the pattern was created artificially (regarding procreation).

The reason why I ask is because in the human species the opposite sex is attracted to regular features, which could be construed to mean symmetrical features. This apparently is a sign of good health and such a person is a better bet in terms of providing an improved chance of creating offspring, which in turn promotes survival. It is all about survival, bottom line. So symmetrical animals are better at procreating, it seems. And the opposite sex subliminally believe that a symmetrical creature is better made and therefore healthier.

Update: My speculation about a symmetrical appearance indicating good health is, it seems, purely that because a study published around 2014 on asymmetry in humans and how it might signal ill-health in humans could find no real connection between the two. The conclusion is that symmetry in humans does not indicate that those humans are healthier than humans with asymmetrical appearances. I have therefore got to conclude that the same applies to domestic cats!

If you have a cat with a symmetrical pattern, why not show him/her to me and other visitors to the site and perhaps enter him into the pictures of cats competition at the same time? Update: Competition is over, sorry 😢.

Here is a picture from the Cuyahoga Falls Veterinary Clinic.  This photo has been used with permission for teaching/educational purposes at this website.

Symmetrical random bred cat - Photo copyright: Cuyahoga Falls Veterinary Clinic

This cat's pattern is not quite perfectly symmetrical, but close nonetheless. Very cute cat.