Every once in a while, a cat appears online who looks like something straight out of folklore or an anime movie, and this striking stray from Thailand is one of them. With bold black stripes across his white face, bright orange markings, and blue eyes that glimmer like jewels, this gorgeous street kitty looks like he\u2019s wearing a perfectly painted Halloween mask. Or that he’s part cat and part koi fish.<\/p>\n
Videos of him have gone viral, with viewers all over the world mesmerized by his markings. Some people believe he\u2019s a rare \u201cancient Thai cat\u201d\u2014an almost mythical coat pattern thought to have disappeared centuries ago, while others suggest a bit of “modern color enhancement” (hair dye, cough, cough) might be at play. Just look at this crazy, gorgeous cat!<\/p>\n
The clip was shared on the @ukulore<\/a> TikTok account, and people can’t get over how beautiful this cat is. In the comments, fans are debating everything from genetics to history. One user wrote, \u201cThis is an ancient Thai cat, very rare, too.\u201d Another added, \u201cIt\u2019s an old coat pattern thought to be extinct\u2014they show up from time to time.\u201d<\/p>\n But others offered a more scientific explanation, noting that while the kitty\u2019s orange tones might be dyed,<\/a> his unique stripe placement is a legitimate genetic mutation. According to one commenter: \u201cIt\u2019s technically a white-spotted cat with a mutation that creates a striped form instead of splotching. It\u2019s similar to what\u2019s seen in historical Thai depictions.\u201d<\/p>\n Related: Tuxedo Cat Has the Fanciest Orange Pants and Looks Like Two Cats in One<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s impossible to say for sure whether this cat\u2019s colors are completely natural or slightly enhanced, but what is<\/em> certain is how beautiful he is. And how ready to celebrate Halloween<\/a> he looks!<\/p>\nHow To Help Street Cats in Your Own Town<\/h2>\n