A Study of Population Genetics in the Domestic Cats of Hobart.

Abstract

Several mutant phenotypes were scored in 922 cats in Hobart. The allele frequencies determined suggest that this population has the closest genetic affinities to those of southern England and, perhaps, to New Zealand, rather than to those of mainland Australia. These findings may be inter- preted to reflect degrees of historical relatedness. The role of biological determinants of present differences between English, Australian and New Zealand cat populations is not apparent from any data collected to date.