Quote:which is why I always have to introduce it anew whenever I breed mysterious eyeshaped cats to introduce a new tail or ear into my lines.
New discoveries tend to show curious/big and hide mysterious/small. This is more true earlier in the cycle.
Crossing these will not only tend to produce more of the same, but tend to discard the hidden mysterious/small. Careful breeders can avoid this using their skill and knowledge. If you're not careful, however, you'll find this this becoming more true with each generation.
If, however, there are more eye shapes or pupil sizes, the problem is greatly lessened. With more potential values, there is less potential for discarding 'a trait' when breeding to produce a new discovery, or to cross one into your established lines.
But, of course, as I said, skilled, experienced breeders can avoid the problem.
The issue, when introducing new eye shapes and pupil sizes, then, is not so much as issue for the skilled, experienced breeders themselves as a rite-of-passage on the road to becoming one. Adding additional eye shapes and pupil sizes lowers that barrier.
