There's the whole "kin selection" thing that can go on, though. If planned breedings become more common than unplanned breedings (more likely with dogs than cats, but still), then people might be happier with cats that like to have the thick fur combed out, so will patronize breeders whose cats are like that, which means that the breeding stock would tend towards ones that pass on the genes for "likes to have thick fur combed out".
Or, it could all go the way of the "looks, not brains/ability" of most of the AKC, and some stupid trait will be considered "important" and that's what the breeders will aim for to get more prizes.
I don't think it's so strange to consider that the shedding would be more related to sunlight hours rather than temp -- after all, temp can vary wildly over a short period of time (think: very warm days during the winter), whereas sunlight hours are a pretty good predictor of season.
Of course, it could also be something once or twice removed, like, say, arrival of birds because of growing plants because of increased sunlight, and full coats make it uncomfortable to run after birds.
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Or, it could all go the way of the "looks, not brains/ability" of most of the AKC, and some stupid trait will be considered "important" and that's what the breeders will aim for to get more prizes.
I don't think it's so strange to consider that the shedding would be more related to sunlight hours rather than temp -- after all, temp can vary wildly over a short period of time (think: very warm days during the winter), whereas sunlight hours are a pretty good predictor of season.
Of course, it could also be something once or twice removed, like, say, arrival of birds because of growing plants because of increased sunlight, and full coats make it uncomfortable to run after birds.