Red Colors Of Cats

2023 Author: Molly Page | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 22:49

If one of the cat lovers is interested in the genetics of cat colors, then this material should interest you. Let's talk about how the red color of cats is formed, from which parents you can expect the appearance of red offspring and why red cats are more rare than red cats.

So, first, let's look at a little genetics, so that later it would be more clear - how red cats are born.

Maine Coon kitten red (red) color, photo photo of the cat

Maine Coon kitten Ronald Weasley Gray Claw's (3 months old), color d 22. "Gray Claw`s" cattery

For the sake of simplicity, let's discard for now such factors as the pattern of cats (stripes, spots, marble), white blotches, uneven coloration of each hair, and much more that can affect the color of cats. Now we will talk about two main colors red - not red (the gene responsible for their manifestation is called "orange"). At the same time, again for simplicity, we will assume that “red ” is red and cream colors, “not red ” is black, blue, chocolate and lilac (we will call them all “black”), and “tortoiseshell” is black-red, blue-cream, chocolate-red and lilac-cream colors.

Now about genes. The cat has two sex chromosomes "XX", the cat has different ones - "XY". The orange gene sits only on the X chromosome. it is larger in size, and there is no room for this gene on the Y chromosome. Therefore, in a cat, both "X" chromosomes form the color of the cat (red - not red), and accordingly, the cat can be completely red (when both of its "X" chromosomes carry the gene "orange"), or completely black (when both of its " X chromosomes carry the non-orange gene), or tortoiseshell, when one of its X chromosomes carries the orange gene, and the other carries the non-orange gene).

A cat has only one "X" chromosome (the second is "Y"), so the cat can only be red or black. If the cat is tortoiseshell (which is extremely rare), then it is most likely sterile, because instead of two, he may have three sex chromosomes "XXY".

Cat Scottish Fold red (red) color, photo photo of the cat

Scottish Fold Clobdike Barbi of Forlooking (SFS d 22). Kennel "Forlooking"

The kitten always receives one chromosome from the mother and from the father. Thus, the mother always gives the kitten one of her chromosomes "X ", and the cat gives either the "X " chromosome (and the kitten is obtained by the cat), or the "Y " chromosome (then the cat is born). From which it follows that a kitten-cat receives two sets of color (from mom and dad on the "X " chromosome), and a kitten-cat gets a color from mom (one "X "), and the male sex (without color) - from dad (one "U ").

Now about the practical application of this all:

If your cat is red and her partner is also red, then ALL kittens will be born red (both cats and cats).

If a black cat covered her, then all daughters will be born tortoiseshell, and sons will be red.

If a black cat mated with a black cat, then all kittens will be black.

And if she walked with a red friend, then the cats will all be born tortoiseshell, and the cats will be black. Do not expect red kittens from such a union.

Now for the fun part: when your cat is a turtle, she can give birth to kittens of any color.

From a black cat, her daughters will be black and tortoiseshell (but not red), and her sons will be red and black.

But from a red cat she will give birth to red and tortoiseshell cats (but not black), and red and black cats.

European Shorthair female (red) color, photo photo of the cat

European shorthair male Feronian Basil (Elmo). Color d 24

Again, keep in mind that all examples include lightened variations (red = cream, and black = blue, brown, and purple).

Now go ahead! You can calculate the likelihood of your cat giving birth to ginger kittens, and knowing who her partner was, is most likely to determine the expected gender of a newborn kitten based on its color.

If you are interested in my story, then later we could discuss another part of the genetics of cats that are responsible for the formation of color (for example, solid white, or Siamese, or where does a cat have stripes, or why it is smoky, or why bleached kittens and much more). I will just say that these are all different, INDEPENDENT genes and their influence is manifested regardless of the main (red or black) color, or rather, superimposed on it. Hence such a wealth of colors in cats.