While beautiful, unfortunately, an albino cat is prone to various health problems, including sensitivity to light, immune deficiencies, and issues with their balance. The albino cat can also have pink or light blue eyes due to the lack of pigment caused by the recessive gene. The result is a cat with pink skin, which gives their white fur a pink cast. In true albinos, these recessive alleles damage the TYR gene, preventing melanin production in the skin. Albinoįor a cat to be a true albino and not simply a white cat, the kitten needs parents with two recessive genes passed on to their offspring. So, now we know that genetics are at play in any cat’s coat color, we look at some of the most uniquely colored cats and which breeds are most likely to have a rare coat pattern. Female cats have two X chromosomes, whereas male cats have an X chromosome and a Y chromosome, and certain colors are also related to each of these sex chromosomes and the dominant gene. Gender can also influence the color of a cat. ![]() But if two recessive or allele genes exist in a pair, then a deviation from the two true colors can occur. So, if black and red are dominant, only one copy of the gene is required for a cat’s coat to have these colors. Every other coat color you may see in felines is a genetic deviation from these two true colors. And this applies to mixed-breed cats as well as purebred cats. This means you need two copies of a recessive gene for a trait to develop.Ĭats only have two true colors – black and red. Each pair’s genes – or alleles – can be dominant or recessive, with a dominant allele taking center stage over the recessive allele. But the starting point is what a cat inherits from its mother and father.Įvery cat has 19 pairs of inherited chromosomes – one from each parent – which contain the DNA that determines how it will develop, including the color and texture of its coat and any patterns on its fur. The genetics of a cat’s coat is complex, especially regarding genetic variations and the interaction between different genes. ![]() Whether you own a typical ginger tom or have your heart set on a calico or lilac, the color of a cat and its coat pattern are determined by its genes. We investigate the science behind the tone of a feline’s fur and list 10 of the rarest coat colors and patterns you can find in the cat world. The most common colors for felines are black, white, and orange, either as single solid coat color or a patterned combination of any of these three.īut thanks to the quirks of genetics, certain colors and coat patterns are much rarer in the feline world, making them highly desirable and often expensive. ![]() Cats come in all shapes and sizes and breeds, with many displaying similar colors and familiar patterns on their coats.
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