Understanding Cat Coat Colors

Cats have a wide range of coat colors and patterns influenced by genetics. Understanding how these traits are inherited can be both fascinating and complex, involving multiple genes and interactions.

Orange fur coloring in cats is linked to the X chromosome. Male cats need only one copy of the orange gene to display the color, while females require two copies, making orange females less common.

Tortoiseshell and calico cats have multicolored coats due to X-chromosome inactivation. Females can express both black and orange fur, creating these unique patterns. Male tortoiseshell or calico cats are extremely rare and usually sterile.

White cats with blue eyes often face congenital deafness due to a genetic link. The same gene that causes white fur and blue eyes can also affect the inner ear, leading to hearing loss in one or both ears.

Tabby patterns are governed by the agouti gene. The gene affects the distribution of pigments in the hair, creating distinct striped, mackerel, or blotched patterns. Even solid-colored cats may carry hidden tabby genes.

Some rare cats are chimeras, having two sets of DNA. This can result in strikingly unique coat patterns and different colored eyes.