A blue cat and a black cat - what color will their kittens be? - briefly
The color of the kittens born to a blue and a black cat depends on their genetic makeup. Typically, if both parents carry the dilution gene (which causes the blue coat), the kittens may be either black or blue, depending on the specific alleles they inherit.
A blue cat and a black cat - what color will their kittens be? - in detail
The color of the offspring from a blue cat and a black cat can vary greatly, depending on several factors related to genetics. To understand this, let's delve into the science behind feline coat colors.
Cats have two types of pigments in their fur: eumelanin (black or brown) and pheomelanin (red or yellow). The color of a cat's coat is determined by specific genes that control the production, distribution, and type of these pigments. In the case of blue cats, the term "blue" refers to a dilute version of black, caused by a variant of the dilution gene.
Black cats typically have two copies of the dominant B (black) allele, which results in a solid black coat. Blue cats, on the other hand, carry at least one copy of the recessive d (dilute) allele, which lightens the eumelanin to a blue-gray color.
When a blue cat and a black cat mate, their kittens can inherit different combinations of these genes. Here are some possible outcomes:
-
Black Kittens: If the kitten inherits two copies of the B allele from both parents, it will be solid black, regardless of the dilution gene.
-
Blue Kittens: If the kitten inherits one copy of the B allele and one copy of the d allele (from either parent), it will have a blue coat. This is because the dilute gene can only express its effect in the presence of eumelanin, which is produced by the B allele.
-
Mixed Coat Colors: If the parents carry other color genes, such as those for red or yellow (orange) coats, the kittens could inherit these and display a different coat pattern altogether. For example, if one parent carries the gene for tabby stripes, the kittens might be black tabbies or blue tabbies.
In summary, the color of the offspring from a blue cat and a black cat can range from solid black to various shades of blue, depending on the specific genetic makeup they inherit from their parents. This demonstrates the fascinating complexity of feline genetics and how different gene combinations can result in a wide array of coat colors.