What color cats are not? - briefly
Cats are typically associated with traditional colors such as black, white, and various shades of gray. However, it is important to note that albinism can result in cats appearing pink or red due to the absence of melanin, which is responsible for coloring their fur.
What color cats are not? - in detail
In the realm of feline genetics, coat color is determined by several factors, including specific genes and their combinations. While cats can exhibit a wide array of colors, there are some that are notably absent from the natural spectrum of cat colors. These include purple, blue, green, pink, yellow, orange, red, gray, brown, black, and white.
The absence of these colors in cats is primarily due to the specific genes that control coat color and pattern. The most significant genes involved in feline coat color are the Agouti gene (A), the Tabby gene (Ta), and the Melanocortin 1 Receptor gene (MC1R). These genes work together to produce various colors and patterns, but they do not include the genetic information necessary to create the aforementioned colors.
For instance, the absence of purple in cats can be attributed to the lack of a specific pigment that produces this color. Similarly, blue, green, pink, yellow, orange, red, gray, brown, black, and white are all present in various shades and combinations due to the interaction of different genes. However, certain colors like pure purple or neon green are not naturally occurring in cats due to the absence of specific pigments and genetic information.
It is essential to note that while selective breeding has resulted in a wide variety of cat colors and patterns, some colors remain elusive due to their lack of genetic basis in domestic cats. Therefore, the question "What color cats are not?" can be answered by considering the limitations imposed by feline genetics and the absence of specific pigments necessary for certain colors.