What color is dominant in cats? - briefly
The dominant color in cats is typically black due to the strong genetic influence of the B (black) allele in feline coat coloration.
What color is dominant in cats? - in detail
The dominant color in cats is largely determined by genetics, with certain coat colors and patterns being more prevalent due to the inheritance of specific genes. The most common and dominant color in domestic cats is black, which is controlled by the B gene (black/brown/chocolate series). Black is a dominant trait, meaning that if a cat inherits the black gene from one parent, it will express a black coat, even if it carries a recessive gene for another color, such as orange or gray. Another dominant color is orange (or red), which is linked to the O gene located on the X chromosome. Male cats, having only one X chromosome, will display orange if they inherit the O gene, while females require two copies of the O gene to express the orange color fully. Tabby patterns, which include stripes, swirls, or spots, are also dominant and often appear in conjunction with these colors. Solid colors like black or orange can mask tabby patterns, but the underlying tabby gene remains present. White fur, on the other hand, is not a color but rather the absence of pigment and is controlled by the W gene, which is also dominant. However, white is less common than black or orange because it can mask other colors and patterns. In summary, black and orange are the most dominant colors in cats due to their genetic inheritance patterns, while tabby markings are the most prevalent coat patterns. The interplay of these genes creates the wide variety of coat colors and patterns observed in domestic cats.