What kittens will a lilac cat have? - briefly
The color of the kittens born to a lilac cat depends on their genes and those of the male cat. Typically, if both parents carry the dilute gene (which causes the lilac color), the offspring may also be lilac or show variations like grey, cream, or brown depending on other genetic factors.
What kittens will a lilac cat have? - in detail
The color of a lilac cat's kittens is determined by genetics, specifically by the alleles that control coat color and pattern. Lilac is a dilute form of chocolate, which means the cat has two copies of the dilution gene (dd) along with one copy of the chocolate gene (B). When a lilac cat mates with another cat, the kittens' colors can vary based on the genes they inherit from both parents.
If the lilac cat mates with a cat that also has the chocolate gene and dilution gene, all of their kittens will be lilac, assuming there are no other color genes present to modify the coat color. This is because both parents pass on the necessary genes for the lilac color (Bbdd).
However, if the lilac cat mates with a cat that does not have the chocolate gene or dilution gene, the kittens' colors can be quite different. For example:
- If the other parent has the black gene (BB) and no dilution gene (DD), the kittens could be brown (BbDD), which is another dilute form of black.
- If the other parent has the non-agouti gene (aa), the kittens could have a solid color, such as lilac or chocolate, depending on the genes they inherit for coat color and pattern.
- If the other parent has the tabby gene (A_ or AA), the kittens could be dilute tabbies, with a coat pattern that includes stripes or spots in shades of gray or lavender.
It's also important to note that the sex-linked orange gene (O) can affect the color of male kittens. If a lilac cat is female and carries the orange gene (Oo), she could have cream-colored male kittens (B_ooDD) if she mates with a male that also has the orange gene.
In summary, the color of a lilac cat's kittens depends on the genes they inherit from both parents. While some combinations will result in more lilac kittens, others can produce a variety of colors and patterns. To predict the possible colors of a lilac cat's kittens, it's helpful to understand the genetic makeup of both parents and how their genes interact to determine coat color and pattern.