What kittens will black cats and black cats have? - briefly
When two black cats mate, their offspring will also be black. This is because the gene for black fur is dominant, so even if one of the parents carries a recessive gene for another color, it will not express in the kittens.
What kittens will black cats and black cats have? - in detail
The color of kittens born to black cats largely depends on genetics, specifically the dominant and recessive alleles related to coat color. Black cats typically carry the B (brown/black) allele, which is dominant over the non-agouti allele. If both parents are black, it's highly likely that their kittens will also be black due to the inheritance of these dominant genes.
However, genetics can introduce some variability. For instance, if one or both parents carry recessive genes for other colors (such as red or cream), there is a possibility that these traits could manifest in the offspring. In such cases, kittens might not be entirely black but may exhibit patterns like tortoiseshell or calico if the parents are heterozygous for color.
Additionally, factors such as sex-linked inheritance can play a role. The gene responsible for coat color in cats is located on the X chromosome. Females have two X chromosomes, while males have one X and one Y chromosome. If a black female carries recessive genes for other colors, her male offspring will not express these colors because they only inherit their single X chromosome from their mother. Conversely, female kittens may show variations in coat color due to the combination of inherited alleles.
Overall, while the most likely outcome is that black cats mated with other black cats will produce black kittens, the intricacies of feline genetics can lead to a range of possible coat colors and patterns among their offspring.