The cat coat calculator is a valuable tool for cat enthusiasts and breeders. It allows you to predict the coat color and pattern of a cat by analyzing the genotype, which consists of allele combinations of various genes. These genes control factors such as the presence of white markings, the intensity of coat color, and the pattern of stripes or blotches on the coat.
The Formula: Deciphering Cat Coat Genetics
To understand how the cat coat calculator works, let's take a closer look at the key genes and their alleles involved:
Agouti (A) Gene:
- Alleles: A (agouti) and a (non-agouti, or solid color).
- Dominance: A is dominant over a. Cats with at least one A allele (AA or Aa) exhibit an agouti coat pattern.
Color (C) Gene:
- Alleles: C (full color) and c (recessive color).
- Dominance: C is dominant over c. Cats with at least one C allele (CC or Cc) have a full color coat.
Dilution (D) Gene:
- Alleles: D (dense color) and d (dilute color).
- Dominance: D is dominant over d. Cats with at least one D allele (DD or Dd) display a more intense or dense coat color.
White (W) Gene:
- Alleles: W (white) and w (non-white).
- Dominance: W is dominant over w. Cats with at least one W allele (WW or Ww) have white markings on their coat.
Tabby (T) Gene:
- Alleles: T (tabby) and t (non-tabby or solid pattern).
- Dominance: T is dominant over t. Cats with at least one T allele (TT or Tt) exhibit a tabby coat pattern.
Pointed (S) Gene:
- Alleles: S (pointed) and s (non-pointed).
- Dominance: S is dominant over s. Cats with at least one S allele (SS or Ss) have color points on their body, as seen in Siamese cats.
White Spotting (S) Gene:
- Alleles: Various alleles controlling the extent of white markings.
- Dominance: Various dominance patterns determine the amount and placement of white on the coat.
To predict a cat's coat color and pattern, you need to know the genotype of the cat's parents and understand the inheritance patterns of these genes. Punnett squares and genetic diagrams can be powerful tools for making predictions based on the parents' genotypes.
A Handy Reference: Cat Coat Genetics Table
To make it more convenient for cat lovers and breeders, we've included a table of general terms that people often search for when it comes to cat coat genetics. This table provides quick insights without the need for manual calculations:
Genotype | Coat Trait |
---|---|
Aa | Agouti |
CC | Full Color |
DD | Dense Color |
WW | White Markings |
TT | Tabby Pattern |
SS | Pointed (Siamese) |
Now, let's walk through an example to see how the cat coat calculator works in practice.
Example: Predicting a Cat's Coat Color and Pattern
Suppose we have two cats with the following genotypes:
Cat 1: AaCcDdWwTtSs Cat 2: AaCcDdWwTtSs
To predict the coat color and pattern of their potential offspring, we can use the cat coat calculator. By analyzing the combination of alleles, we can determine the dominant traits in the resulting kittens.
Most Common FAQs About Cat Coat Genetics
No, agouti (A) is dominant over non-agouti (a), so both parents need to have the aa genotype to produce non-agouti kittens.
The variation in coat colors is primarily influenced by the combination of genes and alleles in a cat's genotype.
By understanding the genotype of your breeding cats, you can predict the likelihood of certain coat traits appearing in their offspring.