3 This process, called lyonization, is random, so it’s impossible to predict which X chromosomes will be active and express the coat color. 4 Since female cats have two X chromosomes, their body would have to inactivate one of them in every cell to not express double the amount of the X-linked phenotypes, leaving only one active X chromosome in female cats. However, the orange gene must come from both parents instead of only the mother. 3 Because males only need one copy of the orange gene from the mother, they’re more likely to be orange than female kittens. Males only have a single X chromosome, which can carry the orange or black coat color gene. How males get their coat color is much more straightforward since males have a Y chromosome that can’t carry the orange gene. The B gene is in the X chromosome, where a male only has one, and a female has two. The gene B produces a red pigment called pheomelanin, a dominant trait. The orange color coat is sex-linked and found on the X chromosome. These rare defects usually cause sterility in male cats but not in females. However, calicos can be male and orange cats can be female. Since female cats get two X chromosomes, one from each parent, they could have both the black coat color gene and the orange coat color gene. 2Ĭalico cats are almost always female because of these same genetics. Since the X chromosome has the orange coat color gene, and male cats only need one X chromosome from their mother to become orange, most orange cats are male. Male cats inherit the Y chromosome from the father and an X from the mother. Female cats get one X chromosome from each parent. Does Coat Color Influence A Cat’s Personality?Ĭoat color is a phenotype, a physical genetic trait of a cat, and phenotypes are closely linked to genetics.This article will explore the topic of “Are orange cats always male?” more in-depth by discussing what determines coat color, how orange cats get their colors, and whether or not color influences a cat’s personality. Since a cat’s coat color is mostly linked with genetics, you may wish to know how your cat got their beautiful orange coat.
Today, you might wonder how your cat got their beautiful coat color. One day you might wonder, “ Do cats see color?” and the next, you’ll ponder why your cat has a silly yet loving personality. On the other hand, most calico cats are female for the same reason – fur color depends on sex-linked genetics.Īs a pet parent, you have a natural curiosity about your pet. Since male cats only need the orange gene from the mother, there are more orange male cats than females. 1 The color of a cat’s fur depends on genetics linked to their sex, so orange cats inherit their color from their mother, with female cats needing orange genes from both parents rather than one. It’s a common misconception that orange cats are always male.
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