Cat/kitten colors

[kittyfostermama]

While waiting patiently for our newest foster to deliver and looking back on previous foster mamas, I got to thinking. What color cat (female) do you all think is likely to produce the most variety of colors in kittens? Or is it a free for all depending on who she mates with? For instance, will a calico have more variety than a tabby or black cat?

 

[Kieka]

Calico and tortoiseshell usually have the most variety. Those females usually carry red/orange, brown and/or black and white spotting or markings usually so their kittens could be any of those colors. If she is also a carrier of the colorpoint gene or colorpoint herself, that increases the color possibilities of the kittens (sort of, same underlying colors but with colorpoint overlay so they look differently) .

Color and pattern shouldnt be confused. Tabby is a coat pattern, not color. Which coat pattern can combine with color or be hidden/muted by it.

 

[Maurey]

It does depend on the stud, as well, but generally, the more genes the queen has (and displays), the higher the variety of her kittens. Black and red aren’t the only base colours that are possible, modifier genes aside, however they are the only ones present in the stray cat population in any meaningful way, so I won’t go into that.

Due to red being sex-linked in cats, calico does affect the colours kittens can be, but only for female kittens, with the outcome depending on the colour of the stud. Below is a comprehensive chart from Messybeast.

 

[kittyfostermama]

Great info from both of you. Thank you! It really is fascinating to learn about color genetics.

 

[StefanZ]

Yes. If you want more genes into the fry, say a pointed diluted (blue) torbie.... So we will also have the gene for tabby there. Tabbies although essentially one colored, do carry lotsa of nuances. Including sometimes some white aroung the mouth - not being true white spot.

And points carry its own looks... Even if the dad must too give this gene.