Content
- tricolor cats
- What determines hair color?
- combinations
- Types of tricolor cats
- Are there male tricolor cats?
Surely you've heard it said that three-colored cats are always female. That's true? Are they always female?
In this Animal Chest article we explain why this happens with all the details so that you can find out if it is a characteristic of females or, on the contrary, males can also have three-color fur.
Read on to find the answer to the question: because tricolor cats are female and see if it really doesn't happen in male felines.
tricolor cats
At tricolor cats, also known as carey, are characterized by presenting a peculiar pattern of color in the coat. Its fur has shades of orange, black and white. The proportions of each color are variable.
In cats there are three basic colors, black, orange and white. The rest of the colors are the result of gradients and blends of the previous ones.
The animal's genes are responsible for hair patterns, streaked, straight, or mottled, as well as for the color and color matching of the fur.
What determines hair color?
The fur color in cats is a sex-linked feature. This means that the information for hair color is found in the sex chromosomes.
Chromosomes are structures that are found in the nucleus of cells and contain all of the animal's genes. Cats have 38 chromosomes: 19 from the mother and 19 from the father. Sexuals are those chromosomes that determine sex and each is provided by a parent.
Cats, like all mammals, have two sex chromosomes: X and Y. The mother gives the X chromosome and the father can give the X or the Y.
- XX: Female
- XY: Male
At black and orange colors they are on the X chromosome. In other words, for them to express themselves, the X chromosome must be present. The male only has one X, so it will only be black or orange. Females having two X's may have genes for black and orange.
On the other hand, the White color it is not logged to the animal's sex. It presents itself regardless of gender. For this reason a cat can have all three colors. Because they have two x chromosomes and the white one also appeared.
combinations
Depending on the chromosomal endowment that the individual receives, one or another color will appear. Black and orange are encoded on the same chromosome, if the X0 allele is present the cat will be orange if it is the Xo will be black. In the X0Xo case, when one of the genes is inactive, responsible for the tricolor appearance.
Females can inherit three combinations:
- X0X0: orange babe
- X0Xo: tricolor cat
- XoXo: black cat
Males only have two:
- X0Y: orange cat
- XoY: black cat
White is determined by the W gene (white) and expresses itself independently. So you can make combinations with the other colors. There are black and white, orange and white and only white cats.
Types of tricolor cats
Within the tricolor cats there are several types. they only differ in the proportion of white or in the type of hair pattern:
- calico cat or spanish cats: In these cats predominate the white color on the abdomen, paws, chest and chin. They have black and orange patches on their skin. Black is usually grayed out. In the image we observe a cat of this type.
- cat carey or turtle: Colors are mixed asymmetrically. White is scarce. Colors are usually diluted in lighter tones. Black predominates.
- tabby tricolor cat: It is a division between the above. The pattern is brindle with three colors.
Are there male tricolor cats?
Yes. tricolor cats exist, although it is very rare to see them. It's due to a chromosomal anomaly. These cats instead of having two sex chromosomes (XY) have three (XXY). Because they have two X chromosomes, they can present black and orange like females.
known as Klinefelter Syndrome and usually causes sterility. It is an uncommon disease that demolishes the myth that all tricolor cats are female. But because it is an anomaly, we can say that in normal situations all tricolor cats are usually female.
Continue browsing Animal Expert to find out more about cats:
- how to care for a cat
- Cat heat - symptoms and care
- What are toxic plants for cats
