My cat is possibly pregnant. She is a American Short Haired Calico.(I'm pretty sure the father is an American Short Hair too) What I am really asking is, if the father is an orangey and the mother is a Calico does that mean the kittens will only be Calico and Orangies? What really determines the cats colors?
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Cat Colors and breeds
- Thread starter annabanana
- Start Date
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #3
Given the information, I know the kittens will be different colors but these kittens WILL be American Short Hairs? Or could that be different too?
If the dam (mom) is a purebred American Shorthair with papers, and the sire (dad) is a purebred American Shorthair with papers, then all the kitties will be purebred American Shorthair.
If the sire is not purebred, NONE of the kittens will be American Shorthair pedigree.
Just so you know, the term "American Shorthair" is the name of a particular breed, like Siamese or Abysinnian or Burmese. It's not just a description of the color of the fur or the length. When a person states that their pet is a particular purebred breed it usually means that at least 4 generations back it has purebred lineage, with registration papers etc.
Are you confused with the term Domestic Shorthair (which means that it is a "regular" cat, the kind that are found in many neighborhoods and animal shelters)? So your question is if dad is a Domestic Shorthair, and mom is Domestic Shorthair, will kits be all shorthair?
If the sire is not purebred, NONE of the kittens will be American Shorthair pedigree.
Just so you know, the term "American Shorthair" is the name of a particular breed, like Siamese or Abysinnian or Burmese. It's not just a description of the color of the fur or the length. When a person states that their pet is a particular purebred breed it usually means that at least 4 generations back it has purebred lineage, with registration papers etc.
Are you confused with the term Domestic Shorthair (which means that it is a "regular" cat, the kind that are found in many neighborhoods and animal shelters)? So your question is if dad is a Domestic Shorthair, and mom is Domestic Shorthair, will kits be all shorthair?
I think the original poster wants to have an idea of what colors her cats will throw.
This is going to sound a bit complicated, but here goes . . .
Since red is a sex-linked dominant gene, and both parents are genetically red (calico, [or tortie and white] female and red tabby male) and one is a bi-color, which is also dominant, you will probably get (among other things) red tabby males, red tabby and white bicolor males, tortie females, and tortie and white (calico) females. Any other colors would be determined by which recessive traits each cat was carrying (dilute, solid, etc.).
In the spirit of controlling this countryâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s current cat overpopulation problem, I would strongly suggest spaying your female (and neutering the red male that impregnated her) when this litter is born. If you want to be really responsible, I would also suggest finding out if your vet does “early spay/neuter†and see if you can get the kits desexed at 8-12 weeks before going to their new homes. This way no more accidental litters will be born.
This is going to sound a bit complicated, but here goes . . .
Since red is a sex-linked dominant gene, and both parents are genetically red (calico, [or tortie and white] female and red tabby male) and one is a bi-color, which is also dominant, you will probably get (among other things) red tabby males, red tabby and white bicolor males, tortie females, and tortie and white (calico) females. Any other colors would be determined by which recessive traits each cat was carrying (dilute, solid, etc.).
In the spirit of controlling this countryâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s current cat overpopulation problem, I would strongly suggest spaying your female (and neutering the red male that impregnated her) when this litter is born. If you want to be really responsible, I would also suggest finding out if your vet does “early spay/neuter†and see if you can get the kits desexed at 8-12 weeks before going to their new homes. This way no more accidental litters will be born.
I have a cat genetics software that tells you what color the kittens will be. Here's what it says...
6 potential phenotypes:
25.00% Orange Tabby
25.00% Orange Tabby & White
12.50% Tortoiseshell (F)
12.50% Black & White (M)
12.50% Black (M)
12.50% Calico (F)
You'll more than likely get orange and white and solid orange kittens. I used this when my Snowshoe had kittens and it said she would have 2 blacks and 2 Snowshoes! It was right!
6 potential phenotypes:
25.00% Orange Tabby
25.00% Orange Tabby & White
12.50% Tortoiseshell (F)
12.50% Black & White (M)
12.50% Black (M)
12.50% Calico (F)
You'll more than likely get orange and white and solid orange kittens. I used this when my Snowshoe had kittens and it said she would have 2 blacks and 2 Snowshoes! It was right!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #7
OH MY! I'm so glad I got some responses on this!
First off, thank you to everyone who has responded with all this detail. You all are so smart when it comes to cats
I was wondering about the colors primarily, but I guess I was also wondering about the breeds too because I do not know the backround of either cat. The dam is mine and the sire was some random cat outside. It was an accident that she got out. I intend on keeping one kitten maybe two it all depends on the circumstances. I do have the other kittens going to family members and friends so I know they are going to a good and safe home. I do intend on spaying the female. We just never saw a need to do it because we got her at an older age and she absolutely hated to the idea of going outside.
I guess I'll just have to wait and see what I get. I have no clue as to what the grandparents of both cats are because the male was a random cat and our female was given to us my someone we know but has passed away.
As to my other question.. "Will all the kittens be short hairs?" I guess I really ment, could any of the kittens be anything but Domestic Short Hairs? I'm probably going to answer my question by saying "Yes, it all depends on the cats that came before them"
First off, thank you to everyone who has responded with all this detail. You all are so smart when it comes to cats
I was wondering about the colors primarily, but I guess I was also wondering about the breeds too because I do not know the backround of either cat. The dam is mine and the sire was some random cat outside. It was an accident that she got out. I intend on keeping one kitten maybe two it all depends on the circumstances. I do have the other kittens going to family members and friends so I know they are going to a good and safe home. I do intend on spaying the female. We just never saw a need to do it because we got her at an older age and she absolutely hated to the idea of going outside.
I guess I'll just have to wait and see what I get. I have no clue as to what the grandparents of both cats are because the male was a random cat and our female was given to us my someone we know but has passed away.
As to my other question.. "Will all the kittens be short hairs?" I guess I really ment, could any of the kittens be anything but Domestic Short Hairs? I'm probably going to answer my question by saying "Yes, it all depends on the cats that came before them"
I am glad you plan to spay your female - that is the responsible thing to do. Please insist that the kittens' new owners do the same.
Besides the obvious reason of not allowing her to produce more kittens, unspayed female cats are particularly at risk for a condition called "pyometra" which is a fancy term for a life threatening uterine infection. Since female cats don't get a "period" like people and dogs, the uterine lining continues to build up if they do not become pregnant. This lining can become cystic and get dangerously infected by bacteria getting inside when the female is in heat.
Cats can be difficult to work with in a breeding program because of this. Unlike dogs, who can be allowed to freely cycle until a breeding time is ideal (lets say, three years), cats cannot be allowed to just remain unspayed for extended periods of time if they are not bred.
Not to mention the fact that the poor female cat must be quite "uncomfortable" being in heat continuously and getting no relief!
Besides the obvious reason of not allowing her to produce more kittens, unspayed female cats are particularly at risk for a condition called "pyometra" which is a fancy term for a life threatening uterine infection. Since female cats don't get a "period" like people and dogs, the uterine lining continues to build up if they do not become pregnant. This lining can become cystic and get dangerously infected by bacteria getting inside when the female is in heat.
Cats can be difficult to work with in a breeding program because of this. Unlike dogs, who can be allowed to freely cycle until a breeding time is ideal (lets say, three years), cats cannot be allowed to just remain unspayed for extended periods of time if they are not bred.
Not to mention the fact that the poor female cat must be quite "uncomfortable" being in heat continuously and getting no relief!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #9
Interesting.. I never knew that could happen. Poor girl though, she's probably relieved to be pregnant she's almost 6 years old. I'm not exactly sure that she is. I have to take her to the vet on Saturday to see if she is pregnant or not.
You seem very learned on cats, if you could check out my post here and read the whole post and tell me what you think about my cat's situation, that would be awesome
If not that's perfectly find, I'm just curious.
You seem very learned on cats, if you could check out my post here and read the whole post and tell me what you think about my cat's situation, that would be awesome
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