This may be a stupid question but .....

lucyloo

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THis maybe a stupid question but can a cat be pregnant by more than one male at the same time??? As i wondered if that was why you sometimes got multi coloured litters.
 

krazy kat2

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I am not a breeder, but I have heard that it is possible. I am sure someone that knows more than me will be along to tell us more.
 

solaritybengals

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Most definitely. They can also carry more than one litter at one time if they get breed again a week or more later (not common but possible).

However, different colors don't necessarily mean different fathers. Most cats carry for just about everything genetically, some dominant traits, some recessive. Then mix that with teh dad genetics of dominants and recessives and the possibilities are endless.
 

semiferal

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It's definitely possible. If she is mated by more than one male in a short amount of time, then she will have sperm from multiple cats swimming around in there and it's totally random which sperm end up fertilizing the eggs. I've definitely seen multiple males swarming around a female in heat (which is, frankly, pretty disturbing to see especially when the female is a 6 month old kitten and the males are big feral tomcats) so really anything is possible.

However, because many genes that control a cat's appearance are recessive, it is very possible to have kittens who do not resemble their parents in any way. For instance, it is totally possible for two shorthaired brown tabby parents to have longhaired solid gray kittens, depending on what genes the parents carry.

Another random "factoid" is that fathers are only able to pass their black/red color genes onto their female offspring, because these genes are X-linked.
 

phenomsmom

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You have the answer to your question now! And BTW: there is no stupid question. I think we would all rather you ask than go spreading around some random myth or something!!
 
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lucyloo

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Thanks guys for all of your answers, they are much appreciated.
 

goldenkitty45

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Yes - females can mate with more then one male.

Color is determined on the X chromosone. Calicos/torties will give you more colors then solids. The only thing the male passes on re color is to his daughters. All sons will get color from mom.
 

catkiki

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Originally Posted by semiferal

However, because many genes that control a cat's appearance are recessive, it is very possible to have kittens who do not resemble their parents in any way. For instance, it is totally possible for two shorthaired brown tabby parents to have longhaired solid gray kittens, depending on what genes the parents carry.
That is sooo true... In my signature, the 2 black and white kitties are the parents of the 3 siamese mix kittens. I was very surprised when they came out that way!
 

celestialrags

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Originally Posted by Catkiki

That is sooo true... In my signature, the 2 black and white kitties are the parents of the 3 siamese mix kittens. I was very surprised when they came out that way!
What!? The two on the end are the parents of the three in the middle? I thought they were siamese or the forth one was a snowshoes and i'm embarassed to say I thought the bi-colored one in the middle might have been a ragdoll
 

aries

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I have a black and white that has some of the body characteristics of a siamese (large tilted ears, long very thin body and tail, very short fur, cross eyed, etc). I wonder?
 
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