Some genes that contribute to color are on the X chromosomes, making them sex-linked genes. In mammals, normally females have XX chromosomes and males have XY. Just like humans, cats inherit half of their genetic make-up from their mothers and the other half from their fathers: 19 chromosomes from each, totaling 38. The Basics of Cat Geneticsīefore we dive into everything, you’ll need a really quick and basic science lesson on chromosomes and genes. I’ve included references at the end so you can explore cat genetics more if you’re interested. To keep things simplified in this article, I’m just referring to alleles as genes. QUICK NOTE FOR ALLELE FANS: Alleles are variations of a gene. I’m breaking down cat genetics into simple terms and examples, so you don’t need a science degree to understand them. But there are so many amazingly cool things to learn about how cats get their coat colors, it seems like I’m doing a disservice to you for not discussing it. Start researching cat genetics and you’ll quickly realize it gets complicated.
