Main Genes of the Domestic Cat

Main Genes of Domestic Cats

Every living entity has genes carried on chromosomes as a pattern for life and evolution. Breeders work to enhance certain characteristics within their breed and strive to eliminate others with the goal of creating happy, healthy cats that meet the standard for their respective breeds. Consequently, breeders need to know what the various genes contribute, their interaction with each other and the likely outcome of each.

Basic Type			Modifiers
Symbol	Name	Characteristics	Symbol	Name	Characteristics
A	Agouti	Agouti ground color of tabby; hairs banded yellow/orange	a	Non-agouti	Hairs not banded; unicolored (acts only on black/brown)
B	Black	Black pigment	b *b^l*	Brown Light brown	Dark brown (chocolate or chestnut) pigment Medium brown (cinnamon) pigment
C	Full color	Maximum pigmentation	*c^b* *c^s* *c^a* c	Burmese Siamese Blue-eyed Albino Albino	Dark sepia-brown pigment Light sepia-brown pigment; dark points; blue irises White coat; pale blue irises White coat; unpigmented (pink) irises
D	Dense	Dense pigmentation	d	Dilute	Dilute pigmentation (eg black to blue)
fd	Normal ears	Normal (pricked) ears	Fd	Folded ear	Folded ears; crippling when homozygous
Hr	Normal coat	Full coat of normal density	hr	Hairless	Total or almost total lack of hair on the body
i	Normal pigmentation	Full development of pigmentation	I	Inhibitor	Suppresion of pigmentation from parts of hairs
L	Normal hair	Short hair	l	Longhair	Hair longer than normal
m	Normal tail	No shortening of the tail	M	Manx	Tail shortened or missing; lethal when homozygous
o	Normal color	Normal pigmentation (not orange)	O	Orange	All pigment turned to yellow/orange (sex-linked)
pd	Normal toes	Normal number of toes	Pd	Polydactyly	Extra toes, especially on the front paws (variable)
R	Normal coat	Straight hairs of normal length and type	r	Cornish Rex	Hair shorter than normal; curled, no guard hairs
Re	Normal coat	Straight hairs of normal length and type	re	Devon Rex	Hair shorter than normal; curled.
Ro	Normal coat	Straight hairs of normal length and type	ro	Oregon Rex	Hair shorter than normal; curled, no guard hairs
s	Normal color	No white spotting	S	Piebald	White spotting or patches; variable expression
T	Mackerel	Striped tabby pattern	*T^a* *t^b*	Abyssinian Blotched	Abyssinian Tabby pattern Blotched (classic) tabby pattern
w	Normal color	Full expression of all other color genes	W	Dominant white	White coat; blue, orange or odd-eyed irises; masks all other colors; in combination with blue eyes may show deafness.
wh	Normal coat	Straight hairs of normal quality	Wh	Wirehair	Hair excessively undulated and wiry to the touch