cats

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is there a breed of cat, possibly tortoiseshell,which only has females? I'm sure I remember reading this somewhere but I can't remember the exact information.This is just one of those silly things that pops into your mind and drives you mad!Anybody out there know?

[wolf63]

How would they get kittens if there was no boy cats?

I think that the 'ginger' gene is related to gender though - can't remember the actual facts but there will no doubt be somebody who will give you all the information.

Best wishes.

:-)

[LoftyLottie]

Tortoiseshell cats are generally females, and ginger cats are generally males. There are exceptions. However this only describes their colouration, they are not specific breeds, and all cats can give birth to different colour kittens of both sexes.

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thank you loftylottie very interesting does this mean that gradually there will be no tortoiseshell cats?

[LoftyLottie]

Well no, because tortoiseshell cats can be born into any litter of kittens regardless of the colour of the parents, according the the genes that the parents might carry, going back for generations.

My old ginger cat had parents that were both black and white.

[theonlyone]

My tortie is female ..and the one before her
was ...think all ginger cats are toms ...
who cares as they are all lovely...
and need loving homes and be spoilt ...
ours are ..we also have a Lucky black
cat ...

[LoftyLottie]

Some ginger cats are female the only one. Not very many though. A friend of mine has a ginger female who has had kittens to prove it!!!

[LoftyLottie]

I agree, they are all lovely!

[bensmum]

I love cats but I have a particular soft spot for ginger cats. I have had 3 gingers - all toms and now have a tortie (female) who is gorgeous. Her mother was a tabby and father was black.

[CSIambleside]

As I understand it, the gene for ginger fur is on one X chromosome, and the gene for black fur is on the other X chromosome. So only female cats being XX can be tortie unless they are XXY. and then they would be sterile toms.

[CSIambleside]

Here's a link

http://www.fanciers.com/cat-faqs/tricolors.sht ml

[LoftyLottie]

Thats really interesting CSI ambleside.

What about ginger females? Obviously they are not sterile because I know of one that has has kittens?

I'm totally thick when it actually comes to understanding genetics!!

[CSIambleside]

I'm no expert on all cat genetics, its just that three out of the four cats I have " owned " have been torties.

I'm lucky at the moment to be sharing my house with two of them !

There seems to be some stuff about ginger cat genetics on the above link.

[wildwood]

The ginger gene is carried on the X chromosome and is said to be recessive sex-linked in character. In order for the ginger colour to show it needs to be present on all X chromosomes. As male mammals only have one X chromosome the ginger shows up more often. In order for a female to show this gene mutation it needs to be present on both her X chromosomes.

All daughters from a ginger tom will received one O gene, those with one are 'carriers' - this is recessive so doesn't show.
All sons from a ginger tom will not receive any O gene from him.

In order for a female to show the ginger colour it needs to have the O gene on both X chromosomes so if a ginger tom mates with a female who's sire was a ginger (and is thus a carrier) Half of the female kittens will be ginger, the other half carriers, Half of the tom kittens from that mating will be ginger and the other half non ginger.

A female carrier passes on her one O gene to half of her progeny so half of her sons will be ginger. Half of the female kittens will also get one O gene but as they need two to show the colour they are carriers.
This is why the ginger colour is predominantly shown in males.

The tortoishell cats also involves the ginger gene but in a different way and its inheritance involves lethal double factors (males which survive this are tortie and usually, but not always sterile) and is established early on in the gestation.

[CSIambleside]

Well done wildwood

Just post that to several hours ago !

[madboutcats]

just want to add margo is a ginger girl and cupars black and white,,and yes what ever the colour all cats are gorgous..

[mrrsjn1919]

What ever you do, don't get him a LAB. They are really lovely dogs, but they are very greedy and usually older folks tend to overfeed such dogs. However, it would be nice to give him Lab, they are so gently and loving. You would have to strick feeding time for these type of dogs.
I think I change my mind, go on, buy him a Lab they would both get on very well.

[alfieblue]

Oh dear mrrsjn1919! I know i have my senile moments but i think i have totally lost the plot here after your message. :o) x

[CSIambleside]

( Sticking pencils up nose and underpants on head )

Wibble!

[alfieblue]

Whats a wibble cslambleside? Im getting on, never heard of the term - tho as i said, i was confused by previous posting re lab!!

[CSIambleside]

Blackadder goes forth - He was trying to feign madness by doing the above !