cat colors

While searching for something else I found this:

The genetics behind coat color in cats is complicated, but very interesting. As you may have learned, female cats have two X chromosomes. That's what makes them female. Male cats have one X and one Y chromosome. That’s what makes them male.

 

The gene for orange fur is located on the X chromosome. If a female cat has the orange gene on only one X chromosome, some skin cells will make orange fur, while others will have another color, like black or mackerel, depending on what the hair color gene on the other X chromosome. The result will be a "tortoiseshell" or a "calico" cat.

 

Males have only 1 X chromosome. Any male who gets an orange gene on his single X chromosome will be orange. In order for a female cat to be orange, she needs to have orange genes on both X chromosomes. To make an orange male cat, only one parent had to be orange. To make an orange female cat, both parents had to be orange.