Cat Chat 2

[DrinaLestrange]

We literally used cats for punnet squares in biology when I was in high school and used them to do fur color outcomes. So that makes no sense to me whatsoever. The only consistent thing with what's been said here is that calicos are all female because of the XY thing

[Sixx O'Clock]

What I'm understanding here is that kittens can get colors/patterns from either parent, regardless of the gender of the kitten.
For example:
A friend of mine has a cat who just had a litter of kittens. Momma cat is white with black spots (meaning she has XbXb color genes, with a white mask) In this litter she had four babies. One baby was white with black spots, like mom. We unfortunately didn't know the gender, as the kitten was stillborn and laid to rest before I could determine it. The other three kittens were all completely different from each other and mom, with the exception of one which I'll get to in a minute.
One kitten was a tuxedo-colored male, meaning he could have inherited the Xb gene from mom, though it is entirely possible - and fairly likely - that he got it from dad. There was also a white kitten, a female, who later developed light grey patches. Since grey/blue is a dilute of black, that means her color genes are XbXb, and she could have inherited the dilute from either parent.
The last kitten is a calico, so she has XbXo with a white mask. Given that mom's line carries orange as a recessive color (because the mother's mother had an orange kitten and a calico in the same litter, and grandmother was a pastel tortoiseshell), that means she got both color genes from mom, and probably not dad.
However, there are only two males in the neighborhood that aren't fixed. One is white and black like the mother, and one is orange and white. So the calico could have gotten orange from either parent, especially if the mother was with more than one male. Looking back at past litters from the older cats, it's safe to say that the tuxedo kittens likely got it from dad, as there have been a few of them running around, and not all of them came from my friend's cats.

Anyway, I kind of rambled there as I was typing my thoughts directly instead of trying to make them make sense. eue"
The point is, kittens can inherit color genes from either parent, and it doesn't matter what gender the kitten is.

[Keriae]

This is just what I've been taught at uni, guys, so I'm going with it c:

[flyteck]

We literally used cats for punnet squares in biology when I was in high school and used them to do fur color outcomes. So that makes no sense to me whatsoever. The only consistent thing with what's been said here is that calicos are all female because of the XY thing

Think of it this way: to be female, a cat needs two X chromosomes, one from each parent. So they can be the dad's colour if the dad has a dominant colour gene, or both parents have a recessive one. Male kittens need XY, and since the mom has no Y to give, they have to get it from the dad, which means he can't give his X chromosome. They can never take both chromosomes from one parent because that would be cloning and that's not how breeding works. It's just base colour that's linked though, so male cats can still look like their dad in lots of other ways.

[Velveteen Hound.]

Ug.
I am so torn guys.

After living for three years with out the possibility of owning a cat (or rather having my cat live with with me) I am finally back in a position where I am able too.. and I think it will do me a lot of good.

How ever here is my dilemma ... I do have a cat, but for the past 3 years she has been living with my parents (in a different state) on their 7 acre property. And while I was never a huge proponent of her being an outside cat, that's what happened, and she loves it. I will be living in a small apartment in the middle of a city. I would not allow her outside due to these circumstances.
My cat would hate that at this point.... and it's not fair for me force it upon her.
I could get another cat, and that'll likely be what happens...
But I want my cat. I feel like such a traitor.

[ru.]

Both of the kittens I showed pictures of from Litter 2 were Male. The shorthaired ticked tabby was a male (my personal cat, Talbot. RIP. :c).
This is the Litter that I have been most curious about.
Our theory was that the father must have been a brown/black shorthaired tabby (as half of the kittens were shorthaired).
If males only get color genes from the mother, how did this brown/black ticked tabby male come to be? He was the only brown (and non-grey) tabby in the entire litter. Is it possible that the mother carried the gene, or something?

I'm still extremely curious about this. Can anyone explain this to me? :0
This idea that male kittens get base color genes only from their mother is completely new to me, so I'm just tryin' to learn, haha



@Tepin
I'm in the same situation with my dog right now. :/ I know that feeling.

Are your parents' perfectly okay with your cat staying there?
As long as they are, then I think that you should always do the right thing for your pet. In this case, that might mean letting her live in the territory that she's familiar with which grants her unlimited outdoor access, since you are currently unable to provide that.

I have a Golden Retriever and he grew up in a rural area. He's used to being able to go outside into a big yard whenever he pleases, being able to bark as loudly as he wants, go out on runs through the desert, and having a constant canine companion.
I am unable to provide him with those things and I know that I will be unable to for a long time. I know that it would be extremely unfair to him for me to take him with me until I am able to provide him with, at the very least, a fenced yard. He would not be happy in a small apartment and it wouldn't be fair to him to force him to live in one.
So, since my parents are alright with keeping him at their house, he is going to have to stay there until I am able to afford a place with a yard. I hope that happens before he passes, but we'll see.

I think that in your situation, you should think about things similarly. Two important questions to ask yourself are; "Is it fair to my parents to leave her?" and "Is it fair to my cat to take her?"
If the answer to yes to the first and no to the second, then the right thing to do is going to be to leave her where she is.

[Thalassic]

Ug.
I am so torn guys.

After living for three years with out the possibility of owning a cat (or rather having my cat live with with me) I am finally back in a position where I am able too.. and I think it will do me a lot of good.

How ever here is my dilemma ... I do have a cat, but for the past 3 years she has been living with my parents (in a different state) on their 7 acre property. And while I was never a huge proponent of her being an outside cat, that's what happened, and she loves it. I will be living in a small apartment in the middle of a city. I would not allow her outside due to these circumstances.
My cat would hate that at this point.... and it's not fair for me force it upon her.
I could get another cat, and that'll likely be what happens...
But I want my cat. I feel like such a traitor.

You have to think about what would be best for her. A move is a huge change for a cat, and a very stressful event, especially when she'll be confined to a small apartment as opposed to having all the freedom in the world. I know you want your cat, but is it worth risking her happiness? What if she absiolutely hates the apartment and tries to get out, would you be okay with bringing her back home to your parents? I think that would be even harder for me. I think under these circumstances it would be best to look into getting a new cat. I suggest visiting your local shelters/rescues.

[AtlasHyperion]

Ug.
I am so torn guys.

After living for three years with out the possibility of owning a cat (or rather having my cat live with with me) I am finally back in a position where I am able too.. and I think it will do me a lot of good.

How ever here is my dilemma ... I do have a cat, but for the past 3 years she has been living with my parents (in a different state) on their 7 acre property. And while I was never a huge proponent of her being an outside cat, that's what happened, and she loves it. I will be living in a small apartment in the middle of a city. I would not allow her outside due to these circumstances.
My cat would hate that at this point.... and it's not fair for me force it upon her.
I could get another cat, and that'll likely be what happens...
But I want my cat. I feel like such a traitor.

As Cataclasm said, it would break your heart to have to bring her back to your parents if she didn't want to live in an apartment. A lot of cats in shelters are great indoor pets. Visit a local animal shelter and meet some kitties. Even if you don't find one you like, come back another day and see if there's a cat you like. I'm sure you'll find one. I volunteer at a shelter, and there's a cat there named Ritz that I really like. A day before he arrived, another cat I liked called Theo got adopted. Shelter cats aren't too expensive. You can find a great pet at a shelter, and you don't have to buy expensive kittens from a breeder. Consider getting a cat with special needs, maybe an FIV+ cat, as they don't get adopted very often. (Keep in mind that if you have an FIV+ cat, you can only get other FIV+ cats, because regular cats will get FIV from a + kitty.) You could also adopt an old cat, because older kitties love to spend time inside, on a lap, napping by a vent or on the sofa. You probably shouldn't get a kitten, as a kitten will try and go outside, and they're a lot of work. Kittens are usually happier in larger houses where they can explore with another cat. Regardless of what cat you get, give them toys and scratching posts and make them as happy as you can. Cats are curious creatures, and they love exploring and playing with things.

[Nyxeva]

I'm gonna be the odd one out here and say that outdoor cats can absolutely be converted to indoor cats! When I first moved to the state I'm in now, my aunt fostered my cats for me. They had free roam of more than 10 acres at all times, and I was sure that they'd be miserable in my new apartment. However, I still went into it with as much stacked in my favor as possible.

Before I brought them home, I bought a large cat tree and some horizontal cardboard scratchers. I also bought a bulk package of cat toys and scattered them throughout my apartment in addition to the wands and cat teasers I had. The last thing I did was set up litter boxes so that I had one in every room, and I bought a bunch of different treats. Finally, I brought the cats home.

They loved it! I made sure to play with them extensively, multiple times a day. They also loved their new cat tree, which I placed by a window in what was to be the cat room. I also bought a cat harness and leash and started working with the cats that showed a higher interest in going outside. When Saracirce moved in with me, she took over with much of the leash training.

Using these methods, my cats are very happy and safe indoors!

[Velveteen Hound.]

I have been to a couple of shelters in my area. As I said that is probably the way I will go, I'd love to give a shelter kitty a good home. It just hurts me to have to leave my other cat, though I know it is the right decision. I do have a deep connection with that cat, but I will what is best for her. My parents do not mind, and she is happy . I am the looser in that respect. I know that i will always love her though, and I am sure I can form a bond with another cat .. I just feel like a traitor as I said before xP Me just being silly.