VMDiva

Our favorite lasagna loving creation of cartoonist Jim Davis has a secret to tell. Garfield is a genetic anomaly. Garfield’s characteristic orange and black haircoat is his most defining feature. But did you know male cats with both orange and black in their haircoats are rare?

Here’s a little lesson in genetics: Females have two X chromosomes (XX) and males have one X and one Y chromosome (XY). The genes for a black haircoat and an orange haircoat are sex-linked meaning the genetic code for color is attached to the X chromosome. Black and orange cannot both occur on the same X chromosome. In order for a cat to display both orange and black in its coat, it must have two X chromosomes.

Calico and tortiseshell cats are nearly always female due to the sex-linked nature of coat color distribution. Instances where male cats have calico or tortiseshell coloration occur where there are chromasomal abnormalities.  An extra X chromosome in included in a male’s genetic code making him XXY, a condition called Klinefelter Syndrome. These males are typically infertile.

For more information about cat haircoat colors and genetics, visit this site!