Post by Lady Ten on Aug 27, 2012 22:10:59 GMT -6
This is a basic, simplified guide to common fur colors and patterns found among feral cats, applicable to realistic Clan cat characters. It will not cover any mutations, X- or Y-chromosome linked colors, rare-but-possible colors, or common defects associated with certain combinations. This is just an amatuerly-written introduction for anyone new to feline genetics and who is unsure what to expect of cat coats that haven't been finagled with by human intervention. You see example after example of "unrealistic" cats, but what are the common phenotypes that are most likely to actually show up in the wild?
So, with no further ado...
Basic Pelts for Realistic Feral Cats
First up on the list are the solid-color cats. These come in black, white, or grey. That's it.
Some cats have fur that appears to be black with ginger patches, or ginger with black patches. This type of pattern is called tortoiseshell, or "tortie". Most feral torties are simply black and ginger, not any mix of other colors. One variation that is possible among randombred cats, however, is the "dilute" tortie, which is grey and pale-peach colored instead of black and ginger.
Moving on to markings, there's a wider variety of possibilities.
Tabby markings involve a pattern of stripes, and there are several types plausible for ferals: mackerel, classic, or ticked with residual stripes. Mackerel tabbies are the ones most people are familiar with. Classic tabbies are similar, but with bolder, curvier stripes. Ticked tabbies have stripes on their heads, tails, and legs, but otherwise their pets appear almost solid, with variegated colors on the individual hairs. This gives ticked tabbies a squirrel-ish look.
Tabbies come in grey, brown, and ginger. Tabby markings can show up on torties as well.
The other fundamental type of marking is the white marking. White markings can occur on any of the aforementioned cat coats: solid, tortie, or tabby. In some parts of the world, torties with a lot of white markings are known as "calico" (black, ginger, and white). Generally, in large quantities, white markings will appear more on the lower half of the cat (paws, belly, lower face) as opposed to the ears and back.
If any of this information is inaccurate, please point it out so that I may update the guide. As for pointing out such complications as tortie toms, non-striped Abyssinians, or white cats with blue eyes, there's no need. This guide is just for introducing which pelts are without a doubt physically possible and plausible in feral cats. Questions are more than welcome.
So, with no further ado...
Basic Pelts for Realistic Feral Cats
First up on the list are the solid-color cats. These come in black, white, or grey. That's it.
Some cats have fur that appears to be black with ginger patches, or ginger with black patches. This type of pattern is called tortoiseshell, or "tortie". Most feral torties are simply black and ginger, not any mix of other colors. One variation that is possible among randombred cats, however, is the "dilute" tortie, which is grey and pale-peach colored instead of black and ginger.
Moving on to markings, there's a wider variety of possibilities.
Tabby markings involve a pattern of stripes, and there are several types plausible for ferals: mackerel, classic, or ticked with residual stripes. Mackerel tabbies are the ones most people are familiar with. Classic tabbies are similar, but with bolder, curvier stripes. Ticked tabbies have stripes on their heads, tails, and legs, but otherwise their pets appear almost solid, with variegated colors on the individual hairs. This gives ticked tabbies a squirrel-ish look.
Tabbies come in grey, brown, and ginger. Tabby markings can show up on torties as well.
The other fundamental type of marking is the white marking. White markings can occur on any of the aforementioned cat coats: solid, tortie, or tabby. In some parts of the world, torties with a lot of white markings are known as "calico" (black, ginger, and white). Generally, in large quantities, white markings will appear more on the lower half of the cat (paws, belly, lower face) as opposed to the ears and back.
If any of this information is inaccurate, please point it out so that I may update the guide. As for pointing out such complications as tortie toms, non-striped Abyssinians, or white cats with blue eyes, there's no need. This guide is just for introducing which pelts are without a doubt physically possible and plausible in feral cats. Questions are more than welcome.
