I was told recently that a female cat can be pregnant by more than one male at once and that is why kittens from the same litter can be such a variety of colours. Is this true and if not, then how come my little girl cat is tawby, the little boy is jet black, one of their sisters was ginger and the other sister was white. Thanks for your help
2007-02-20 01:30:47 · 29 answers · asked by athenajm 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Hang n, it wasn't my cat that had the kittens. I adopted two of the kittens from a cat rescue place which is where I got my other two cats from as well. All my cats are neutered/spayed too so please, in future don't jump to conclusions and assume that I am being irresponsible. Thanks
2007-02-20 01:43:47 · update #1
yes it is true.
Edit: differences in color can also come from the dilution gene, but that's if you see a lot of black and blue, orange and cream, dilute calico and regular calico.
And remember, boys only get their color from mom- so if she's a double recessive (like a gray cat) that's what you get.
2007-02-20 01:35:18 · answer #1 · answered by LabGrrl 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Cats only release their eggs for fertilization when the act of mating has occurred so the sperm of that male will fertilize the egg. Since she may be in heat for some time she can mate with another cat and release more eggs to be fertilized by another male. Humans generally release only one egg a month whether there are sperm present for fetilization or not.
Cats have 19 chromosomes in their in their body cells and that number is halved in their reproductive cells so that color-determining cells are very much a roll of the dice and the kittens may get recessive genes from either parent or in combinations that are not the same as the color of the parents.
2007-02-20 02:21:52 · answer #2 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your cat has been mated by more than one male during her cycle, it is possible for her to give birth to kittens who have different fathers. That is, depending on the colors of cats who may have mated your queen, the kittens may look entirely differently from each other. We've got two 9-month old siblings who were rescued from a farm, both look like their respective fathers to an exact match, but come from the same mother.
As far as I am aware, it is exactly the same with dogs.
Enjoy your little ones!
2007-02-20 01:38:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is true, didnt realise till i went to get my kitten 6 months ago and the breeder told me. The mum had been bred with 2 males, apparantly most breedings result in 2 cats and she was pregnant with 4 so more than likely 2 dads.
2007-02-20 01:36:35 · answer #4 · answered by Emmylou82 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's true. Before my Daisy was spayed, her last litter was 2 black boys, 1 black and white girl, and two dark tabbies. They all have different face and body shapes. Knowing the tom cats around here, it was definitely three different dads. She was a tramp. Bless her xxxx
2007-02-20 05:55:04 · answer #5 · answered by catwoman6942 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Apparently with cats this is true, can't remember where I heard it but...yes. I have a friend that has a brother and sister pair or cats. One is completely white and the other is grey tiger colour!
2007-02-20 02:09:58 · answer #6 · answered by Avalon 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tabby's could have many diverse mixes in them, so it quite is undemanding for the kittens to look diverse, even a thoroughly diverse breed. as quickly as the two my aunts cats have been pregnant (with a diverse Dad) and a few of them became out very almost Siamese looking (Seal element's) and the others have been a mix, style of like what your describing. humorous element is, the two between the mummy's have been Tabby's :]. between the Dad's of the kittens had a black coat; a black Persian cat. beautiful :]!!!! sturdy luck :]. God bless :].
2016-12-17 14:32:55 · answer #7 · answered by zabel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes
2007-02-20 01:37:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, that's why some litters have kittens of different colours. Strange but true.
2007-02-20 01:36:20 · answer #9 · answered by MellowMan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you were told by a vet, as she may have done a swab testing, then there could be a chance of different fathers, but if a friend has told you then i wouldnt belive them if i were you. just because they are all completely different colours, doesnt mean there is more than one father. its to do with the genes. and surely it doesnt matter of they are fatherd by more than one does it? as long as they are gorgeous and you give them lots of love and care then they will be like any other kitten =] x
2007-02-23 23:41:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. A litter of 5 may all have different fathers.
2007-02-20 01:39:11 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋