Can black cats have white kittens? Yes, black cats can actually have white kittens, but it is not simply a “black and white” case here. While it is possible for this to happen, there is no clear cut way to actually make it happen. So, while black cats can have white kittens, you never know for sure what color the kittens will be until they are born.
How Can Black Cats Have White Kittens?
To truly understand the “science” behind this you would have to have an understanding of the two basic pigment colors a cat can have.
Truth be told, a black cat can have white kittens and there are many reasons for this, but the chances of two black cats having white kittens are super low.
Sometimes a cat may have white fluffy fur, but be black underneath.
So, while it is certainly possible, the reasons for it are not so basic and straightforward.
What About Two Black Cats?
While there has probably been a case or two of two black cats having a white kitten, for the most part, two black cats will have black kittens.
As usual, it all comes down to the genes and two black cats are more than likely going to have kittens that are all black.
What About One Black And One White Cat?
Now things start to get a little more complicated!
Sure, you could have one white cat and one black cat and the litter be a mixture of colors.
Chances are, there will be one kitten who is white, one black, and one that even has a tabby pattern.
It all depends on the genes of the two cats so, until the kittens are born, you would not know for sure what color the black and white cat would produce.
What About One Black Cat And One Tabby Cat?
Tabby cats come in many different “styles” so what about when a tabby cat mates with a black cat?
The results here can be all over the place, you may have a white, black, tabby, or even a mixture in a litter which is most likely.
One Mother, Different Fathers!
Out in the wild, it is not uncommon for one female in heat to mate with multiple males.
As a result, one litter of cats can have multiple fathers which is why some litters can have a real variety of colors when it comes to the color of the kittens.
So, while the thought of a nice little kitty getting it on with multiple partners in the space of an hour or so may sound “odd” it is usually the main reason for a diverse littler of kittens.
Can Black Cats Have White Kittens? My Thoughts
On the island that I live on there are a lot of black cats on the streets.
I go cycling regularly around the area and I’d say that around half of the street cats that I see are black.
I have witnessed black cats having litters that are mixed in color and I’ve seen one cat, in particular, have a kitten that had a lot of white fur.
The kitten was not all-white but a good percentage of the cat’s fur was white.
The first time that I saw this, I must admit I was confused. I didn’t really understand cat genetics and I just assumed that a black cat would have black kittens.
How wrong was I?
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Lee Harris
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