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Cat Coat Color Calculator: Kitten Genetics Predictor (Punnett Square)

Predict kitten coat colors from parent genetics using Punnett squares. Covers B, D, O, and A loci — black, chocolate, cinnamon, dilutes, and tortoiseshell.

Updated

Select each parent's coat color and orange status to predict kitten coat color probabilities using Punnett square genetics (B, D, O, A loci).

Parent 1

Genotype: BB DD aa

Parent 2

Genotype: BB DD aa
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How to Use This Calculator

  1. 1

    Select Parent 1's sex and coat color

    Choose male or female for Parent 1, then select their coat color from the dropdown. Common presets include black solid, blue tabby, chocolate solid, lilac, cinnamon, and carrier combinations. The Punnett square genotype is displayed for reference.

  2. 2

    Set Parent 1's orange status

    Select the O locus alleles. For males: orange (O) or non-orange (o). For females: OO (fully orange), Oo (tortoiseshell — mixed orange and black), or oo (non-orange). This is the most important gene for understanding tortoiseshell, calico, and red/orange cats.

  3. 3

    Set up Parent 2

    Repeat the same process for Parent 2. The parents must be opposite sexes — one male and one female. The calculator will warn you if both parents are the same sex.

  4. 4

    Click Predict Kitten Colors

    The calculator runs a full Punnett square cross across all four loci and lists every possible kitten genotype, grouped by coat color description and sex. Results show each color's percentage probability sorted from most to least likely.

What Each Value Means

B Locus (Black/Chocolate/Cinnamon) (alleles: B, b, bl)
Controls the type of eumelanin (dark pigment) a cat produces. Three alleles in order of dominance: B (black) > b (chocolate) > bl (cinnamon). A cat must have two copies of b to show chocolate, and two copies of bl to show cinnamon. A single B allele masks chocolate and cinnamon. Carrier cats (Bb or Bbl) appear black.
D Locus (Dense/Dilute) (alleles: D, d)
Controls pigment granule distribution in the hair shaft. D (dense) is dominant; d (dilute) is recessive. A cat must inherit d from both parents (dd) to show diluted color. Dilution converts black→blue, chocolate→lilac, cinnamon→fawn, red→cream.
O Locus (Orange — X-Linked) (alleles: O, o (X-linked))
The orange gene sits on the X chromosome and is epistatic to B locus — meaning O overrides black/chocolate/cinnamon pigment and replaces it with phaeomelanin (red/orange). Female cats can be OO (orange), Oo (tortoiseshell), or oo (non-orange). Male cats are hemizygous: O (orange) or o (non-orange). Only females with Oo can be tortoiseshell.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How is cat coat color inherited?
Cat coat color is determined by several independent gene loci. The B locus (B > b > bl) controls whether pigment is black, chocolate, or cinnamon. The D locus controls dilution — two copies of d dilute black to blue, chocolate to lilac, and cinnamon to fawn. The O locus (X-linked) controls orange coloring, meaning males can only be orange OR non-orange, while females can be tortoiseshell (carrying both). The A locus determines whether a tabby pattern (A) or solid coat (aa) is expressed.
Why can't male cats be tortoiseshell?
Tortoiseshell requires one orange allele (O) and one non-orange allele (o) — a heterozygous X-linked condition written as X^O X^o. Males only have one X chromosome (they are hemizygous), so they can only carry either O or o — never both. Therefore, a male cat is either fully orange/red or fully non-orange; he cannot be tortoiseshell. The extremely rare XXY males (Klinefelter syndrome) can be tortoiseshell but are nearly always sterile.
What is the dilute gene in cats?
The dilute gene (D locus) controls how pigment granules are distributed in the hair shaft. The dilute allele (d) causes granules to clump unevenly, resulting in a lighter, washed-out color. Two copies of d (homozygous dd) are required to show dilution: black becomes blue/grey, chocolate becomes lilac/lavender, cinnamon becomes fawn/buff, and red becomes cream. A cat with at least one D allele (DD or Dd) shows full dense color.
What is a chocolate carrier cat?
A chocolate carrier is a black cat with genotype Bb at the B locus. It appears black (because B is dominant over b) but carries one chocolate allele that it can pass to offspring. If two Bb cats breed together, 25% of kittens will inherit bb and show chocolate coloring. DNA testing by labs like UC Davis VGL can confirm whether a black cat carries the chocolate (b) or cinnamon (bl) allele.
How does the agouti gene work in cats?
The A (agouti) gene controls whether the tabby pattern is visible. An A allele causes hairs to have alternating light and dark bands (ticked agouti pattern), which produces any tabby pattern. Two copies of aa (non-agouti) suppress this banding, resulting in solid color. Note: all orange cats appear tabby-striped because the orange allele (O) overrides the non-agouti suppression — even an Oaa cat will show tabby striping in its orange areas.
What coat color genes are NOT covered by this calculator?
This calculator covers the four main loci: B (black/chocolate/cinnamon), D (dense/dilute), O (orange, X-linked), and A (agouti/tabby). It does not currently model: W (dominant white, which masks all other colors), S (white spotting/piebald), the tabby pattern modifier genes (T locus for mackerel vs blotched), Ly (lynx point/colorpoint), or the dilute modifier (dm). For these loci, professional genetic testing through UC Davis VGL is recommended.

References & Sources

  1. [1]
    UC Davis VGL — Cat Coat Color Panel (opens in new tab)

    Supports: Evidence used for cat coat genetics glossary: key terms and definitions, including related formulas, definitions, or reference values.

    Verified

  2. [2]
    UC Davis VGL — Cat Coat Color Resource (opens in new tab)

    Supports: Evidence used for cat dna testing for coat color: what it covers and costs, including related formulas, definitions, or reference values.

    Verified

  3. [3]
    Zoetis Petcare — Science Behind Cat Colors (opens in new tab)

    Supports: Evidence used for cat coat genetics glossary: key terms and definitions, including related formulas, definitions, or reference values.

    Verified

  4. [4]
    Cat Fanciers — Cat Color Genetics (opens in new tab)

    Supports: Evidence used for cat coat genetics reference: b, d, o, and a loci explained, including related formulas, definitions, or reference values.

    Verified