10/17/2026
First off… isn’t Manhattan such a classic beauty? Always the most unpopular color (black/brown tabby) but one I’ve always loved!!
Why can’t my black tabby girl and cream boy produce red boys? … well Mom calls the shots when it comes to her sons’ color.
Male kittens get their X chromosome from Mom and their Y chromosome from Dad. The gene that determines whether they’re red or black-based lives on the X chromosome.
Since Mom is black-based, her boys will be black or blue-based, with or without tabby markings. No red or cream boys!
Girls are a different story. They get an X chromosome from BOTH parents.
Mom contributes black-based coloring, while Dad contributes red-based coloring (cream is just diluted red). …that means their daughters will be torties or torbies, with or without dilution.
Genetics have always made my head hurt 😆
