Burmese Cat Colors  Calculator

For a better understanding of Burmese cat colors, use our Burmese cat colors calculator. This tool allows breeders and cat lovers to predict the color of offspring based on the genetic makeup of the parents.

Enter color for Father and Mother of the kittens, set relevant checkboxes for the dilute factors
and click on button  Calculate!

1. 1. Two genes, one from each parent, determine each trait.
   2. Dominant genes have an uppercase letter, and recessive genes have a lowercase letter. Recessive genes can only show up in homozygous form (2 copies of this gene are needed).
   3. We will discuss only some of the traits.

Black Color Group:

The dominant gene B (Black) and recessive gene b (brown) determine the colors of the black group. The Burmese gene, cb, creates a brownish coat for a genetically black cat (brown Burmese). Two copies of the Burmese allele (cb) are required for Burmese coloring, causing a change from black to brown (sable), with darker points than the body. These genes interact as follows:

• • • BB – black cat, cbcbBB – brown Burmese
    • Bb – black cat, cbcbBb – brown Burmese
    • bb – brown cat, cbcbbb – chocolate Burmese

As all Burmese cats carry the cbcb genes, it is unnecessary to list them further in the genotype records for simplicity.

Dense Gene:

The dominant gene D (non-dilution) is responsible for full pigmentation, and its mutation is d (dilution), which modulates the intensity of the coat color to a more pale coat. In recessive form, the dense gene (dd) dilutes black (brown) to blue and chocolate to lilac. The genes interact as follows:

• • • BBDD – brown Burmese;
    • BBDd – brown Burmese;
    • BBdd – blue Burmese;
    • bbdd – lilac Burmese.

Red Color:

In Burmese cats, the red color is determined by the O and o (orange) genes. The O gene is dominant and produces red color, while the o gene is recessive and causes a lack of red color. In this case, the O gene overrides the influence of the B gene. The red color is sex-linked, and the genes O and o are located only on the X chromosomes. Females have two X chromosomes, and males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome. The genes interact as follows:

• • • XX – female
    • XY – male

If both X chromosomes of a female cat carry the orange allele, the coat will be red (OO). If she is heterozygous (Oo), her coat will be a patchwork of red and brown patches, called tortoiseshell. The genes interact as follows:

• • • BBOO – red Burmese
    • BBOOdd – cream Burmese
    • BBoo – brown Burmese
    • BBOo – tortoiseshell Burmese, i.e., brown with red

Since males have only one X chromosome, they cannot be tortoiseshell, except for very rare cases of males with an extra X chromosome (XXY), who cannot produce offspring. If a male carries the orange allele, he will be red/cream. BBO_ represents a red Burmese, while BBo_ is a brown Burmese.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the genetics of cat color is an exciting field of study, and understanding it is essential for breeders, owners, and cat lovers. By knowing the traits, one can predict the color of offspring and create a variety of coat colors in Burmese cats. The study of feline genetics has progressed significantly in recent years, and several resources are available for further reading. Researchers have studied the genes involved in coat color and patterns in cats, and the genetic basis of coat color and pattern in cats is well understood. For a better understanding of Burmese colors, use the table below and our Burmese color calculator.

References:

Menotti-Raymond, M., David, V. A., & O’Brien, S. J. (2009). Pet cats and the breeding of pedigreed cats. The genetics of the cat.

Lyons, L. A. (2012). Feline genetics: clinical applications and genetic testing. Veterinary Clinics: Small Animal Practice, 42(4), 625-640.

Schmutz, S. M. (2017). Genes affecting coat colour and pattern in domestic cats: a review. Animal Genetics, 48(3), 328-335.