This is very unusual and was wondering if anyone hase experienced this before. A little background (been showing pedigree/household pets for over 25 yrs - was a breeder of pedigree rexes). I know color genetics pretty good.
Situation: (barn cats) - mother is a tortie/white (oriental type - non pedigree). Father (we are assuming cause of the color of the kittens) - Blue tabby (probably oriental type and carrying Siamese gene). We think the father of the tortie mother is also the father of the kittens.
She had 5 kittens - all blue tabbies/white (3 F, 2 M). However, the kittens at 3 weeks of age all had pointed color (very dark blue/black) on ears, face mask, legs and a little on the tail. Over a few weeks the point color was clearly NOT blue but closer to seal/black.
Now at 3 months of age, the coats have darkened so that the points are not readily seen and the tabby markings are still seen. This is the totally weird part. None of the kittens are blue! They are all black and white! I'm serious - they were light blue up till 2 1/2 months old - then got darker and are black. I call the color "charcoal tabbies".
Has anyone ever seen/heard of this and what is going on?
Thanks.
Situation: (barn cats) - mother is a tortie/white (oriental type - non pedigree). Father (we are assuming cause of the color of the kittens) - Blue tabby (probably oriental type and carrying Siamese gene). We think the father of the tortie mother is also the father of the kittens.
She had 5 kittens - all blue tabbies/white (3 F, 2 M). However, the kittens at 3 weeks of age all had pointed color (very dark blue/black) on ears, face mask, legs and a little on the tail. Over a few weeks the point color was clearly NOT blue but closer to seal/black.
Now at 3 months of age, the coats have darkened so that the points are not readily seen and the tabby markings are still seen. This is the totally weird part. None of the kittens are blue! They are all black and white! I'm serious - they were light blue up till 2 1/2 months old - then got darker and are black. I call the color "charcoal tabbies".
Has anyone ever seen/heard of this and what is going on?
Thanks.