Pattern

Ok then, let's talk about all these patterns. We know that the base colors are black or red. We can add on the dilution trait to bleach these to blue or cream and we have the agouti trait that determines whether the cat's pattern should be displayed or hidden. (Remember here all cats have a pattern even if we do not always see it).

The patterns we have on Maine Coon are:

Classic tabby, Mackerel tabby, Spotted tabby or Ticked tabby.

Here it will be a bit difficult when we begin to think of inheritance. Patterns are inherited as everything else in pairs, which means that a mackerel tabby can have one trait for mackerel tabby and one for classic tabby, which means that two mackerel tabby, if both are carrying classic tabby, actually can get offsprings who are classic tabby if the mc gene is inherited from both parents. Two classic tabby, on the other hand, can never ever get anything but classic tabby.

In the case of spotted tabby, there are two variants, one who believes be the one who gives us the cats that are mackerel tabby on one side and spotted tabby on the other. This is thought to be the ones who have mackerel tabby as a base pattern, while those who are very clearly spotted tabbies are those who have classic tabby as a basic pattern. How good the dots are, have nothing to do with whether the cat is heterozygous spotted or homozygous spotted.

The ticked tabby can be ticked in two different ways, either with several short breaks on the hair or with a few longer "on and off" (the hair will not become multi-banded ticked). Abessinier and Somali are homozygous ticked and have genotype TT while most other breeds with ticked cats have genotype Tt, heterozygous ticked, of course, we can by mate ticked with ticked also get homozygotes ticked on other breeds with ticked such as our Maine coon.

Below is a table where Cat 1 is heterozygous ticked but is also a carrier of both mackerel and classic tabby. Cat 2 is a mackerel but also a carrier of classic tabby.

It's a bit tricky and you have to think a little, but hopefully, you understand the principle in any case, so in the example above it will be. 

If you see above, then we see that 50% of the offspring will be Ticked tabby.

About 37.5% will be Mackerel tabby and 12.5% will be Classic tabby.

Some examples of patterns and genetic combinations:

McMc Spsp tt - The cat is homozygous mackerel with the spotted gene that breaks up the pattern in spots.

Mcmc Spsp tt - The cat is heterozygous mackerel with the spotted gene that breaks up the pattern in spots.

McMc spsp tt - The cat is homozygous mackerel without the spotted gene, therefore Mackerel Tabby.

Mcmc spsp tt - The cat is heterozygous mackerel without the spotted gene, therefore Mackerel Tabby.

mcmc Spsp tt - The cat is Classic tabby with the spotted gene that breaks up the pattern in spots.

mcmc spsp tt - The cat is Classic tabby without spotted genes, therefore only Classic Tabby.

In below example, everyone will be visibly ticked but carrying a few different other patterns.

McMc spsp Tt - Ticked cat that also carries homozygous Mackerel Tabby, no spotted

Mcmc spsp Tt - Ticked cat who also carries Mackerel Tabby, as well as carrying Classic tabby, no spotted.

mcmc spsp Tt - Ticked cat who also carries Classic tabby, no spotted.

At the moment, there are no DNA tests for the different pattern types, so we still have to live in uncertainty and learn as we may see what traits the cat will pass down to it's offsprings. 

Skapad av: Malin Sundqvist