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Certain cats, particularly tortoiseshell and calico cats, can display striking patterns in which different patches of fur have different colors.
This happens because of how color-related genes are E×ρréššed in individual cells during development. In female cats, one X chromosome is randomly inactivated in each cell, helping create patches of different coat colors.
The resulting pattern can be so irregular that each cat's markings are effectively unique.
A cat's coat can therefore provide a visible example of genetics happening at the cellular level.
© Cornell Feline Health Center