


If he contributes the X, the offspring will be XX, or female. Like humans, the mother cat can only contribute an X, but the father can pass an X or a Y. The mother and the father each pass one chromosome on to the offspring. This happens because of the XX sex chromosomes that females carry and the XY of the males. Chances are good that that male will be a chimera. Most of these cats are females, but once in a great while a male will be born. Are Calicos and Tortoiseshells Chimera Cats?Ĭalicos and tortoiseshell cats often look like chimeras, but most are not. They get one color from their own DNA and another from the second set. Most cats with “odd eyes,” as it’s often called, are not chimeras, But it is more likely to happen with chimeras because of the two sets of DNA these cats have. This can be the most noticeable feature of some chimeras. Why Do Some Chimera Cats Have Different-Colored Eyes?Ĭhimeras will often have eyes that don’t match. Occasionally, though, one will show a difference that’s so dramatic that it’s startling. The newborn kittens can be born with coloration differences so slight that it’s not really noticeable or with differences that can’t be seen. (Some like to say that a chimera is its own identical twin.)
CHIMERA CAT PLUS
So, chimera kittens are born with their own individual DNA, plus the DNA from a second embryo. Chimera cats have two sets of DNA because a pair of embryos fused together early in the mother’s womb. What Causes the Chimera Phenomenon?Ī chimera cat is one cat that started out as two. The chimera from Homer’s Iliad was a fire-breathing monster that had the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tale of a serpent.īut the feline chimera is a much more down-to-earth creature with a logical scientific explanation. If you’re familiar with the chimera of Greek mythology, you would be forgiven for thinking the chimera is a magical cat. Which is actually not far from the truth. The line that separates them is sometimes uncannily straight, making the face look like Mother Nature was having a little joke-trying to blend two cats into one. The simplest explanation is that a chimera cat is one that has one color scheme on half of its face and/or body and another on the other half. If you haven’t heard of these chimera cats yet, read on to meet them! What is a Chimera Cat? These are names often used to describe a chimera, and there are some pretty famous ones out there. If you’re a frequent Facebook or Instagram user, chances are you have. You are reading: Tortoiseshell chimera cat Have you ever heard of a “split-faced” cat, or a “two-faced cat”?
