Here is a guide to simple feline colour genetics.

I have tried to word this in layman's terms to make it easy for people to understand. 

Hopefully this will help!

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Below are some simple explanations in regards to the colours I breed, this is just the beginning....there are many more genetic codes which can be used...these are just the basic ones I need for my breeding program.

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Black is a dominant gene (BB)
Blue is the dilute gene of Black (BB dd)
Chocolate is a dominant gene (bb)
Lilac is the dilute of Chocolate (bb dd)
Bi-Colour gene creates white spotting (Ss)

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Now some basic rules regarding these genes:
If you see a dominant colour you will produce it (in one parent)
If you only see a dilute gene (in both parents) you will produce dilute variants of the dominant colour.
The Bi-Colour gene will produce 50% of offspring with the bi-colour pattern when put with a solid pattern.
There is no such thing as the lilac gene!!! A cat can either carry chocolate or not.
 

For example:

Example 1 (dilute to dominant with 1 bi-colour gene)
Black Bi-Colour carrying chocolate and dilute (Bb Dd Ss)
put with a Lilac Solid (bb dd)
will produce; Chocolate, Black, Blue and Lilac in Solid pattern
and Chocolate, Black, Blue and Lilac in Bi-colour pattern
100% of the black and blue progeny will carry chocolate as 1 parent is a variant of this colour
 

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Example 2 (dilute to dilute with only 1 choc gene)
Blue carrying chocolate (Bb dd)
put with a blue carrying no chocolate (BB dd)
will produce; 100% blue solid kittens - 50% will carry the choc gene

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Example 3 (dilute to dilute carrying 2 chocolate genes)
Blue carrying chocolate (Bb dd)
Blue carrying chocolate (Bb dd)
will produce; 75% blue kittens and 25% lilac (3 blue and 1 lilac for instance)
The lilac kittens can't carry chocolate as they are chocolate in the dilute form
Of the 3 blue kittens 2 will carry chocolate and 1 will carry no chocolate gene

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I hope this can simplify it for those wondering how I have a blue kitten born from a chocolate
or how I produce lilac kittens from 2 blue cats etc

It takes a lot of time and dedication to producing the colours I strive to do so.
Not only do I have to have an understanding of basic feline genetics

 I also have to plan my matings accordingly.

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There is always an element of suprise when there is a possibilty of 8 different colours being born
and a mother may only deliver 4 to 5 kittens (as an average)

Just because I know the gentetics doesn't mean I can predict 100%
what colour/pattern/gender combination will be born in a litter!!!

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