Help me sort something out please?

[Patti Peregrine]

(04-05-2013 01:34 PM)Tad Carlucci Wrote:  Try this mental model.

"Let's make a box." (That is, we have a 'box' and let's rez it in-world for the first time.)

Take an envelope. Label it "Fur". Mom and dad each have one already.

Reach into Mom's envelope and pull out one of the two slips of paper there. Make a copy and put it back.

Reach into Dad's envelope and put out one of the two slips of paper there, too. Make a copy of it and put it back.

Compare the two copies. Let's say one reads "Balinese Seal Lynx" and the other reads "Red Tabby". Check Saga's charts. Red Tabby is "dominant". Write "Red Tabby" on the "Fur" envelope for our new box. Put both slips into the envelope.

Repeat for all nine traits. When all nine envelopes (eye color, eye shape, etc.) are done we have a box.

Thank you Tad. The way you explained it makes perfect sense. Between your response, Kayleigh's, and my friend I finally have it understood. What I was thinking is that each cat had a hidden fur like a starter cat. So, I was totally confusing myself on what the offspring would be. I didn't realize that the "hidden" trail is not really truly hidden if the cat is not a starter. From my understanding, only a starter cat has completely unknown traits and that with a regular kitten, the hidden traits are traits from the pedigree. I am happy to report, the lightbulb is finally on. (I think)

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(04-05-2013 01:55 PM)Kayleigh McMillan Wrote:  

(04-05-2013 01:09 PM)Patti Peregrine Wrote:  Thank you so much Kayleigh. Now, let me ask you this or anyone else who wants to jump in and answer. If I know know that Sinatra has this coat Red & White tabby and I put a Red & White female with him, does that better my chances of getting another red & white.

So, am I understanding you correctly, that Vicky who is a Pink & White is hiding a Pink & White? I think I end up getting more confused then understanding.

I am not sure I will ever understand all this completely, but I have never had so much fun breeding a breedable. This community is by far the best there is!

I was affraid it would confuse you maybe more sorry for that
Here a couple of facts which might help to understand it better:

Cats can only have one hidden trait for each of the 9 traits there are and that trait comes either from mom or dad.
Each of both parents gives traits to the offspring and thus if the offspring shows one trait for example the fur of mom or what mom's hidden fur is it must hide the shown or hidden fur of dad.
If dad's shown fur is more dominant than the fur of the offspring the dad must have passed his more recessive hidden fur as a hidden in the OS.
You can trace that back in his pedigree and compair that with the dominance order docs.
This is in the fur example but it works this way on each trait.
Hidden traits can never be more dominant than the shown traits so they have to be more recessive.
What the hidden traits are you uncover frequently via breeding and pedigree research.
Since it is impossible a more dominant trait can hide behind a shown trait this eliminates a lot of possibilities.

As for your question if you pair the cat which is hiding the Red & White with a Red & white and if this would increase the change to get a Red & White the changes are indeed higher because you know that cat is hiding the Red & White.
Tricky is though if you pair it with a Red & White you don't know it is quite possible through generations suddenly a total surprise hidden shows up from that Red & White you obtained or found.
I hope I could clear things up a bit

Between you & Tad, I fully understand now. I was making it harder for myself then needed be. I was thinking every cat had a "hidden trait" like a starter cat besides the parents traits so I couldn't understand how anyone could ever with any predictability get the cat they wanted. I am happy to report, I believe I have a better grasp on it now. Again, I love love this community. I have done many breedables in the past, and I have never ever found such a friendly, helpful, supportive community then this one.

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(04-05-2013 02:38 PM)Serena Stroikavskoi Wrote:  Hi Patti,

Don't know if it will help or not. I posted this on my blog a couple of months back, but it has some pictures that might help you understand a little better.

The Kitty Pages - Traits

Oh, thank you so much Serena. I will check it out.