The Norwegian Forest Cat presents an extensive EMS color range encompassing all B-locus alleles (black, chocolate, cinnamon and dilutes), the Inhibitor (I) locus silver and golden series, and all accepted tabby patterns except ticked, making feline genetics management for NFO programs a multi-locus challenge. The Amber mutation (e allele at the Extension locus) was first documented in NFO and is now FIFe-accepted, producing a unique amber/light-amber phenotype that converts eumelanin to a modified phaeomelanin-like pigment. EMS color calculator tools must account for the e/e genotype and its interaction with the Agouti and Inhibitor loci, as amber cats uniquely display residual tabby pattern in amber coat.
Common recessive carriers
Amber (e) is a recessive allele at the Extension (E) locus; heterozygous carriers (Ee) are phenotypically black/standard. Homozygous amber (e/e) converts black pigment to amber/rufous tones. Light Amber occurs in e/e cats with the Agouti gene (A/-), while solid Amber arises in e/e + a/a cats. Chocolate (b), cinnamon (bl), and dilution (d) are all present as recessives in NFO populations.
Breed-specific restrictions
Ticked tabby (25) is NOT accepted in Norwegian Forest Cat under FIFe standard — this is a key distinction from SIB and ABY. Colourpoint (cs) is not recognized in NFO. Dominant White (W) is permitted. Amber (e) is breed-specific and represents a unique genetic feature of the NFO not found in most other FIFe breeds.
Pattern quirks
Classic (22), mackerel (23), and spotted (24) are all accepted. Ticked (25) is explicitly excluded. Silver series (I/-) produces silver tabby and smoke variants. Amber × silver combinations produce 'Light Amber Silver' phenotypes with complex EMS notation. The golden series (i/i + A/-) produces the popular 'golden NFO' show coat.
NFO n 23Black Mackerel TabbyNFO ns 22Black Silver Classic TabbyNFO ny 23Black Golden Mackerel TabbyNFO d 22Red Classic TabbyNFO f 23Black Tortie Mackerel TabbyNFO n 03Black BicolourFree online tool to predict kitten coat colors based on Mendelian genetics. Select the breed and appearance of sire and dam to see color probabilities.
Enter the appearance of both parents to calculate color predictions.