Q: I notice that many cats have white bellies and some also have white paws, even when the rest of the coat is another color. Are white bellies as prevalent among cats as they seem? If so, why?
A: White bellies are indeed common among cats, dogs and other species. Each of my tuxedo cats is black with a white underside and paws, as though the cat is wearing a black tuxedo with a white shirt and socks.
This coat pattern occurs because of the distribution of melanocytes, cells that contain a pigment called melanin that produces color.
When the developing cat is just an embryo, still a tiny round ball, the melanocytes congregate on the outer surface, where the skin and fur will form, along what will become the kitten’s spine….