Cross Breeds

Why do animals such as cats and dogs have various colors on their fur?

Humans have different colour skin because of the climate they once lived in. Many male birds have bright colours to attract female birds. Some animals who live in cold places have white fur to keep warm because their fur then takes in all the sunlight. But why do some animals, like cats and dogs have stripes or spots? Why are some black, some white, some yellow, some grey and some multicolored etc?

Public Comments

1. Hair isn't skin.
2. Easy question, easy answer. camouflage. Take a husky for example.. it blends in pretty well with snow, which is great considering it's natural habitat.. or even a zelbra,,, ok so it's black and white, but most of it's preditors are colour blind, and the stripes makes it blend in perfectly with the long african grass..
3. They were breed by humans to be that way. As far a wild cats having stripes, spots etc...it is for camouflage purposes.
4. it depends on the parents!!