Mapping Traits in Feline Hybrids

Several feline interspecies hybrid breeds are maintained in the cat breeding community, derived from crossing the domestic cat to wild cat species, including the Jungle cat, Asian leopard cat and serval. The resulting hybrids manifest hybrid male sterility through several generations of backcrossing before eventually regaining fertility.  Hybrid breeds also possess several unique coat color phenotypes of interest to the breeding community. Here I will discuss ongoing mapping efforts towards identifying the genetic basis for both trait types utilizing the Illumina 63K feline array on modest sized cohorts, focusing on the Chausie breed, a cross between the domestic cat and Jungle cat.