This question was posted on the general forum by someone not belonging to this group and was never answered. I thought I would post it here in hopes of eliciting a response because I would like to know too.

Where does the gorgeous green eye color of the silvers/goldens originate from? What color cat  and/or what lines were bred to achieve the vivid green eye?

Thank you~!

I am not sure you can trace vivid green eyecolor in silvers to a single origin from a single cat or a single mutation.  I believe that it is just a matter of selective breeding -- keeping cats with greener eyes and breeding them together so that the progeny have greener and greener eyes.  Eventually you end up with an extreme trait, such as emerald green eyecolor, that probably would not have evolved otherwise.  Even today we see simple artificial selection at play in eyecolor -- some breeders do not place as much emphasis on eyecolor and keep and breed silvers that have yellow or yellow-green eyes.  The kittens, as a result, get weaker and weaker eyecolor until good eyecolor is selected for again.

Tracy

Thank you for the information. I am really into eye color myself. Boo has very pretty blue-green eyes but they are small in size. Buddy has very pretty deep green eyes but are more almond shaped. And of course Binky has the ultimate  green eye color and size that I can never get enough of.

I find genetics so fascinating and thank you again!

Joan W.

Yes, your Mr. Gimbles has those same big green eyes that I love so much too. Funny how you can just look into the face of your sweet kitty and they put a huge smile on your own face

Patts--you are a gorgeous kitty and welcome here any time!