A domestic cat has 38 chromosomes in its diploid cells.
Diploid cells contain two sets of chromosomes—one set inherited from each parent—so a cat’s 38 chromosomes correspond to 19 chromosome pairs. Its reproductive cells, such as sperm and eggs, are haploid and contain 19 chromosomes before fertilization restores the diploid number.
The domestic cat shares this chromosome count with its closest wild ancestor, the African wildcat. Chromosome number is not the same thing as the number of genes: cats have roughly 20,000 genes distributed across their genome.
Cat genetics helps researchers study inherited coat colors, patterns and diseases. For example, genes influence whether fur is long or short, while other mutations affect pigmentation or hearing. A common mistake is assuming all mammals have similar chromosome counts; chromosome number varies widely and does not directly indicate an animal’s complexity.