If black stripes is a dominant trait then at least one of the kittens parents also has black stripes. If black stripes is a recessive trait then the parents don’t necessarily have to have black stripes, however both of them have to carry the recessive trait for the offspring to have black stripes. A genotype refers to genetic make up so like blood type or if there are any sicknesses that run through the family. Phenotype refers to outside characteristics like hair color and eye color.