Yes, it is absolutely possible for a cat to have brown and white fur. This fur color pattern, known as brown tabby and white, is relatively common in many cat breeds. The tabby pattern itself refers to stripes, swirls or spots in the fur, which can range from light brown to dark chocolate brown. The white areas are solid with no tabby pattern. So a brown tabby and white cat has both brown tabby and white patches on its body. This distinctive color combination is seen in popular breeds like Turkish Vans, Turkish Angoras and Japanese Bobtails. With proper care and diet, brown tabby and white cats can live long, healthy and happy lives like any other cat.
What Causes the Brown Tabby and White Coloration?
The brown tabby and white fur coloration is caused by genes that code for both the tabby coat pattern and white spotting.
The tabby pattern is controlled by a dominant gene called Ta, which causes the characteristic stripes, swirls or spots. This gene is present in all cats, but can be masked by other coat genes. The specific shade of brown depends on other genes in the Agouti family that determine whether eumelanin (brown/black pigment) is produced.
The white spots are caused by the S or W genes, which prevent color from developing in patchy areas. The S or W genes are incompletely dominant, meaning the cat can inherit one copy and have minor white spotting, or two copies and have more extensive white areas.
So cats with the dominant Ta gene for tabby patterning, Agouti genes for brown pigment, and at least one copy of S/W for white spotting will have the classic brown tabby and white combination. The size and distribution of the brown and white areas varies from cat to cat.
Common Cat Breeds with Brown Tabby and White Fur
| Breed | Description of Brown Tabby and White Pattern |
|---|---|
| Turkish Van | Hallmark breed trait is red or cream color on head and tail, with variable brown tabby and white pattern on body and legs. |
| Turkish Angora | Can have red tabby, brown tabby, or various tabby and white patterns. Brown tabby and white very common. |
| Japanese Bobtail | Tricolor coats featuring patchy brown tabby and white markings are common in the breed. |
| Maine Coon | Classic tabby patterning in brown or gray shades with white trim and underside is a signature look. |
| American Shorthair | Silver tabby and white coats are prevalent, with black or dark brown stripes on a silver/white background. |
| British Shorthair | Patterned coats including brown tabby and white are breed standard. |
As seen, many pedigreed cat breeds allow the expressive brown tabby and white pattern. It occurs through the chance combination of dominant tabby genes with spotting genes carried in the breed. The distribution and proportion of the brown and white areas can differ strikingly from cat to cat.
Brown Tabby and White Pattern in Mixed Breed Cats
This iconic fur pattern is not limited to purebred cats – many mixed breed domestic cats also inherit the requisite tabby and spotting genes.
The classic brown (or gray) tabby is one of the most common coat patterns seen in random bred cats. It stems from the original wild ancestor of domestic cats, the African wildcat Felis silvestris lybica, which has an agouti-style striped tabby coat. This provides the baseline tabby patterning.
White spotting occurs randomly in mixed breed cats, as the S/W spotting genes are widespread in the general cat population. When a cat inherits both tabby and white spotting together, the charming brown tabby and white pattern emerges.
So this combination can appear in any cat line that has both brown tabby and white spotting genes present. The patches themselves are randomly distributed based on developmental events in the embryo.
Are Brown Tabby and White Cats Recognized as a Distinct Breed?
While the brown tabby and white pattern is attractive and popular, cats with this particular coloration are not considered a distinct breed. Rather, it describes coat color and can appear across many breeds.
There is no single standard for the proportion, distribution or shade of the brown tabby and white areas for a cat to be considered this “type.” It varies greatly based on the cat’s genetics.
So brown tabby and white is not a breed, but simply a color pattern that results from the combination of tabby and piebald genes. The coat qualities themselves conform to the overall breed standard – for example, a Maine Coon with brown tabby and white fur still meets the other physical and behavioral standards for Maine Coons.
Many cat registries will simply list the color as “brown (or blue, silver, etc.) tabby and white” under the cat’s breed. The pattern is tracked as a coat characteristic, not a separate breed.
Are Brown Tabby and White Cats Recognized in Cat Shows?
Brown tabby and white cats are eligible to compete in cat shows provided they meet the breed standards set by the registering association. For example, in CFA shows:
– A Turkish Van with proper head and tail color is allowable regardless of whether it has brown tabby or other tabby patterning in the white areas.
– Maine Coons and other tabby breeds may be shown with brown tabby and white patchy coloration.
– Japanese Bobtails can compete with their signature mi-ke (tricolor) coats including brown tabby and white.
So the brown tabby and white pattern itself is not a disqualifier in breeds where it commonly occurs. The cat is judged based on how well it overall represents ideal features for its particular breed.
Some associations may divide the tabby and white colors into classes based on the extent of white spotting, such as “brown tabby and white – low white”, “brown tabby and white – medium white,” etc. But in general, the brown tabby and white pattern is accepted and celebrated in cat shows for many breeds.
Care and Health of Brown Tabby and White Cats
Brown tabby and white cats have the same basic health and care needs as any other cat:
– High quality cat food providing balanced nutrition
– Fresh water available at all times
– Veterinary exams and vaccines to protect against disease
– Preventative treatments for parasites
– Spay/neuter at an appropriate age
– Safe, stimulating home environments with lots of playtime
– Cat trees, scratching posts and toys to promote exercise
– Affection, socialization and handling to build a bond with their human family
There are no health issues specific to or more common in brown tabby and white cats compared to other colors. The genes for tabby patterning and white spotting do not seem to be associated with any feline diseases or conditions.
With proper preventative care and early treatment of any issues, cats with this eye-catching coat can live as long as 15 years or more. Their expected lifespan is the same as any cat, influenced mainly by care, environment and hereditary resilience.
Conclusion
The brown tabby and white pattern occurs frequently in pedigreed cats like Turkish Vans, Japanese Bobtails and Maine Coons, as well as in mixed breed domestic cats. It arises from a combination of dominant tabby genes and spotting genes that create contrasting patches of pigmented tabby fur and white areas devoid of pigment. While a recognizable and appealing coat color variant, brown tabby and white is not considered a distinct cat breed, as it can appear across many breeds with the right genetic makeup. Brown tabby and white cats can compete in shows and live happy, healthy lives when provided with proper care, nutrition and veterinary attention. So the next time you see a cat sporting this patchwork fur, know that it is simply a brown tabby cat with a splash of white!