Cats come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. While cat coat colors don’t affect personality or behavior, some colors are more common than others. Coat color is determined by genetics and falls into 3 main categories: solid colors, bicolor colors, and patterned colors. Understanding the different cat coat colors and patterns can help you choose your perfect feline companion.
Solid Color Cat Coats
Solid color cat coats are exactly what they sound like – the cat’s fur is all one color with no other marking. Some of the most common solid color cat coats include:
- Black – An all black coat.
- White – An all white coat.
- Red – Also called orange or ginger, this is an all red coat.
- Cream – A light beige or ivory coat.
- Chocolate – A rich brown fur.
- Lilac – A pale grey with pinkish tone.
- Cinnamon – A warm reddish brown.
- Fawn – A light tan color.
While less common, some other solid color coats include blue, lavender, sable, champagne, platinum, and ebony.
Bicolor Cat Coats
Bicolor cats have coats that feature two distinct solid colors in large patches. The most common bicolor cat coat patterns include:
- Tuxedo – Black and white coloration. The cat has a mostly black coat with white paws, chest, and sometimes face.
- Mask and mantle – A colored face and back with a white chest and legs.
- Cap and saddle – Colored only on the extremities with a white band around the mid section.
- Harlequin – Mostly white with several irregular colored patches.
- Van – Primarily white with color restricted to the crown of the head and tail.
While black and white is the most common, bicolor coats can feature any two solid color combinations like blue and cream or chocolate and white.
Patterned Cat Coats
Unlike solid or bicolor coats, patterned cats have multicolored fur with stripes, spots, or swirls. Some of the most popular patterned cat coat types include:
- Tabby – Prominent stripes on the body. Comes in classic, mackerel, spotted, and ticked tabby patterns.
- Calico – White fur with large orange and black patches.
- Tortoiseshell – Black and red patches without white fur.
- Torbie – Tortoiseshell coat with tabby striping in the red patches.
- Colorpoint – Body is light with extremities like the face, ears, legs, and tail in a darker shade.
There are also more unique patterned coats like the spotted Bengal cat, blotched Turkish Van, and whorled British Shorthair.
Rare and Unique Cat Coat Colors
While the colors above encompass most domestic cats, there are some rare and unique cat coat colors to be aware of:
- Chimera – Also called a “bonus cat”, these cats have two distinct coat colors split right down the middle, like black on one side and orange on the other.
- Pointed – The body is one color while the face, ears, legs, and tail are a darker shade.
- Mink – A dilution of the pointed pattern to lighter pastel hues.
- Sepia – A warm brown coloration similar to the stain.
- Amber – A golden orange eyes that glow.
There are also wild cat coat patterns like the blotchy spots of ocelots, stripes of tigers, or rosette shapes seen on leopards that can sometimes occur in domestic cats.
How Cat Coat Color Is Determined
Cat coat colors are genetic and depend on the variants of specific genes. Here are some of the key genes that influence cat colors:
| Gene | Effects |
|---|---|
| B/b | Controls black pigment production. Solid black requires BB or Bb. Little to no black pigment with bb. |
| O/o | Orange pigment production. OO or Oo allows orange. No orange pigment with oo. |
| D/d | Full color dilution from black to blue/grey. Dense color with DD or Dd, diluted with dd. |
| L/l | Long hair length with ll. Normal short hair with LL or Ll. |
| W/w | White spotting and markings. High white with ww, less with WW or Ww. |
| A/a | Agouti banded hairs in tabby pattern. A_ allows tabby bands, aa is non-agouti solid. |
With all these gene combinations, over 100 different cat coat colors are genetically possible!
Cat Coat Color Trends
While cat coat colors do not change in popularity as much as dog breeds, there are some color trends:
- Black cats were once believed unlucky but are now gaining popularity.
- White cats are also growing in favor after being shunned in the past.
- Unusual colors like lavender or cinnamon are becoming more sought after.
- The Tuxedo pattern remains the most popular bicolor coat.
- Tabby patterned cats are common due to the classic “M” forehead mark.
Rarer colors like amber and sepia are still relatively unknown outside cat breeders and show cats. But as cat owners become more knowledgeable about coat colors, unique shades may gain broader appreciation.
Choosing a Cat Coat Color
When selecting a cat based on color, consider these tips:
- Think about your home decor and get a color that complements it.
- Darker colors like black or chocolate hide dirt and hair less.
- White and light coats show mess but can brighten a room.
- Active families may want to avoid light fabrics that contrast with the cat.
- Get color genetics tested to ensure you get the pattern you want.
While color shouldn’t be the only factor, it makes sense to consider how it fits your lifestyle. The most important thing is choosing a cat with the right personality for your family!
Conclusion
From common black cats to rare chimeras, cat coat colors are amazingly diverse! While genetics determine the possibilities, cat color trends come and go. Whether you love a classic tuxedo kitty or dream of a unique sepia beauty, understanding cat coat colors can help match you with your purrfect companion!
