There are several breeds of cats that typically have white fur on their chests. Some of the most common breeds with this distinctive marking include the tuxedo cat, Turkish Van, Turkish Angora, Manx, British Shorthair, and American Shorthair. The white chest fur on these cats can range from a small patch to a fully white underside.
The white fur on a cat’s chest is caused by a lack of melanin pigment in that area. Just as people can have vitiligo which causes depigmentation in patches on their skin, cats can have a lack of pigment in parts of their fur. This results in those areas appearing white or very pale compared to the surrounding fur.
While a white chest is common in certain breeds, it can appear in many cats regardless of breed due to random genetic variations and mutations that inhibit melanin production. However, some breeds have specifically been bred to have distinctive white markings as part of their breed standard appearance.
Tuxedo Cat
One of the breeds most well-known for having a white chest is the tuxedo cat. Tuxedo cats have black fur on their backs and sides, while their belly and chest are white or pale gray. This color pattern gives them the look of wearing a tiny tuxedo jacket, hence their name.
The contrasting look of the white chest fur against the black body fur is an iconic and beloved feature of tuxedo cats. While they are not technically a specific breed, this distinctive coloring and pattern has made tuxedo cats extremely popular.
Tuxedo markings can appear in many breeds of cats and mixed breed cats. However, they are especially common in American Shorthairs. Up to 25% of American Shorthairs have the tuxedo pattern according to the Cat Fancier’s Association.
While tuxedo cats always have the contrasting black and white markings, they can differ in the amount of white fur. Some have just a small white patch on their chest, while others have a fully white underside. The shapes and sizes of the patches also vary between individual cats.
Turkish Van
The Turkish Van is an ancient breed that originated in Central and Southwest Asia. They are known for their white fur paired with colorfully patterned spots. They frequently have a primarily white chest and underside.
This breed has a unique coat that is water-resistant due to its texture. The longer fur on the tail can even be bushy or feather-like. While Turkish Vans are often mostly white, they can feature reddish-brown, black, blue, or cream colored markings on their heads and tails.
The contrast of the white chest fur with the colorful pattern makes the Turkish Van a very striking and beautiful breed. The white underside combined with the unusual partially waterproof coat are distinctive features of this breed.
While the breed standard dictates that Turkish Vans must have color on their heads and tails, the majority of their bodies are typically white. According to CatTime, 80% of the cat’s body should be white fur, including the chest and underside.
Turkish Angora
Like the Turkish Van, the Turkish Angora also originated in central Turkey. While not all Turkish Angoras have a white chest, it is a very common chest color for this breed.
The Turkish Angora is an ancient breed dating back over 2,000 years. They were brought from Turkey to Europe in the 17th century and eventually made their way to North America.
This breed is known for its long, silky, medium-fine coat that almost looks like flowing angora rabbit fur. While technically considered a semi-longhair breed, the fur is fine and smooth enough that it rarely mats or tangles.
In addition to often having bright white chest fur, Turkish Angoras are seen in many other striking colors and patterns. Their fur can come in black, blue, red, cream, tortoiseshell, brown tabby, and calico patterns. Solid white Turkish Angoras with pure white undersides are also fairly common.
Manx
The Manx is a breed originating from the Isle of Man that is best known for their lack of a tail. However, they also frequently exhibit white or off-white fur on their chests and stomachs.
This breed has a rounded head with prominent rounded cheeks. Their hind legs are slightly longer than their front legs giving them a continuous arch from shoulders to rump. This rounded appearance inspired their name, as they resemble the rounded hills on the Isle of Man.
In addition to often having a white chest, Manx cats can display a variety of coat colors and patterns. They come in tabby patterns, tortoiseshells, solids, calicos, and bicolors. The breed standard allows for any color or pattern with the exception of pointed patterns like the Siamese.
While Manx can be born completely tailless, they can also be born with full length, stubby, or partial tails. Those without tails often have more problems with balance and bowel movements.
British Shorthair
The British Shorthair is known for its dense, plush coat that comes in a variety of colors and patterns. A white chest is common in many variations of this breed.
In addition to white chests, British Shorthairs exhibit “colored” fur that can include blue, black, red, cream, silver, golden, cinnamon, lilac, chocolate, and fawn. Their patterns vary too, with tabby, spotted, calico, bicolor, and tortoiseshell being possible.
The British Shorthair has a stocky, muscular build with a broad chest and strong legs. Their round heads, cheeks, and eyes are other distinguishing characteristics. Originally bred in Britain, they almost went extinct after World War II before a breed revival.
While the British Shorthair coat is short, it is very thick and dense. Its wool-like texture helps repel water and insulate the cat in cool weather. This gives the breed a very visible, dense coat of fur across the chest in colors like white, cream, or silver.
American Shorthair
The American Shorthair is similar to the British Shorthair but has been bred in America for hundreds of years to develop its own characteristics. This breed also commonly exhibits white or light-colored fur on the chest.
American Shorthairs have muscular, powerful bodies. According to the Cat Fanciers’ Association breed standards, 25% should exhibit the tuxedo pattern with the black and white contrasting fur. In addition to the tuxedo pattern, American Shorthairs come in over 80 colors and patterns!
While not as plush and thick as the British Shorthair coat, the American Shorthair still has a short, dense coat that repels water. Silver tabby, brown tabby, and calico patterns are also very common with white fur on the chest and underside.
Conclusion
In summary, many pedigreed cat breeds like Turkish Vans, Turkish Angoras, British Shorthairs, and American Shorthairs frequently exhibit white or light-colored fur on their chests. Random bred cats like tuxedo cats also often have bold black and white markings with white chests and undersides.
While a white chest can appear in cats of any breed, it tends to be most associated with these breeds due to selective breeding practices or dominant patterns. The contrasting look of white chest fur with colored fur on the rest of the body creates very beautiful and eye-catching cat coat patterns.
So if you see a cat wandering down the street with bright white fur on its chest, it may just be exhibiting common markings seen in breeds like the American Shorthair, British Shorthair, Turkish Angora, or Turkish Van. Or it may just be a lovely domestic shorthair tuxedo cat! Either way, that patch of white fur gives cats a very distinguished look.
| Breed | Origin | Coat Description | Common Chest Colors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuxedo Cat | Random bred | Short to medium coat | White |
| Turkish Van | Central/Southwest Asia | Semi-long, water resistant | White |
| Turkish Angora | Central Turkey | Long, silky, fine | White |
| Manx | Isle of Man | Medium-length, thick double coat | White or off-white |
| British Shorthair | Britain | Dense, plush, wool-like | White, cream, silver |
| American Shorthair | United States | Short, dense, thick | White, cream, silver |