Cats come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. While there are many different possible feline coat colors, some are much more common than others. Understanding the genetics behind cat coat colors can help explain why we see certain colors more often.
Common Cat Coat Colors
Here are some of the most frequently seen cat colors:
- Black – Pure black or mostly black cats.
- Tabby – Striped coat pattern in brown, grey, orange, or yellow.
- White – Pure white or mostly white coat.
- Calico – Patches of orange, black, and white fur.
- Tortoiseshell – Mix of black, orange, and yellow.
- Grey – Various shades of grey fur.
- Orange – Ginger or orange colored coats.
- Brown – Light to dark brown fur.
While other colors like lavender, chocolate, cinnamon, fawn, lilac, and cream occur less often, these are the most commonly seen coat colors in domestic cats.
Genetics of Cat Coat Color
To understand why we see certain cat colors more frequently, we need to look at the underlying genetics. There are two key genes that control the colors of cat coats:
- Orange Gene – This controls the orange and black pigments. The orange allele (variant) results in ginger/orange color. The non-orange allele allows expression of black pigment.
- Agouti Gene – This alternates bands of color on each hair strand. The dominant allele causes tabby striped patterns. The recessive non-agouti allele results in solid color.
Here is a simple table showing some common cat coat colors and the corresponding genotypes for these two key genes:
| Coat Color | Orange Gene | Agouti Gene |
|---|---|---|
| Black | Non-orange variant | Non-agouti |
| Orange | Orange variant | Non-agouti |
| Tabby | Non-orange variant | Agouti |
| Tortoiseshell | Orange and non-orange variant (heterozygous) | Non-agouti |
| Calico | Orange and non-orange variant (heterozygous) | Non-agouti with white spotting gene |
There are also other modifier genes that control things like white spotting, point coloration, and other variations. But this gives a general overview of the key genetic factors behind common cat coat colors.
Prevalence of Cat Coat Colors
Now that we understand the genetic basis for coat color, we can look at how frequently different colors occur. Here is a table summarizing the estimated prevalence of some of the most common cat colors:
| Coat Color | Prevalence |
|---|---|
| Tabby | 25-30% |
| Black | 22-25% |
| White | 15-20% |
| Calico | 5-10% |
| Orange | 5-8% |
| Tortoiseshell | 3-5% |
| Grey | 3-5% |
| Brown | 3-5% |
As we can see, tabby patterns, solid black, and solid white are the most frequently observed coat colors. This aligns with what the genetics would predict.
The agouti variant producing tabby stripes is dominant, so will be expressed whenever present. Non-agouti is recessive, so only homozygous recessive cats will show solid color instead of tabby stripes. And the orange variant is less common than non-orange.
For cats showing two colors (tortoiseshell, calico), these are almost always female. That’s because the orange gene is carried on the X chromosome. Males have just one X, so only exhibit one color. Females have two X chromosomes, allowing them to express both orange and non-orange if they are heterozygous.
Breed Predispositions
While the numbers above reflect overall prevalence across many breeds, certain colors are more associated with specific breeds due to selection and genetic bottlenecks:
- Orange – Common in ginger cats, a breed recognized for this color.
- White – Increased in breeds like Turkish Angora and Turkish Van.
- Grey – More common in Russian Blue breed.
- Chocolate or lilac – Higher rates in Siamese-related breeds.
- Point coloration – Signature of Siamese cats.
So breed ancestry and selection for certain traits has skewed the color frequencies for some breeds.
Color Distribution on the Body
In addition to the overall coat color, the distribution of color on different parts of the body can create distinctive patterns:
- Tuxedo – Black rear half and tail, with white front half, chest, stomach and paws.
- Tabby – Signature stripes on head, neck, legs and tail.
- Tortoiseshell – Patchy distribution of black, orange and yellow.
- Calico – Orange, black, and white patches over the body.
- Point – Paler body with darker color concentrated on face, ears, legs, tail and feet.
These patterns are controlled by the localization of different pigment cells during embryonic development.
Kittens vs Adult Cats
Kittens are often born with a different coat color than they will have as an adult:
- Newborn kittens have blue eyes that later change to other colors.
- Pointed kittens have very pale color that darkens as they grow.
- Tabby kittens have temporary makings that fuse as they mature.
- Red/ginger kittens are often born with tabby stripes that disappear with age.
- Spotted patterns on some kittens fade with maturity.
So a kitten’s coat color can look very different from the adult cat color. This is important to be aware of when selecting a kitten based on color.
Rare Cat Colors
While this covers the most common cat coat colors, there are also some rare and exotic colors that occasionally occur:
- Lavender – Dilute version of lilac, pale grey with pinkish tinge.
- Cinnamon – Brownish version of red/ginger coat color.
- Fawn – Very pale brown, almost pinkish beige color.
- Chocolate – Rich brown color.
- Sable – Brown coat ticked with silver-white banding.
These unusual colors arise from modified genetics producing diluted pigmentation. They are predominantly seen in certain pedigree breeds.
The Colorpoint Gene
One special gene that deserves separate mention is the colorpoint gene. This produces darker coloration of the extremities, leaving a paler body:
- Siamese cats exhibit the classic colorpoint pattern.
- The Himalayan breed has colorpoint pattern but with long hair.
- Ragdoll and Birman cats also have modified colorpoint coats.
This unusual pattern is caused by temperature-sensitive expression of pigment. The cooler extremities result in darker point coloration, while the warmer body stays pale. This gene originated in Siamese cats and has been transferred to other breeds.
White Spotting and Tuxedo Cats
Another interesting gene is responsible for white spotting and tuxedo coat patterns:
- The tuxedo pattern has a mostly black body with white belly, chin, and paws.
- Van pattern cats have primarily white coats with color restricted to the extremities.
- Bi-color cats have a white stripe down the face.
These are all caused by variable expression of the white spotting gene. Solid color occurs when it is absent, while increasing activity produces more white areas.
Conclusion
In summary, while cats display a diverse range of colors and patterns, genetics reveals that just a few key genes are responsible for most of the coat colors we see. Selective breeding has increased the frequency of rare colors in some breeds. But overall, the most common colors of cats remain the tabby patterns, solid black, and solid white.
Understanding the genetic basis of coat colors allows us to make sense of why some colors are prevalent, and how unusual colours occasionally appear. So science gives insight into the wonderful, and sometimes wild, world of feline coats.
