Cats come in a variety of colors and patterns. Their coats are made up of hair follicles that contain different amounts of melanin, which is a pigment that produces color. Cat coat genetics determine the color and pattern of a cat’s fur. There are 3 layers of hair that make up a cat’s coat – the outer layer called guard hairs, the middle awn hair layer, and the inner down hair layer closest to the skin. The genetics involved in cat coat color are complex, but they basically break down into two types of pigment: eumelanin which produces black/brown colors, and pheomelanin which produces red/yellow colors. Understanding the genetics behind cat fur color can help explain why cats have such diverse coat patterns and colors.
Solid Color Cats
Solid colored cats have a uniform coat color over their entire body. Some of the most common solid cat colors are:
Black – This color is produced by a dense deposit of eumelanin pigment into the hair shaft. Purebred black cats include the Bombay and Oriental Shorthair.
White – A complete lack of pigment causes the white coat. White spots can also occur from the white spotting gene. White cats include the Turkish Angora and Turkish Van.
Red – This color results from a deposit of pheomelanin pigment into the hair shaft. The color can range from light orange to a deep reddish hue. Red cats include the Turkish Angora and Somali.
Blue – This is a dilute version of black caused by a gene that reduces eumelanin pigment deposition. The hairs have a slate grey appearance. The Russian Blue is a prime example.
Cream – As a dilute version of red, the cream coat results from reduced pheomelanin pigment in the hair. Breeds like the Turkish Angora display this coloration.
Chocolate – This is a brown shade caused by a dilution of black pigment. The Havana Brown and Oriental Shorthair can have chocolate coats.
Lilac – A lighter version of chocolate, this greyish lavender hue is a double dilute of black pigment. The Siamese cat is known for its lilac point pattern.
Cinnamon – As a dilute of red, this light reddish brown color results from a reduction in pheomelanin pigment. The cinnamon gene produces this shade in the Abyssinian cat breed.
Tabby Cats
Tabby refers to cats that have stripes on their coat. These stripes are produced by cells that restrict pigment production to narrow bands along the hair shaft. Some common tabby patterns include:
Classic – This is the classic “blotched” tabby pattern with a swirled or bulls-eye pattern on the cat’s sides. The stripes are thick and bold.
Mackerel – Here the stripes run in narrow, vertical lines along the cat’s sides with a fishbone-like pattern.
Spotted – On spotted tabbies, the stripes break up into elongated spots. The spots align horizontally on the body. The Ocicat exhibits these trademark spots.
Ticked – With ticked tabby fur, the stripes are essentially invisible to the naked eye. But upon closer inspection, the hairs have alternating bands of color along the shafts. The Abyssinian shows ticked tabby patterns.
| Tabby Pattern | Description |
|---|---|
| Classic | Swirls and bold stripes |
| Mackerel | Narrow vertical stripes |
| Spotted | Elongated spots in rows |
| Ticked | Alternating color bands on hairs |
Tabbies can display any of these patterns in various colors like grey, brown, red, etc. The signature “M” marking on the forehead is a hallmark of tabby cats.
Tortoiseshell Cats
Tortoiseshell cats exhibit a patchwork of red and black fur. This color pattern occurs almost exclusively in female cats. It arises from a process called X-inactivation that randomly inactivates one of the two X chromosomes in every cell in the cat’s body. As a result, some areas express genes for black fur and others for red fur, producing the characteristic brindle appearance. Male cats with an extra X chromosome (XXY) can sometimes also be tortoiseshells, such as the mythic chimera cat. Some tortoiseshell cats also display white spotting for a “calico” pattern.
Bicolor and Tricolor Cats
Other cats have coats featuring two or three distinct colors distributed in large patches over the body. These colorations are produced by the piebald white spotting gene:
Black and White – Large patches of black and white fur. The Turkish Van can have this bicolor coat.
Blue and White – Large patches of grey and white fur. The Chartreux is a breed that can be blue and white.
Red and White – Large patches of red/orange and white fur. The Turkish Angora can have a red and white bicolor coat.
Tortoiseshell and White – Patches of tortoiseshell and white fur. This calico pattern is common.
Brown Tabby and White – Patches of brown tabby and white fur. Also known as “brown patched tabbies.”
Grey Tabby and White – Patches of grey tabby and white fur make up this color pattern.
Colorpoint Cats
Colorpoint cats like the Siamese have a pale base coat with darker colors restricted to the cooler extremities of their body – the face, ears, legs, tail, and feet. This pattern is regulated by temperature and is attributed to a mutation in the Color gene:
Seal point – Dark seal brown points on a pale fawn base coat. The most common colorpoint pattern.
Chocolate point – Warm chocolate brown points on a lighter ivory base coat.
Blue point – Bluish-grey points on a chalk white base coat. A dilution of the seal point coloration.
Lilac point – Frosty grey points on a pale base coat. A double dilute of the seal point pattern.
Red point – Rich reddish points on a creamy pale base coat.
Cream point – Lighter peach points on a milky white base coat. A dilute of red points.
Fawn point – Warm light brown points with hints of red on a pale ecru base coat.
| Colorpoint | Description |
|---|---|
| Seal point | Dark seal brown points |
| Chocolate point | Warm chocolate brown points |
| Blue point | Bluish-grey points |
| Lilac point | Frosty grey points |
| Red point | Rich reddish points |
| Cream point | Peach points |
| Fawn point | Light brown points with red |
These patterns can be combined with tabby stripes, white spotting, and tortoiseshell patchwork as well. The specific distribution of colorpoint shading is determined by temperature during embryonic development.
Rarer Cat Colors
In addition to the common colors above, some rarer and more unusual cat coat colors include:
Chinchilla – A double dilute of black pigment producing a pale pewter grey color. Most commonly seen in Chinchilla Persians.
Shaded – Only the tips of the hairs are colored with the roots remaining white. The Chinchilla Persian can also display this pattern.
Smoke – Hairs are banded with white fur under the main coat color. The fur appears solid colored until “smoked” with white when the cat is petted. The Balinese is known for its smoke coats.
Silver – Caused by the inhibitor gene I, silver hairs have white roots and colored ends in a silverfish hue. Seen in cats like the Chausie.
Cinnamon – A warm light brown that is an diluted version of chocolate brown. The Havana Brown cat can come in cinnamon.
Fawn – A soft pale brownish grey. A dilute of cinnamon.
Caramel – A darker brownish-grey dilute of seal brown caused by a specific gene mutation.
Amber – A golden yellow color associated with the inhibitor gene I that dilutes pheomelanin pigment. The Chausie and Bengal cats sometimes display amber coats.
Gold – A richer and more reddish version of amber caused by a wide band of pheomelanin in the hair shafts. The Oriental Shorthair can exhibit a beautiful gold coat.
Rare White Cats
There are some rare variations of white cats as well:
Foreign White – Solid white with yellow, blue, or gold eyes. This lack of body pigment is linked to the Wb gene.
Dominant White – Solid white with normal colored eyes. A white blaze gene produces this all-white appearance.
White Mask and Gloves – Darker color limited to the extremities with white on most of the body. Seen in the Van patterns of Turkish Vans.
White Spotted – High amount of white spotting covering most of the body with little color. The Turkish Angora can have this white spotted pattern.
Conclusion
Cats display an amazing diversity of colors and patterns in their fur coats. While genetics play a large role in determining coat color, selective breeding has also expanded the variety seen in domestic cats. From the common tabby to the rare amber and white spotted, cat coat colors showcase the wonders of feline genetics and human cultivation of desired fur traits. Yet underneath their varied exteriors, all our feline friends share a common delightful spirit that makes them beloved pets and members of the family.
