Colors and Color Patterns on Cats
These categories are used by the various cat associations to set standards for each breed. But, they also offer you a glimpse of your cat’s appearance.
Fur Patterns.
The fur patterns (how the color is distributed on each hair) affect the overall appearance of the cat as well as helping to define its color. These patterns are:
- Tipped. The tip of the hair has a color other than white. The remainder of the hair is white.
- Shaded. An extended form of tipped. The color pigment is darker and extended further down the shaft.
- Smoke. The darkest form of tipped. Most of the hair shaft is colored with a light undercoat.
- Ticked or Agouti. The colors are banded on the hairs.
Colors
The actual colors may not be what is envisioned when you hear its name. Black is pretty much black, and white is pretty much white. Here are some other color definitions:
| Color | Definition | Color | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | Blue-gray | Honey | Medium brown |
| Bronze | Range of brown shades | Lavender | Pale pinkish gray |
| Caramel | Buffish brown | Lilac | Gray with pinkish tones |
| Champagne | Honey beige | Platinum | Pale, silver gray |
| Chestnut | Rich brown | Pewter | Shaded silver |
| Chocolate | Milk chocolate | Red | Light to dark orange |
| Cinnamon | Light reddish brown | Sable | Darkest form of brown |
| Cream | Dilute red | Seal | Dark brown colorations |
| Ebony | Black | Silver | Silver |
| Fawn | Shades of brown | Sorrel | Ticked red with brown |
| Frost | Gray with pinkish tones | Tawny | Black/brown spotting on bronze |
| Golden | Apricot | ||
| Havana | Tabacco leaf brown |
Color Patterns
- Solid Color (or "Self" colored)
- Particolors. A mix of two or more separate colors (usually white and another color), or Calico that has defined patches of color.
- Tortoiseshell (Tortie). Intermingled color evenly distributed over the body;
resembling a tortoiseshell. Usually only found on female cats. - Pointed. Darkened colorations on the extremities such as the tail, legs, feet, face and ears.
- Pointed Van. "Pointing" usually restricted to the tail or part of the head. Also know as Harlequin
- Lynx. Tabby pointed.
- Tabby. Stripes and spots that are familiar with the "wild." Ringed tail.
- Patched Tabby (Torbie). Tortoiseshell/tabby mix.
- Spotted Tabby. Stripes that are broken as they run through the coat.
- Mackerel Tabby. Stripes that run vertically down the body separated by "ticked" areas. Resembles a fish’s skeleton.
