Cats come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. While some cat colors are very common, like black, white, tabby and calico, there are many rare and exotic cat colors out there as well. In this article, we’ll take a look at all of the different possible cat colors and what genetics cause cats to have various coat colors and patterns.
Common Cat Colors
Here are some of the most common cat colors that you’ll encounter:
Black – A solid, dense black coat. This is one of the most common cat colors.
White – A solid white coat with little to no blotches or spots of color. White cats with blue eyes are especially striking.
Tabby – Tabby refers to cats with distinctive stripes on their coat. The stripes can vary in thickness and pattern. Tabbies come in various base colors like gray, brown and orange. The classic/standard tabby pattern features a distinctive “M” shape on the forehead.
Calico – A calico cat has a patchwork coat of red, black and white splotches over their body. They are almost always female due to genetics. No two calico cats have the same exact pattern.
Tuxedo – Tuxedo cats are black with distinct white patches on their chest, paws and chin that resemble formal wear. This pattern is also sometimes called a bi-color cat.
Tortoiseshell – A brindled mix of black, red and orange coat colors. Like calicos, tortoiseshell cats are nearly always female.
Gray/Blue – A uniform solid gray or blueish-gray coat.
Orange – A warm orange or red coat. Also sometimes called red or ginger cats.
Brown Tabby – One of the most common tabby patterns, these cats have bold black stripes over a brownishcoat.
So those are some of the most popular and frequently seen cat colors out there. But there are many more unusual and exotic colors that sometimes crop up due to selective breeding or genetic mutations.
Rare Cat Colors
Here are some rare and exotic cat colors and patterns:
Lilac – A pale, pinkish gray hue resulting from a dilution gene.
Chocolate – A rich brown color caused by a recessive gene mutation that dilutes black pigment.
Cinnamon – An orangey-brown color caused by a recessive gene that dilutes black pigment.
Fawn – A warm pale brown color resulting from a gene that dilutes chocolate and cinnamon coats.
Creamsicle – Bright orange body with white underside and paws.
Smoke – A cat whose fur is white at the roots but gradually gets darker towards the tips, creating a smoky effect.
Chinchilla – Soft, pale silver-white fur tipped with black guard hairs to create a sparkly appearance.
Colorpoint – Body is light “points” of color on face, ears, tail and feet contrasting with a pale body, like a Siamese.
Silver Tabby – A tabby cat with silver stripes on a pale gray background. The silver genes make the pattern appear iridescent.
Brown Patch Tabby – A brown mackerel tabby with orange patched mixed in, giving them a brindled look.
Torbie – A tortoiseshell tabby blend with brindled patches of black, red and orange stripes.
Dilute Torbie – A pale, washed-out version of a torbie with gray, cream and peach blending.
Colorpoint Shorthair – A Siamese relative that comes in colors besides the traditional seal points.
Chausie – Jungle cat hybrids with solid black coats or black grizzled ticking.
So those are some rare and exotic cat colors and patterns that result from selective breeding or genetic mutations. The wide variety of colors and combinations is virtually endless. Next we’ll look at what genetic factors cause all these coat variations.
Genetics of Cat Colors
The genetics of cat coat color and patterns is complex, with many genes interacting to produce all the variations seen. Here are some of the key genetic factors that influence cat colors:
Melanin Content – The amount of black or brown pigment (melanin) in the fur determines if a cat is black, chocolate, cinnamon, etc. The melanin content is controlled by genes like B/b and D/d.
Dilution Genes – Dilution genes like dense (D) and dilution (d) wash out the melanin pigment to create pale colors like lilac and fawn.
Agouti Signaling Protein – The ASP gene determines if color is solid or if tabby stripes are expressed. The recessive non-agouti (a) allele produces solid color while tabby patterns result from dominant A allele.
White Spotting -Genes like S/s control how white spotting and markings appear. The mittens and tuxedo patterns are caused by the piebald white spotting gene.
Orange Pigment – Cats with O/o genotype produce orange pigment instead of black. Red, cream and orange cats have this genotype.
Temperature Sensitive Allele – The albino gene variant cs only allows color to develop in the cooler extremities of the body, creating colorpoints.
Sex-Linked Colors – Colors like calico and tortoiseshell associated with the O gene are sex-linked with the relevant alleles only expressed in females.
This table summarizes some of the key genes involved in cat coat colors:
| Gene | Alleles | Effect on Color |
|---|---|---|
| B/b | B – Black pigment b – Brown pigment |
B is dominant giving black coats. bb cats will be chocolate or cinnamon. |
| D/d | D – Dense color d – Dilute color |
Dd or dd cats have diluted lilac, fawn, etc. colors. DD have intense, dense color. |
| A/a | A – Tabby pattern expressed a – Solid color |
AA and Aa cats will have tabby patterns. Solid color requires recessive aa. |
| O/o | O – Allows black pigment o – Produces orange pigment |
oo cats produce orange/red pigment. OO and Oo cats have black pigment. |
| S/s | S – Minimal white spotting s – Extensive white spotting |
ss cats will usually have tuxedo or mitted white spotting patterns. |
So in summary, the combination of genes inherited from the parents determines if a cat’s coat is black, orange, tabby, bicolor, etc. Selective breeding allows propagation of rare or desired colors and patterns.
Conclusion
Cats display an amazing diversity of coat colors and patterns. While some colors like black and tabby are very common, unusual colors like lilac, cinnamon and fawn also occur but are rarer. The genetics underlying coat color involve genes that control melanin content, pigment types, tabby patterning, dilution factors and more. Selective breeding for desired aesthetic traits propagates appealing colors. So if you want a unique or exotic looking cat, there are many different color possibilities to choose from. No two cats have exactly the same coloring thanks to all the genetic variety.