What breed of cat is brown and beige?

When it comes to cat coat colors and patterns, there are many different variations that can occur. Brown and beige coloring is common in certain breeds of cats. If you have a cat that has a mix of brown and beige in its fur, you may be wondering exactly what breed it could be. There are a few likely possibilities for a brown and beige cat breed.

Brown Tabby Cats

One of the most common cat breeds that can display brown and beige coloring is the tabby cat. Tabby refers to a coat pattern featuring stripes, dots, or swirls rather than a specific breed. The tabby pattern comes in many different colors, including various shades of brown. Here are some facts about brown tabby cats:

The brown tabby pattern consists of black stripes over a brownish or tawny background. The stripes can range from thick to thin.
Brown mackerel tabbies have narrow stripes that run parallel down their body in a fishbone-like pattern.
Classic brown tabbies have a bulls-eye pattern around their sides and swirled stripes on their chest and belly.

The background brown coat color can range from light beige, fawn, tan, brown, and even a slightly grayish shade.
All domestic cat breeds and many wild cats like tigers can have brown tabby fur.

So if your cat is a brown tabby, it may be a mix of several breeds. Look for the characteristic striped tabby pattern rather than focusing on breed. Here are some examples of common cat breeds that can have brown tabby fur:

Breed	Appearance
Domestic Shorthair	Muscular build, short coat, classic tabby stripes
British Shorthair	Round face, thick coat, bold tabby markings
Maine Coon	Large size, long fur, mackerel tabby stripes

Havana Brown

The Havana Brown is a breed recognized for its distinctive brown coat. Here’s a look at this unique feline:

Havana Browns are a rare breed originally from England. They were first developed in the 1950s.
They have a solid brown coat that can range from warm brown to reddish-brown.

Their fur is short and silky soft with a satin-like texture.
Havana Browns have vivid green eyes that stand out against their deep brown fur.
They have a medium-sized body with long, muscular legs suited for athleticism.

This breed tends to be highly intelligent, playful, and affectionate companions.

So if you have a cat that is a consistent shade of rich brown all over, there’s a chance it may have some Havana Brown in its ancestry. Havana Browns are one of few breeds to have an all-brown coat.

Brown Spotted Bengal

The Bengal cat breed features exotic spotted or marbled coats that can sometimes appear in shades of brown or tan. Here are some key facts about Brown Bengals:

Bengals were developed from hybrids of domestic cats and Asian leopard cats.
Their rosetted spots can be black, brown, or tan and may overlay a lighter brown or ivory background.
Brown Bengals can have orange, taupe, silver, or white undercoats with dark brown or black spotting.

They have athletic builds with long bodies, muscular legs, and thick tails.
Bengals are energetic, love playing in water, and are highly intelligent.

So if your cat has leopard-like brown spots or marbling rather than tabby stripes, it may have some Bengal heritage. But many other breeds can also have spots or rosettes in their patterns.

Oriental Shorthair

The Oriental Shorthair breed includes both solid color and patterned cats that cover a wide spectrum of hues. Here are some quick facts:

Orientals can come in solid, smoke, shaded, tabby, and calico coats in many colors.
Their brown tones can range from warm cinnamon to deep chocolate.

They have sleek, slender bodies with long tapered tails and tall pointed ears.
This breed tends to be very active, playful, vocal, and demand a lot of interactive attention.
Pointed Orientals have a lighter brown body with darker brown points on the face, ears, legs, and tail.

So if your cat has a closely matching brown coat lacking tabby stripes or spots, it may have some ancestry from the Oriental Shorthair breed. But many mixed breeds can also have solid brown fur.

Brown Classic Tabby Mix

If your cat has the traditional swirled and striped brown tabby pattern, chances are it is a mixed breed domestic cat with classic tabby heritage. Here’s an overview of this common coat pattern:

The classic tabby pattern features a distinct swirled bulls-eye marking on the sides.

They have thick brown stripes that run vertically down their body and swirl out horizontally across the chest.
The background coat color ranges from beige, fawn, tan, light brown and can have a subtle orange tone.
Classic tabbies tend to have bold, expressive facial markings including “M” patterns on their foreheads.

They can have various body types from stocky to lanky and any length of fur.

Since the classic tabby pattern is so common, cats that have this tend to be mixed breed mutts with random tabby heritage. But any breed from Maine Coon to Siamese can display classic brown tabby markings.

Brown Mackerel Tabby Mix

Mackerel tabby markings also frequently appear in mixed breed cats. Here are some quick facts about the brown mackerel tabby pattern:

Brown mackerel tabbies have narrow vertical stripes running down their body in a fishbone pattern.
The background fur is light beige, tan, fawn or subtly pinkish. The stripes are dark brownish-black.
They do not have bulls-eye markings but may have spotted stripes on their legs and face.

Mackerel tabbies tend to have smaller facial markings than classic tabbies.
Their body type can vary significantly based on mixed breeding.

Mackerel tabby cats also tend to be mixed breeds with random tabby genes. But any pure or mixed breed cat can display brown mackerel striped fur.

Brown Patch Tabby Mix

Brown patched tabbies have a mottled pattern of randomly scattered spots and stripes. Key facts about patched brown tabbies:

Their fur pattern features both swirling stripes and irregular blotchy patches.
Background fur is beige, tan or cream with brown tabby markings overlaying it.

They do not have the organized mackerel or classic tabby patterns.
Patches can range from small dots to large swaths covering most of the body.
This random patterning likely comes from mixed breeding over many generations.

The patched tabby pattern is common in mixed breed domestic cats. But pure breeds like the Egyptian Mau can also have a patched brown tabby coat.

Brown Tick Tabby Mix

Ticked tabby fur consists of banded hairs with color zones rather than stripes or spots. Key facts about brown ticked tabbies:

Their hairs are lighter brown at the base transitioning to darker brown tips.

This creates an overall agouti appearance rather than distinct stripes or markings.
They do not have bulls-eye, mackerel or swirled patterns on their coat.
Ticked tabby coats seem to sparkle in bright light from the banded hairs.

Any breed can have a brown ticked tabby pattern, but it is common in mixed cats.

If your cat has an understated agouti style coat lacking clear stripes, it likely has some ticked tabby genes. Ticking can also develop over time in older cats as their patterns fade.

Brown Torbie (Tabby-Tortie)

Torbie cats have a blend of tabby stripes mixed with tortoiseshell patchwork. Here are some key torbie facts:

Brown torbies have brown, orange, cream and beige patches over a striped tabby pattern.
They can be any tabby pattern including classic, mackerel, patched, or ticked.
Torbies are almost exclusively female since the coat color is sex-linked.

Levels of striping vs. mottled patching can vary from mostly tabby to mostly tortie.
Many breeds like Domestic Shorthairs commonly have a torbie coat.

So if your cat has a muted mix of brown tabby striping and blotchy cream/orange patches, she is likely a brown torbie. The torbie pattern results from having both tabby and tortoiseshell genes.

Brown Tortoiseshell Mix

Tortoiseshell cats have a brindled coat with a mix of brown and orange. Here are some key facts about brown torties:

Their coat features swirls of brown, tan, red, and cream without tabby striping.
Blotchy patches create a tortoiseshell appearance resembling a tortoise’s shell.

They typically have little to no white fur and lack tabby markings.
Tortoiseshell coats range from mostly brown to mostly orange in hue.
Like torbies, torties are almost always female due to genetic factors.

So if your cat has a mottled coat of brown and red without distinct tabby striping, she probably has some tortoiseshell genes. Tortoiseshell is a common pattern in many mixed breed cats.

Brown Colorpoint Mix

Colorpoint cats have lighter brown bodies with darker brown points on the face, ears, legs and tail. Here’s an overview:

Their body fur is light tan, fawn or cream with very pale undercoat.

The points are dense seal brown, dark brown or chocolate brown.
All four paws, the tail, ears, nose and face mask will be distinctly darker.
Mink colorpoints have warm medium brown points while septims are dark seal brown.

Breeds like Siamese and Ragdolls commonly have a brown colorpoint pattern.

So if your cat has a lighter brown body with darker extremities, it likely has some colorpoint breed ancestry. But colorpointing can also appear randomly in mixed breed cats.

Rare Brown Cat Breeds

There are a few rare cat breeds that can also have shades of brown in their fur. These include:

Russian Blue – This breed has a distinctive grayish-brown coat tipped in silver.
LaPerm – Curly-coated Laperms come in many colors including brown tabby and brown ticked tabby.
American Curl – Some American Curls have a tawny brown coat or darker brown colorpoint pattern.

Ocicat – Ocicats have spotted coats that can appear brown, chocolate, cinnamon, or tawny.
Chausie – These cats can have solid black, brownish black, brown ticked tabby or grizzled fur.

So if your cat closely matches one of these breeds, it may have ancestry from that breed. Unique coat types, body conformations, and personalities can hint at a rare breed background.

Determining Your Cat’s Ancestry

To definitively determine what breed or breeds make up your brown and beige cat, testing is needed. Here are some tips:

Talk to your vet – They can help assess breed background based on your cat’s features.
Check paperwork – Adoption or breeder paperwork may reveal history if your cat is not 100% mixed breed.

Do DNA testing – Cat DNA tests can pinpoint breeds in your cat’s recent genetic makeup.
Look for defining traits – Unique characteristics like curly fur or bobbed tails can indicate rare breeds.
Examine the face – Facial features like eye shape, ear size, and muzzle length provide clues.

While guessing based on appearance can be fun, DNA tests provide the real answer. Embark, Basepaws, and Wisdom Panel all offer cat DNA tests you can do at home.

Mixed Breed Cats Are Unique

No matter your cat’s origins, remember that mixed breeds have their own set of advantages. Hybrid vigor from diverse genetics helps mixed breed cats be healthy and hardy. They tend to have great temperaments since breeding focuses on personality rather than looks. And you can design a unique name and identity for a mutt cat. So celebrate your one-of-a-kind brown tabby or torbie cat!

Conclusion

Brown and beige cat coats come in diverse patterns and many breeds. Classic, mackerel and patched tabbies commonly have brown fur. Exotic cats like Bengals and Havana Browns can also have brownish coats. Look for distinguishing facial markings, body type, and personality to get hints about your cat’s ancestry. But DNA tests are the only sure way to know their breed background. Whatever your cat’s origins, love and appreciate their distinctive look!