The variety of colors of mustachioed pets is striking in its diversity. Animals differ from each other not only in the predominant color, but also in the degree of coloring of the hairs, as well as the presence or absence of a pattern on the coat.
All these features depend entirely on genetics, so to preserve them it is very important to follow a number of certain rules when mating. Below you can get acquainted with all the existing colors of cats and cats using photos and find out the names of the breeds to which they are assigned.
Genetics is the basis of everything
The ancestors of modern “mustachios” inhabited the hot savannas of Africa and the forests of Europe. At that time, cats used color solely for the purpose of survival and hunting. Inconspicuousness on the sand, among bushes and tree branches was achieved thanks to gray and brown tones, as well as numerous stripes and spots scattered over the entire surface of the fur coat. As a result of domestication and subsequent selection, cat colors have become more diverse and unusual.
The color of the hairs is determined by a special pigment - melanin, which is divided into 2 types:
- pheomelanin, which gives pigmentation in the red-yellow-orange spectrum by reflecting the rays of the sun;
- eumelanin, which gives black pigmentation by absorbing the rays of the sun.
Experienced cat owners will confirm that the coat of male cats has a less rich color palette. This is also explained by genetics.
Pheomelanin and eumelanin activate 2 genes: O and o, respectively. They are present only on X chromosomes, that is, the coat color is firmly linked to the sex. In the genetic code of females there are as many as 2 X chromosomes, so they have 3 basic colors available to them:
- red, or red (OO);
- black(oo);
- tortoiseshell (Oo).
Males have only one X chromosome. The latter option is not typical for them, but still sometimes occurs and is accompanied by infertility.
The genes listed are only part of a huge system. In addition to them, there are also those that are responsible for the saturation, brightness and contrast of the final color. Based on these characteristics, all existing cat colors are divided into the following types:
- solid, or solid;
- colors with white, including piebald;
- tabby, or tabby;
- tipping, or typed;
- color point, or acromelanism.
The coloring of the kittens' coat depends on the correct crossing of their parents. For this reason, breeders of purebred animals strictly monitor the pedigree and be sure to check the documents of partners for the upcoming mating.
Cream British kittens
The British peach cat never became the object of widespread breeding; most often, such animals are born as a result of selection of representatives of this breed with red fur.
Peach-colored offspring are born only when both parents carry the appropriate genetic formula. And any deviations from the standard (for example, white hairs or pronounced tabby) can cause culling.
It is extremely difficult to get a peach British cat in order to continue the line with its help - females are most often born with a tortoiseshell color.
Those who want to buy a peach British cat come across mostly boys, for whom it is difficult to choose the appropriate pair for mating in the future. Therefore, all offers for cream cats come only from professional nurseries, and finding a high-quality kitten from the mating of two pets at home is almost impossible.
Solid colors of cats
The solid color of cats, or solid, is monochromatic. It does not contain extraneous drawings, which is completely inconsistent with the natural design. For this reason, most of the representatives from this group are the result of the hard work of breeders.
Are there completely white and black animals?
In nature, completely white and black colors do not exist. The only exceptions are unfiltered sunlight and the depths of a black hole. In the coloration of cats, such colors are achieved by multiple accumulations of spots.
The appearance of a large number of white hairs on the body is associated with the complete absence of coloring pigment in albinism or its partial suppression. In the second case, the animal becomes uniformly white due to many white spots that visually merge, or piebald.
Dominant white, a lack of color not associated with albinism, is also possible. These cats have a soft coral hue to their nose, ears, paw pads and eyelids.
The piebald color group involves the presence of colored spots on a white background and includes the following subspecies:
- Wang
. Maximum amount of white, diluted with small colored spots on the tail, head or back of the paws.
- Harlequin
. The predominance is still on the side of white, but there are more colored spots. In addition to the head, they cover the sides and back, and the entire tail is colored.
- Bicolor
. Most of the body is covered with colored spots, and the residual white creates a fancy pattern in the form of “gloves”, “medallion”, “tuxedo”, “cap”, “buttons”, “saddle” and “socks”.
- Calico, or tricolor
. The predominance of white in combination with tortoiseshell.
A completely black coat is more common than a snow-white one. It is formed by a combination of the dominant o gene and the recessive non-agouti gene, which masks the wild pattern. The features of non-agouti and body patterns will be discussed in more detail in the “tabby or tabby” section.
Rare and common colors
Common cat colors include those approved by international felinological organizations. These include:
- black;
- red;
- tortoiseshell;
- blue;
- chocolate;
- cream;
- blue-cream tortoiseshell.
If the color appeared quite recently and representatives with such a coat are difficult to breed due to their rarity, then it is not recognized. The most unusual of them include cinnamon (cinnamon), fawn (deer), apricot, and lilac.
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INTERESTING!
Under the red and cream color, the pattern often breaks through, which makes it very difficult to achieve their uniformity.
Examples of breeds
The most notable black cat is the Bombay. A snow-white coat is typical for the Kao Mani and Turkish Angora, a chocolate coat for the Havana Brown, and a blue coat for the Chartreuse and Russian Blue.
American Shorthair
Representatives of this breed are relatives of domestic shorthair cats. They are distinguished by their friendliness and calm character. A cat's "fur coat" comes in a variety of colors and patterns, including plain white.
American Shorthairs easily adapt to different living conditions. They prefer to spend time with their beloved family members, but are also able to entertain themselves with interactive toys.
Breed overview
Height: 20-25.5 cm
Weight: 4.5-6.8 kg
Physical characteristics:
- athletic build;
- short thick fur.
Tabby, or tabby
Tabby is the most ancient coloring, inherited by domestic cats and cats from their wild ancestors. It is distinguished from solids by the presence of a pattern that facilitates mimicry - camouflage to the environment.
Varieties
Tabbies are characterized by zonal hair coloration, which is a uniform alternation of dark and light areas, like on a police baton. Depending on the order of arrangement and appearance of the lines inside the color, 4 subspecies are distinguished:
- Spotted
. The body of the animal is covered with round spots of different sizes. On the tail and in the lower part of the limbs the shape changes to oval and can merge into stripes.
- Marble
, or
classic
. It is a combination of wide spiral stripes diverging on the sides and reminiscent of marble stains. In addition to this feature, the fur coat has spots in the belly area, rings along the tail and paws, as well as 3 stripes in the area of the shoulder blades, similar to the open wings of a butterfly. - brindle
, or
mackerel
. Characterized by thin vertical stripes scattered throughout the body. The rings are found strictly on the tail and limbs, and a continuous dark stripe runs along the spinal column. - Ticked
. This color is found in Abyssinian cats, so it is sometimes carried separately. Its detailed description will be given below.
Another gene is responsible for the appearance of the pattern on the coat - agouti, as well as its possible form, or allele - non-agouti. The first makes the tabby distinguishable, while the second suppresses and disguises it. Thus, in the presence of non-agouti, the tabby turns into a solid.
“ INTERESTING!
Protection from the effects of non-agouti is only provided by the O gene, which is responsible for the red and cream tint. For this reason, all fluffy saffron milk caps have an open pattern, which can only be removed through painstaking breeding work.
Residual tabby in kittens confirms that all whiskered pets are tabbies, but not all are agoutis. Because of this, with solid colors, the pattern disappears immediately after the juvenile molt.
Examples of breeds
The most famous “mustache” with a marbled coat is the short-haired British kitten from the Whiskas advertisement. The presence of spots is typical for savannahs, Ocicats and Bengals. Stripes are the least common. They can be found in the Toyger, a close relative of the Bengal.
Housey
This is a relatively young cat breed that was created by crossing a domestic cat with a wild jungle cat (Felis chaus). They can grow to almost a meter in length and weigh 4-7 kilograms or more. As with other hybrid Savannah or Bengal cats, male Housies from the first few generations are usually sterile, with the F4 and F5 generations considered the most suitable for showing.
Ticked cat colors
The main feature of ticked color in cats is the vagueness of the pattern. It's like he's covered with a light veil. Residual stripes are observed only on the muzzle. Its relationship with other varieties of tabby can be determined by the mesmerizing shimmer of the coat, achieved through zonal hair coloring.
Initially, ticking was found only in “Abyssinians,” but over time, breeders achieved its manifestation in other breeds: Ragamuffin, Chausie, “British,” LaPerma, Cornish Rex, “Oriental,” Manx and others.
The requirements for these animals are much lower than for Abyssinian cats. Their standard allows for open “necklaces” on the neck, the letter “M” on the forehead (scarab sign) and stripes around the paws and tail.
Pantheretta
This black beauty was born almost by accident. One of the litters of Bengal cats once gave birth to a black baby. The little one grew and became more and more like a panther in appearance.
The breeders did not ignore the amazing similarity, and selection work led to the creation of a new breed. Pantheretta cannot be bought: the work of researchers is not yet finished. Cats of this breed are very friendly, distinguished by good health and indescribable elegance.
Tipping
On average, when ticking, the hair is divided into 3 alternating zones. Tipping is a fairly close concept, but has two differences:
- Number of zones. Usually there are only two of them: light at the bottom and dark at the top.
- Mechanism of coloring. The lower part of the hair is lightened to white by complete or partial loss of pigment due to the dominant silver gene. In the first case, it becomes white, and in the second, yellow or apricot.
Depending on the degree of black coloration, several varieties are distinguished in this group. As with tabbies, the final color of a cat when tipped is determined by the presence of the agouti gene.
Haze and shaded
Haze and shaded colors are similar, but still separate varieties. In both places there is a dominant silver gene, but its manifestation depends on the agouti gene:
- Smoky
. Owners of this color carry the non-agouti allele in their chromosomes, which excludes the pattern. Because of this, the smoky coat of cats is often confused with a plain coat. The silveriness appears strictly when moving, when the hairs move apart and expose almost 50% of the white base.
- Shaded
. With this variety, only ⅓ of the hair is dyed. Due to the presence of the agouti gene, a pattern is formed on the fur coat, creating the effect of a translucent veil.
Depending on the color of the tips of the hairs, the haze can be blue, purple, black, chocolate and red. The presence of residual stripes in smoky colors is not allowed.
“ REFERENCE!
In addition to the standard haze, there is also a reverse haze, when it is not the base of the hairs that is painted white, but their ends.
Silver and gold
In this section, it is important to clarify that, unlike solids and tabbies, tipping is only a method of coloring. It is not a separate group of colors in cats. The color variations created by tipping are called silver. In addition to haze and shaded, 2 more colors are classified as silver:
- Silver tabby
. A unique option for zonal coloring with lightening of light areas to whiteness. The dark shade in this case retains its original color. Thanks to this, a pattern characteristic of a tabby appears on the body.
- Veiled, or chinchilla
. It is characterized by coloring only ⅛ of the hair. As with the ticked paint, the chinchilla will be disassembled separately just below.
Both varieties, like the shaded one, appear under the condition of the simultaneous presence of the silver and agouti genes. The first suppresses the production of both types of melanin, but has a greater effect on pheomelanin.
If there is an excess amount of red pigment (red and cream coat), its blocking fails. It gives a unique cameo color, when instead of dark tips, light ones are formed. As in the case of a chinchilla, the dyed part accounts for ⅛ of the total length of the hair.
“ NOTE!
The blue coat is often confused with the silver coat, but it still belongs to the solids. This confirms the absence of a white base in the hairs.
Unlike silver, gold consists strictly of red-yellow-orange colors. With this coloring, the color is preserved in both zones, but the upper one is painted more brightly and intensely. If the top layer accounts for ⅓ of the hair, then the color is called shaded gold, and if only ⅛, then veiled. In both cases, the golden cat is always green-eyed.
The golden color of the fur coat is the most expensive and rare. It is difficult to breed as the exact reason for its inheritance has not yet been identified. Mating of two golden individuals does not always give the desired result, since any inconsistency of genes leads to the suppression of pheomelanin.
Examples of breeds
The smoky color, like many others, is allowed by the American Curl standard. A brighter owner of the haze is the Australian mist, or Australian smoky. A silver coat is the calling card of the oriental beauty of Singapore, and bright gold is the most expensive color option for the chubby-cheeked “British”.
Chinchilla
With this color in cats, only the very tip of the hair is colored, and most of it remains white. The name “chinchilla” was given for a reason. The coat of animals with this color really resembles the fur of rodents or an arctic fox fur coat. An additional bonus is the extraordinary softness and fluffiness.
In addition to silver chinchillas, golden ones are also found. They are distinguished by a soft apricot undercoat. Regardless of the final color, all chinchillas have black eye and nose rims, black paw pads and bright green eyes.
Breeds for which only gray coat color is acceptable
Among the varieties of cats, there are those that are characterized only by an ash-colored coat. These breeds include:
- Russian blue;
- chartreuse;
- Nibelung;
- korat
Russian blue
Representatives of this breed are medium in size and have a slender build. But the main feature of Russian blue cats is considered to be their unique color, emphasizing the bright green color of their eyes. Their coat has silver ticking, which gives their short, thick coat a snowy effect.
According to the standard, a Russian Blue cat must have uniform fur without yellowness, streaks or inclusions.
Chartreuse
These are large, well-built cats with well-developed muscles, a cheeky muzzle, a round head and small ears. Their soft, plush coat with a thick undercoat is colored only a uniform gray.
Blue cats' irises can be dark orange or bright yellow. And each chartreuse paw has soft gray-blue pads.
Nibelung
This is a long-haired variety of Russian Blue cats that has inherited all the characteristics of its ancestors with the exception of the structure and length of the fur. The Nibelungs got their name (translated from German as “creature of fog”) due to the unique color of their fur coat.
The thin silky coat of the breed is colored blue, in harmony with the green eyes. According to the standard, these gray cats have weak ticking.
Korat
These elegant gray cats were brought to Europe from northern Thailand over a hundred years ago and were long considered a cull of the Siamese. Korats are medium in size, flexible muscles and have an unusual heart-shaped head.
The hallmark of the breed is its olive-green eyes and short, silky coat, the color of which varies from blue-gray to lavender.
Color point or acromelanism
The English phrase color point is translated as “color spot”. With this color, kittens are born blue-eyed and almost snow-white. With age, most of their body remains either white or changes to cream, and its extremities (muzzle, tail, ears, paws) darken and acquire more saturated colors:
- tortoiseshells;
- solids;
- tabby
Color point is a form of albinism. It is part of the group of acromelanistic colors that depend on body temperature. So-called points, or dark spots, appear where it is colder. The snow-white appearance of kittens is the result of their high temperature, which is 38.5-39.5°C. In adults, this figure is much lower – 37.5-38.9°C.
Varieties by shade
Depending on the main color of the cat and its point, several subspecies are distinguished in this group. These include:
- blue point - blue;
- chocolate point – brown;
- tortoiseshell (tri-color);
- lilac point – gray-pink;
- seal point – dark brown-gray, close to black;
- red point – red (red);
- cream point – cream (beige);
- tabby point - spotted or striped.
The acromelanism gene can also produce full albinos. Such cats not only have little, but basically no melanin. Because of this, not only their fur coat loses color, but also the iris. Albino cats have either pinkish-red or blue eyes. In the first case, the color comes from blood vessels, and in the second, from reflected rays of light.
Examples of breeds
An alternative name for color point is Siamese. It’s easy to guess that its main owners are the graceful and big-eared Siamese. Acromelanism also appears in their close relatives – Thai and Himalayan cats.
European Shorthair
This breed is one of the oldest and most widespread in Europe. In addition to white fur, cats can come in a variety of colors and patterns, and their eyes are most often amber, blue and green.
Representatives of the breed are affectionate, playful, intelligent and thrive in a variety of living conditions.
Breed overview
Height: 30.5-35.6 cm
Weight: 3.6-6.8 kg
Physical characteristics:
- stocky, muscular body;
- short and thick coat;
- round muzzle.
Serengeti
The goal of breeding the Serengeti breed was to create a cat that resembled the wild Serval, but did not contain any of its ancestry. The first Serengeti was created by Karen Sauzman in 1994 by crossing a Bengal and an Oriental cat. Subsequent offspring were crossed with many other types of cats to perfect the breed. However, the Serengeti ancestry includes genes from the wild Bengal cat, which was used to create the domestic Bengal cat. Cats of this breed have long ears and legs, like a serval. They are very mobile, active, and sociable.
