Cats exhibit an astonishing array of coat colors and patterns, a testament to their complex genetics and evolutionary history. Understanding these variations can be fascinating for cat lovers, breeders, and anyone interested in feline biology. This guide, enhanced and expanded from original charts, provides a detailed overview of cat colors and patterns, acting as an invaluable “Cat Color Chart” for enthusiasts and professionals alike.
1. Self (Solid) Colors: The Foundation of Feline Hues
Self, or solid, colors describe a cat with a coat of a single, uniform color, from the tip of each hair to the root. These colors are fundamental, forming the base for many other patterns and variations. Genetically, self colors are determined by genes that control the production and distribution of two types of melanin pigment: eumelanin (black pigment) and phaeomelanin (red pigment).
There are nine recognized eumelanin-based self colors, derived from black, and three phaeomelanin-based self colors, derived from red. It’s important to note that while red-based colors are genetically solid, the interplay between red pigment and the non-agouti gene can sometimes result in faint tabby markings, especially in certain lighting conditions.
Self white, while not visually displaying a color, is also considered a self color genetically. It acts as a mask, concealing any underlying color the cat might genetically possess. A white cat could be genetically black, blue, or any other color, but the white gene effectively overrides these expressions. This white coat can result from the dominant white gene or the extreme expression of the white spotting gene, which we will discuss later.
Two additional self colors arise from late color change genes: amber, found in Norwegian Forest Cats, and russet, seen in Burmese. These genes cause black pigment to gradually fade, leading to reddish tones in the coat over time. We will explore these unique colors in a dedicated section further in this guide.
alt=”Cat color chart showcasing self (solid) colors including black, chocolate, cinnamon, red, blue, lilac, cream, fawn, and smoke, demonstrating the range of uniform coat colors in felines.”
2. White Spotting: Patches of White and Piebald Variations
The white spotting gene (S) is responsible for the variable white markings seen in many cats. This gene is dominant, meaning a cat needs only one copy to express white spotting. The extent of white spotting is highly variable and thought to be influenced by modifier genes.
Generally, a cat with one copy of the white spotting gene (Ss) will exhibit anywhere from 0% to 50% white, while a cat with two copies (SS) will typically display 50% to 100% white. This range is depicted in the “cat color chart” illustrations, showing a spectrum from minimal white markings to predominantly white coats. It’s crucial to understand that even in cases where white spotting appears minimal, it’s still genetically present if a cat is born to white-spotted parents but lacks discernible white markings. This is more likely than a developmental factor suppressing the white spotting gene entirely.
While white spotting is often visualized as a continuous spectrum, genetic research suggests the existence of separate genes responsible for specific white markings like the white throat locket or white brisket spots. Cats with only these specific markings, when bred together, do not produce offspring with higher degrees of white spotting, indicating these are distinct genetic mechanisms and not related to the main white spotting gene (S).
alt=”Cat color chart displaying bicolor cat faces with different white spotting patterns, ranging from a small white blaze to a harlequin pattern, illustrating the diverse facial expressions of white spotting.”
alt=”Cat color chart depicting the developmental progression of bicolor patterns in cats, showing how white spotting expands from minimal markings to extensive white coverage across different stages of growth.”
2a. Thai White Spotting (Skunk Stripe): A Distinct Dorsal Stripe
A unique form of white spotting, known as Thai white spotting or “skunk stripe,” is observed in Thai cats and documented in historical manuscripts and illustrations. Cats with up to 60% white in this pattern often exhibit a prominent white dorsal stripe running along their back. This stripe may be less distinct in cats with higher degrees of white spotting where the colored markings naturally become more fragmented. The width of the dorsal stripe can vary, and the white tail may feature colored bands near the tip.
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating the Thai white spotting gene, showcasing a cat with a prominent white dorsal stripe and variable white markings typical of this unique pattern.”
2b. Russian Topaz White Markings: Breed-Specific Spotting
Russian Topaz cats exhibit a particular type of white marking that contributes to their breed identity. The specific genetic basis of this pattern is still under investigation, but it is a recognized feature of the breed.
alt=”Image of a Russian Topaz cat breed with distinctive bicolor face markings, highlighting the breed-specific white patterns.”
2c. Other White Markings: Emerging and Unusual Patterns
Beyond the common white spotting gene, other types of white markings exist in cats. Some arise from newly emerged gene mutations, such as the “Finnish” mutation or the roan mutation, while others can be attributed to developmental anomalies or acquired conditions due to illness or injury. Terminology for some of these patterns has been borrowed from livestock breeds that exhibit similar markings, reflecting the visual similarities across species.
alt=”Cat color chart showcasing unusual bicolor patterns in cats, including roan, Finnish spotting, and other rare white markings not typically associated with the standard white spotting gene.”
2d. White Markings Combined with Tortoiseshell: Calico and Tortico Variations
The interplay of white spotting with tortoiseshell patterns creates the well-known calico and tortico (tortoiseshell and white) variations. The presence of white spotting in a tortoiseshell cat results in distinct patches of color separated by white areas, rather than the brindled mix of colors seen in tortoiseshells without white.
3a. Tabbies – Patterns: Classic Stripes, Spots, and Ticks
Tabby patterns are among the most common and recognizable feline coat patterns. The agouti gene (A) is fundamental to tabby expression. Non-agouti cats (aa) are solid colored, while agouti cats (A-) display tabby patterns. There are four primary tabby patterns: agouti (ticked/Abyssinian), mackerel, classic, and spotted.
- Agouti (Ticked/Abyssinian): Also known as unpatterned tabby, agouti tabbies have hairs with bands of color (ticking), resulting in a salt-and-pepper appearance. They exhibit minimal striped markings, primarily residual barring on the legs, tail, head, and chest.
- Mackerel: Mackerel tabbies, often referred to as “striped tabbies,” display thin, vertical stripes along their sides, resembling a fish skeleton.
- Classic: Classic tabbies, also known as “blotched tabbies,” have bold, swirling patterns on their sides, often described as resembling a bullseye or butterfly.
- Spotted: Spotted tabbies exhibit spots rather than stripes or blotches. These spots can arise from broken mackerel stripes, resulting in elongated spots, or from a distinct spotting gene that independently breaks up an underlying mackerel or classic tabby pattern into more rounded spots.
Some classic tabbies may exhibit a dark “cape” effect due to densely packed markings, with agouti areas reduced to smaller patches on a darker background.
Modified tabby patterns exist due to selective breeding, mutations, or hybridization with wild species. For example, the Bengal marbled pattern, ideally a horizontally aligned clouded pattern inherited from the Asian Leopard Cat, often presents as a modified classic tabby pattern in many Bengals.
alt=”Cat color chart displaying the four main tabby patterns: ticked (Abyssinian), mackerel (striped), classic (blotched), and spotted, showcasing the diversity of tabby coat patterns.”
3b. Tabbies – Colors: Expanding the Tabby Palette
Any of the tabby patterns can occur with a wide range of colors. In marbled and rosetted tabbies, the color within the dark markings may be richer and more intense than the background color, adding depth and visual interest to the coat.
alt=”Cat color chart displaying various tabby colors, including brown tabby, blue tabby, red tabby, cream tabby, silver tabby, and golden tabby, demonstrating the color variations possible within tabby patterns.”
Red tabby colors are particularly variable, ranging from a pale sandy yellow (marmalade) to the deep, rich red seen in show-quality cats. This variation is influenced by polygenes, multiple genes that collectively affect the intensity and richness of red tones. Selective breeding for rich red color has led to exhibition red tabbies possessing significantly deeper colors than randomly bred “ginger” cats.
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating the spectrum of red tabby colors, ranging from pale marmalade to deep, rich red, highlighting the variations in red pigment intensity.”
3c. Ticked Tabby Colors: Unique Expressions in Agouti Coats
Standard colors manifest uniquely in ticked (unpatterned) tabbies due to the agouti hairs contributing to the overall coat color without distinct stripes or blotches.
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating ticked tabby colors, showcasing how self colors are expressed in the ticked tabby pattern, resulting in subtle and blended hues.”
3d. Charcoal Bengal and Charcoal Savannah: Wild-Derived Tabby Modifications
The charcoal pattern, inherited from the Asian Leopard Cat, introduces another layer of modification to tabby patterns, particularly in Bengals and Savannahs (which have Bengal ancestry). This pattern reduces rufousing (red tones) in the coat, resulting in cooler, greyer tones overall. Charcoal affects the markings themselves, leading to a dark nose, a distinctive dark “Zorro” mask on the face, and a dark cape along the back. Charcoal is considered a pattern modifier rather than a color itself, and in Bengals, it can combine with silver (inhibitor), sepia, mink, and snow colors from the colorpoint series, further increasing the diversity of appearances.
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating charcoal Bengal cat patterns, highlighting the dark facial mask, dorsal cape, and reduced rufousing characteristic of this wild-derived pattern.”
4. Tortoiseshell, Tortoiseshell-and-White (Calico): A Mosaic of Colors
Tortoiseshell cats, often called “torties,” are characterized by a mix of a eumelanin color (black, chocolate, blue, lilac, cinnamon, fawn) and the corresponding phaeomelanin color (red, cream, apricot). For example, a black tortoiseshell cat exhibits a mix of black and red patches. Dilute tortoiseshells combine dilute eumelanin colors like blue or lilac with dilute phaeomelanin colors like cream or apricot.
The phaeomelanin-pigmented areas (red, cream, or apricot) may exhibit residual tabby markings, adding further complexity to the pattern. In tortoiseshells with minimal or no white spotting, the two tortie colors tend to be finely brindled or intermixed. However, with increasing degrees of white spotting, the colors become more distinctly separated into larger, well-defined patches. This separation is due to the way pigment cells spread during embryonic development. In North America, tortoiseshell-and-white cats are commonly known as calico, while in other regions, the term “calico” may be used more broadly to refer to any tortoiseshell with white.
The red color gene is located on the X chromosome, and the tortoiseshell pattern typically requires two X chromosomes (XX), making it predominantly a female pattern. Tortoiseshell males are rare and usually result from developmental or genetic anomalies, such as having an extra X chromosome (XXY).
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating various tortoiseshell cat color varieties, including black tortoiseshell, blue tortoiseshell, chocolate tortoiseshell, lilac tortoiseshell, and calico (tortoiseshell and white), showcasing the diverse combinations of colors in tortie patterns.”
5. Tortoiseshell Tabby (with/without white): Patched Tabbies and Torbies
When tortoiseshell and tabby patterns combine, the resulting cat displays tabby patches of different colors instead of solid color patches. For example, a black/brown tabby cat combined with tortoiseshell will have patches of black tabby and red tabby. In Europe, these are known as patched tabbies, while in North America, they are called torbies (tortoiseshell tabbies). When white markings are also present, particularly in North America, they may be referred to as torbico (tortoiseshell tabby and white).
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating tabby tortoiseshell cat patterns, demonstrating the combination of tabby stripes within tortoiseshell patches, creating ‘torbie’ or patched tabby patterns.”
6. Silver and Golden Series: Inhibitor Genes and Wide Band
Normal agouti hairs exhibit bands of light and dark pigment corresponding to the cat’s coat color. For example, genetically black cats have black and brown bands in their agouti hairs, while genetically red cats have red and cream bands. The silver gene (Inhibitor gene, I) suppresses pigment production, causing the light bands in agouti hairs to become pale grey or nearly white.
In genetically tabby (agouti) cats, the silver gene results in a tabby or ticked pattern on a silver base. The degree of tipping, or the extent of silver at the hair tips, determines the specific silver pattern. This ranges from tipped patterns like chinchilla and shaded silver, where only the hair tips are silver, to silver tabby patterns where the silver extends further down the hair shaft. When the silver gene is combined with a self (non-agouti) color, the result is a smoke pattern. Smoke kittens may sometimes display residual tabby markings, especially in their kitten coat, which typically fade as they develop their adult coat.
The golden series is generally analogous to silver in its genetic mechanism but is believed to be due to the wide band gene (wb) which lightens and brightens the background color of agouti regions of the coat. This raises debate about whether true “golden smokes” exist, as the golden effect primarily impacts the agouti areas. Other genes, such as those causing high levels of rufousing (reddish tones), especially in breeds with wildcat ancestry, can also create a golden-like appearance.
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating silver and golden cat color series, showcasing chinchilla, shaded silver, silver tabby, golden, and smoke variations, demonstrating the effects of the silver and golden genes.”
6a. Silver and Golden Torties & Tabby-Torties: Complex Combinations
The silver and golden series can also combine with tortoiseshell and tabby-tortoiseshell patterns, creating even more complex and visually striking coat variations.
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating silver and golden tortoiseshell cat variations, showing how silver and golden genes interact with tortoiseshell patterns to create unique color combinations.”
6b. Sunshine and “Bimetallic”: Unique Golden Expressions
In certain breeds like Persians, Exotics, and British Shorthairs, the golden color results from having two copies of the recessive inhibitor gene (ii) combined with the wide band gene. In Siberian cats, the sunshine color is also recessively inherited but is not due to the inhibitor gene. Instead, it brightens the agouti (ticked) areas of the coat, often producing a patchy effect. Sunshine silver differs from typical silver with rufism; sunshine silvers have pinkish nose leather, unlike the dark nose liner of tabby cats. Sunshine red tabbies and sunshine torties exhibit brighter red colors, and their paws are lighter. The absence of pigment in sunshine tabbies extends beyond the nose leather edges, resulting in no nose-liner and whitish fur at the base of the nose. “Bimetallic” is another term sometimes used to describe specific golden variations, particularly in British Shorthairs, highlighting the contrasting metallic sheen of the coat.
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating sunshine and bimetallic cat color variations, showcasing unique golden expressions with brightened agouti areas and distinctive features like pinkish nose leather.”
7. Colourpoints: Temperature-Sensitive Albinism
Colorpointing in cats arises from temperature-dependent albinism genes. These genes cause cooler parts of the cat’s body, such as the points (ears, face, paws, and tail), to develop darker pigment, while warmer areas remain lighter. There are three main levels of colorpointing: Siamese, Burmese (sepia), and Mink (Tonkinese).
- Siamese (Colourpoint or Himalayan): This is the classic high-contrast colorpoint pattern. The points are distinctly darker than the body, which is typically cream or ivory. Some Siamese cats may develop “breakthrough markings” on the body as they age, especially in cooler climates.
- Burmese (Sepia Pointing): Burmese color restriction, often called sepia pointing, results in lower contrast colorpointing. The points are darker, but the body color is also pigmented, albeit a slightly paler version of the point color and pattern.
- Mink (Tonkinese Colour Restriction): Mink colorpointing is intermediate between Siamese and Burmese. It occurs when the Siamese and Burmese color restriction genes interact. The contrast between points and body is less stark than Siamese but more pronounced than Burmese.
The points in colorpoint cats can express solid, tabby, or tortie colors, adding further diversity to the patterns.
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating colorpoint cat color varieties, including Siamese (high contrast), Burmese (sepia, low contrast), and Mink (intermediate), showcasing the spectrum of temperature-sensitive albinism patterns.”
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating the albino series in cats, placing colorpoint genes within the broader spectrum of albinism-related genes and their effects on pigmentation.”
7a. Ragdoll & Bicolourpoints: White Spotting with Colourpointing
Some breeds, like Ragdolls, combine colorpointing (typically Siamese color restriction) with the white spotting gene. Breeders often prefer a lower degree of white spotting in these breeds to avoid obscuring the colored points. Separate genes are believed to control the uniformly expressed white mitting (white paws) seen in certain breeds like Ragdolls and Birmans. These are distinct from the variable white spotting gene. Bicolor colorpoint patterns further enhance the visual appeal, with white areas contrasting with both the body color and the points.
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating Ragdoll cat color patterns, showcasing combinations of colorpointing with white spotting and mitted patterns, characteristic of the Ragdoll breed.”
8. Non-Extension Gene: Amber and Russet – Fading Eumelanin
The non-extension gene (e) in cats, in its recessive form (ee), leads to the production of phaeomelanin (red pigment) but not eumelanin (black pigment). However, two specific genes, amber and russet, modify eumelanin in a unique way: they cause it to fade over time, leaving reddish tones behind.
- Amber: Found in Norwegian Forest Cats, the amber gene causes black pigment to fade to amber, and blue to fade to light amber. Kittens are born black or blue but gradually fade as they mature, starting with the dorsal region.
- Russet: Found in Burmese, the russet gene causes kittens to be born with an unusual lilac/chocolate color that eventually transitions to reddish tones as they age.
The progression of this color change is visually depicted in “cat color chart” illustrations, showing the dramatic transformation from darker kitten coats to lighter, reddish adult coats.
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating amber and russet cat color development over time, showing the fading of eumelanin pigment from black/blue to amber/russet as the cat matures.”
9. Pink-Eyed Dilution: A Rare Mutation
Pink-eyed dilution (p), a rare mutation in cats, is distinct from the common blue dilution (d). Blue dilution turns black to grey, but pink-eyed dilution, observed in some mammals, gives a bluish-tan or fawn coat and also depigments the eyes, resulting in a pink or ruby appearance. According to early reports, pink-eyed dilution was documented in cats in 1961, describing a pink-eyed female with a light tan coat. However, this line seemed to have been lost as her kittens did not survive. In 2015, a pink-eyed Sphynx kitten of unidentifiable color appeared in Australia, matching the description of bluish-tan/fawn and having gold irises with ruby red pupils. Genetic testing ruled out known dilution and albinism genes, suggesting a possible re-emergence or new instance of this rare mutation.
10. Recently Noted Mutations of Red Pigment: Cinnamon and Modified Reds
Several recently noted color variations are under investigation and may represent mutations or modifications in how known genes are expressed, particularly in relation to red pigment. These variations occur in cats that are genetically red and visually resemble eumelanin (black pigment) colors, even though no black pigment is present.
One such modification transforms red pigment into a rich cinnamon color. Another alters the ground color of red tabbies to a bluish/lilac hue. This latter modification may also contribute to the bluish tones observed at the extremities of some red cats. These are actively researched areas in feline genetics.
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating red pigment mutations, showcasing cinnamon and modified red colors that mimic eumelanin shades, arising from variations in red pigment expression.”
11. LaPerm Bleaching (Color Fade) Mutation: A Progressive Color Loss
The LaPerm bleaching mutation, noted in 2015, affects color intensity over time. Cats born with normal full coloring experience a progressive “bleaching” of the body coat as they grow, with color remaining primarily on the face and legs. The color fading typically begins around 10 weeks of age and is suspected to be a new mutation in the TYR (tyrosinase) gene, which plays a crucial role in pigment production. Genetic testing has ruled out the Karpati mutation and silver gene as causes for this unique fading phenomenon.
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating LaPerm bleaching mutation, showing cats with initial full coloration that gradually fades on the body, leaving color concentrated on the face and legs.”
12. “Copper” (Ultra-Wide-Band) Phenotype in British Tipped Golden Shorthairs: Breed-Specific Variation
The unofficial term “copper” describes a specific phenotype observed in British Tipped Golden Shorthairs, particularly Golden Shell (Golden Chinchilla) cats. This phenotype, recognized by breeder Linda Petersson Wahlqvist, deviates from the standard for tipped cats and is becoming more prevalent in Russia and some German lines. “Copper” cats exhibit white toes, white undersides, a rich golden color with dark tipping (black or blue) restricted mainly to the tail tip, and an absence of dark nose-liner. This variation is likely due to specific combinations of genes influencing pigment distribution and intensity within the breed.
13. Chimeras (Fused Embryos) and Somatic Mutations: Genetic Mosaics
Chimeras are cats that result from the fusion of two embryos in early development. This leads to an individual with two distinct sets of DNA, which can manifest in striking and unusual coat patterns. The classic example is the tortoiseshell male, where one cell line may be genetically black and the other genetically red, resulting in a mosaic coat.
Somatic mutations occur in individual cells after fertilization. If these mutations happen early in development, they can affect a significant portion of the cat’s body and coat color. Somatic mutations are responsible for some unique and asymmetrical coat patterns.
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating chimera cat coat patterns, showing examples of mosaic coats resulting from the fusion of two embryos with distinct genetic makeups.”
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating somatic mutation cat coat patterns, showcasing examples of asymmetrical and unusual coat patterns arising from genetic changes in individual cells during development.”
14. Eye Colors: Linked to Coat Color and Genetics
Eye color in cats is often associated with coat color and underlying genetics. Random-bred cats exhibit a broader range of eye colors, while pedigree breeds often have restricted eye color ranges due to selective breeding. In some breeds, the genes responsible for specific coat colors or patterns also influence eye color. For example, blue eyes are strongly associated with colorpoint patterns (Siamese pattern).
Blue eyes or odd eyes (one blue eye and one eye of another color) are more common in solid white cats or cats with significant white spotting, particularly on the face. However, the Russian Topaz breed is unique in that blue eyes or odd eyes occur independently of coat color. Russian Topaz cats can have blue eyes even with solid black coats. Furthermore, some Russian Topaz cats exhibit such dark eye color that they appear black, with the pupil only discernible through reflected light, appearing red in reflection.
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating various cat eye colors, ranging from blue and green to gold and copper, showcasing the diversity of feline eye colors and their genetic associations.”
15. Shimmering Effects: Fur Structure and Tipping
Shimmering effects in cat coats arise from variations in fur structure or from white or translucent tipping of the hairs. Observed shimmering effects include:
- Grizzle: Seen in Chausies, grizzle is a shimmering effect due to banded hairs and specific fur structure.
- Silver Tipping: Found in Korats and Russian Blues, silver tipping creates a shimmering appearance due to translucent hair tips.
- Satin: Observed in Tennessee Rex cats, satin is a shimmering effect resulting from a unique fur structure that reflects light differently.
- Sparkling: Bengals exhibit a sparkling effect due to glitter genes that cause the fur to shimmer and shine.
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating shimmering effects in cat fur, showcasing grizzle and silver tipping, demonstrating how fur structure and hair tipping can create iridescent appearances.”
16. Posited Tan Series: Hypothetical Tan Point Patterns
The tan gene, while not yet observed in cats, is present in other species like dogs and rabbits. In dogs, it is an allele at the agouti locus, while in rabbits, it involves a combination of agouti and extension genes. The “cat color chart” includes a hypothetical depiction of how color-and-tan patterns might appear in cats if such a mutation were to occur. Theoretically, a tan gene in cats could combine with white spotting, colorpointing, and silver/golden series, further expanding the range of possible patterns. The interaction of a hypothetical tan gene with existing tabby genes would determine the potential for tabby-and-tan patterns.
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating posited tan series cat color patterns (hypothetical), visualizing how ‘tan point’ patterns, similar to those in dogs, might manifest in cats if a tan gene were present.”
17. Posited Merle Series: Hypothetical Patchy Dilution
The merle gene, also not yet found in cats but present in dogs, produces patchy dilution patterns. Broadly, merle manifests as patches of dense color on a background of the corresponding dilute color (e.g., black patches on blue, red patches on cream). This is distinct from tortoiseshell, where patches are a mix of black-based and red-based colors. The only observed instances of merle-like phenotypes in cats have been in chimeras, where different cell lines express dense and dilute colors. Theoretically, a merle gene could combine with existing colors and patterns in cats but would be most visually striking on dilute-coated cats. Examples include a blue/cream tortie with black patches, or a lilac tabby with chocolate patches. Combinations with white spotting, colorpointing, and silver/golden series are also theoretically possible. The “cat color chart” provides a visual representation of how merle might manifest in cats should this mutation occur.
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating posited merle series cat color patterns (hypothetical), visualizing how ‘merle’ or patchy dilution patterns, similar to those in dogs, might appear in cats if a merle gene were present.”
18. Imported Colours/Patterns: Wildcat Ancestry
Some cat colors and patterns have been introduced into domestic cat populations through hybridization with wildcat ancestors. Examples already discussed include the charcoal pattern in Bengals, the grizzle pattern in Chausies, and the rosetted and marble/clouded patterns seen in several hybrid breeds. Two additional novel patterns derived from wildcat x domestic cat crosses are illustrated in the “cat color chart”: patterns inspired by the Rusty Spotted Cat and the Sand Cat. The Rusty Spotted Cat hybrid illustration is based on descriptions of purported hybrids, while the Sand Cat hybrid illustration is based on photographs of F1 (first generation) hybrid kittens.
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating hybrid cat patterns derived from wildcat ancestry, showcasing patterns inspired by the Rusty Spotted Cat and Sand Cat, demonstrating the influence of wildcat genes on domestic cat coloration.”
19. Colours Described in Historical Thai Texts: Ancient Thai Cat Varieties
Historical Thai texts describe a range of cat colors and patterns, some of which are now being conserved as part of Thai cat breed heritage. Others have not been observed in modern Thai cat populations. These are considered color variations within the Maew Boran (the Thai Natural Breed) and not separate breeds in themselves, representing the historical diversity of Thai cats.
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating Thai breed cat colors based on historical texts, showcasing ancient Thai cat varieties and their traditional color classifications.”
20. Colour pattern Mutations in Big Cats: Comparative Genetics
Color pattern mutations also occur in big cats, providing a comparative perspective on feline color genetics. The “cat color chart” includes a depiction of color morphs in a spotted big cat (leopard), as spotted patterns are the most common in big cats. However, many of these mutations also occur in big cats with striped, rosetted, or clouded patterns, as noted on the chart. This chart is included for comparative interest and to highlight the broader spectrum of feline color variation across different species.
alt=”Cat color chart illustrating color pattern mutations in big cats, showcasing color morphs like melanistic, erythristic, and leucistic variations in spotted big cats, for comparative genetic interest.”
