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The tabby color is quite popular today, which is not surprising. Cats of this color scheme look very unusual and beautiful. But tabby is not just a specific pattern and color. There are an extraordinary variety of types and shades. We’ll talk about the variety of tabbies in this article.

What color is called tabby?

The tabby color is very fancy. The faces of such cats are decorated with exquisite markings, and their bodies are “dressed” in necklaces, bracelets, medallions, buttons, etc. A great variety of patterns is a distinctive feature of tabbies. The marks are located in different places, at different angles and can take on a variety of shapes. In addition, the pattern on cats will always be unique; no two tabby colors are the same. Even animals of the same subspecies will differ in the location and brightness of the spots.

Tabby is a color characteristic of several cat breeds, including the British. Now let's find out where the tabby came from and what variants of this color exist.

Where did this color come from and why is it called that?

The question of where cats of such bizarre colors and different breeds come from will certainly arise if a British kitten appears in the house. The tabby color was most likely inherited by domestic cats from their wild ancestors - the Nubian Dun. It is from this that all our short-haired pets originated.

As for the term “tabby” itself, there are several versions about its origin. The most beautiful sounds like this. Somewhere at the beginning of the 17th century, silk fabrics, which were worth their weight in gold, were first brought to England. Their pattern was very similar to a cat's color and was called "tabbis". And when they later began to breed cats with a similar color, they were called tabby. In addition, cats of this color, like silk, were very expensive, since breeding them is extremely difficult - it is difficult to obtain the necessary pattern, shade and eye color that matches them.

Required elements

The tabby color, despite many variations, has a number of unchanged elements:

• Ticking is actually the presence of the pattern itself. In this case, the hairs of the coat should be uniform in color down to the base.
• On the forehead of such cats there is always a pattern resembling the letter “M”, the so-called scarab sign.
• There should be a fingerprint-shaped spot on the back of the ear.
• The nose and eyes should be outlined. In this case, the color of the outline should be the same as the main color.
• The pattern, if there is one, must include the following elements: “necklace” - three closed stripes on the chest; “curls” on the cheeks; There are two rows of double spots on the tummy. All drawings should be clear and rich, and the coloring should be deep.
• There are also typical eye colors for tabbies - golden, orange and copper. If the color is silver, then the cat's eyes should be green.

If a Briton's color is blurred, and the patterns are cloudy and merge with the main color, then this is a defect. Most likely, one parent was a tabby and the other was a solid.

Spotted Tabby

The spotted Briton (tabby color) must have the letter “M” on his forehead; "necklace" on the neck; rings on the tail, and the tip is dark in color; stripes on paws; spots on the tummy of various diameters; an intermittent stripe on the back, turning into spots; nose and eyeliner. The drawing should be contrasting and clear.

Spotted British cats are also called spotted, which translates to “leopard”. But, in principle, all these names refer to the same species. Spotted tabby is the most common color variety. Such a kitten can be born from parents of any tabby color.

Tiger tabby (mackerel, striped)

The brindle tabby color (a photo of it can be seen in this article) has approximately the same standards as the spotted one described above, with the exception that the line on the back should be clear and uninterrupted, and there should be clear, non-crossing and continuous stripes on the sides. The stripes of the British Tabby should start at the spine and go all the way to the paws. They should be narrow and frequent - the more often the better.

However, when choosing such a kitten, it is worth considering one important fact. Even if the chosen Briton has clear and long stripes, this does not mean that by the year they will not stretch and turn into spots. That is, a tabby kitten can turn into a spotted cat. This is the only species that can change so much. The remaining varieties remain virtually unchanged throughout the cat's life.

Brindle is quite common in the UK, but not as common as spotted.

Marbled Tabby

The marble tabby color in cats is the most beautiful, bright and complex. In addition, it is also the rarest due to difficulties in crossing - two marbled individuals can produce a tabby or spotted kitten. Such British cats wear three parallel stripes on the back, and large closed circles on the sides, inside of which there are brightly colored spots. Such a pattern should not intersect or be interrupted. In addition, a Marbled Briton must have the following markings:

• A pattern on the back of the head and shoulders resembling a butterfly.
• Patterns on the cheeks that start from the very corners of the eyes.
• "M" pattern on the forehead.
• The neck and chest are decorated with necklaces - the more, the better.
• There are spots on the tummy.
• The paws and tail must be ringed.
• The circles on the hips must be closed.

The color is rejected if the pattern is not contrasting enough, or if it shows residual faded stripes.

In the British, the color can be determined from birth. However, final alignment and clear drawing occur by two months. Therefore, if you want to get a real British harlequin, wait until this time, and do not adopt a kitten earlier.

Ticked tabby

The ticked or Abyssinian tabby color in British cats can be confused with the solid color, as it is not characterized by patterns, however, it is quite beautiful. The name comes from the Abyssinian cat breed, which is characterized by a similar color. The color of the fur should be even, and the upper part of the hairs should look like a kind of “spraying”. If you part the fur of such a cat, you will notice that each hair has two colors. In this case, the British undercoat will correspond to the main color. Of all the markings typical of tabbies, ticked kittens have only curlicue patterns on their cheeks and a scarab mark on their forehead.

If the color contains spots, rings, or the coat is not evenly dyed with two or three colors, then the individual is rejected.

The Abyssinian British coat is apricot, brown and sandy yellow. Despite this, the basis of this color is black.

Color tone

In addition to varieties, the tabby color has several tones. We present here the main ones.

Black or brown tabby - characterized by rich markings. The main color is copper-brown, covering the entire body, including the chin and lip area. The nose is brick red or black. Paw pads are black.

The Chocolate Tabby has deep chocolate-colored markings. The main color of the cat is bronze. Paw pads and nose may be pink or chocolate.

The blue color of the tabby cat is distinguished by deep blue markings. In this case, the main color is slightly bluish, much lighter than the shade of the spots. Paw pads and nose are pink or blue.

Lilac Tabby - Characterized by quirky lilac colored markings. The main color is beige. The paw pads and nose are pink.

The cream tabby has deep cream colored markings. The main coat color is pale cream. Paw pads and nose are pink.

In addition, there are silver tabbies. Ideally, the main color of the coat of such British cats is light silver, and the pattern has a more saturated and bright color. However, British silver tabby cats also come with markings of various colors: black, cream, chocolate, red, lilac.

Each breed standard stipulates not only the size, shape and location of a particular part of the body, but also color. In some breeds, color plays almost no role (for example, sphinxes). In others, on the contrary, color is allocated more than 30% of 100 points of the standard (for example, Korat, Abyssinian, Bengal and some other cats).

Color should be understood as a set of characteristics such as coat color, coat pattern and eye color. Moreover, the color of the coat is genetically linked to the color of the paw pads and nose. And, if, for example, a pure blue cat has some pinkish spot on the pad of her paw, then she is not blue, but blue-cream.

So, the colors of the British Shorthair. First, we give a description of the color of the hairs according to the standard:

“Each hair should be dyed the same color from tip to root, excluding tabby and silver varieties.”

I believe that familiarity with such a description of coat color will upset many owners of solid-colored Britons (a solid coat color is often called solid). According to the above description, British Blues SHOULD NOT have silver coats, no matter how attractive it may look. In black and chocolate british cats the lower part of the hairs SHOULD NOT be lightened. All these defects are related to color defects. And for coat color, the CFA standard assigns 15 points, and FIFE and WCF standards assign 25 points. The American (CFA) standard clearly explains:

“Residual pattern in solids, smokes, shades, shaded golds, bi-colors or calico colors is a disadvantage.”

It should be noted that smoky, shaded and chinchilla are combined into one general group of silver colors. The most popular among cat lovers are blue British cats, second place is occupied by lilac cats, third by silver tabbies and, finally, fourth by spotted varieties. In some countries, the brown-spotted color (chocolate spots on a light background) has become equally popular.

Both European standards adhere to the following color coding.

Solid colors

And x is only seven. Black, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, cream and white - they are divided by eye color. The color should be uniform, without spots, shades and white hairs. The presence of any drawing is also not allowed. The coat of the British is thick, short and soft to the touch (plush). And, perhaps, only their encodings are worth remembering. Everything else will be remembered by itself. So:

• Black (Black) BRI n
• Blue BRI a
• Chocolate BRI b
• Lilac BRI c
• Red BRI d
• Cream BRI e
• White BRI w

The white color stands a little apart, since white british cats have the right to have orange or blue eyes and even different eye colors in the same animal! Eye color coding is done by number, namely:

• 61 – blue (blue) eyes,
• 62 – orange eyes,
• 63 – odd-eyed

White British dogs are extraordinarily beautiful: their short, thick and soft coat is snow-white, without a hint of yellowness. Any shades and stains are excluded. It is no coincidence that the popularity of these animals has recently begun to increase. However, when breeding them, breeders face considerable difficulties.

At the felinological congress held in 1997, it was even decided to prohibit the breeding of white cats due to the high likelihood of the offspring developing such physical defects as lack of hearing, sense of smell, etc. In addition, it is not always possible to obtain offspring with with impeccable white fur and blue eyes.

Newborn white kittens may have subtle markings on their heads. If the animals were bred from blue Britons, the markings are pale blue; in the descendants of black cats, the markings are black. That's why it's often said that white Britons have their "ancestry written on their foreheads." Since in adult animals the marks disappear without a trace, their presence in kittens is quite acceptable.

Tortoiseshell colors

Tortoiseshell - spots of two colors (black/red, blue/cream, etc.) fairly evenly distributed throughout the body. Tortoiseshell coloring occurs exclusively in cats (genetics practically excludes tortoiseshell coloring in cats). Here are four more colors whose encodings are worth remembering:

Tortie BRI f, g, h, j

The coat of “turtles” is short, thick and soft. The colors in the coat should be evenly mixed. Short stripes are allowed, in particular on the nose, as well as cream “slippers” on the paws. According to the American standard, the stains must be painted in different colors. The nose and paw pads of these cats are pink and/or black, and the eyes are gold or copper.

The attitude towards tortoiseshell colors is very ambiguous. There are people who do not accept such “creativity” at all. There are others who think this coloring is “cool”. In any case, “turtles” are an irreplaceable “material” for breeding. They give kittens with such a variety of colors that any solid mother can only dream of.

As for an exhibition career, the “turtles” have every right to it. And the judges are very, very loyal to these sweet girls. Every judge understands that British "turtle" cats are "hens that lay golden eggs." Precisely in the sense of beautiful and elegant children.

Typed colors

This part is devoted to colors with “silver”. This very “silver” adds the letter “s” to the encoding. Not all of the hair is dyed, but part of it, starting from the periphery. Depending on the ratio of the dyed part and the total length of the hair, chinchilla, shaded and smoky colors are distinguished.

SMOKE colors

Cats are smoky in color and are genetically descended from silver. Their peculiarity is that each hair is dyed in the main color for 1/3 of the length of the hair, the lower part of the hair and the undercoat should be pure silver (almost white) color.
The coat is short, thick and hard. The nose and paw pads are the same color as the coat. The eyes of British Smokey cats should be golden or copper.

BRI ns, as, bs, cs, ds, es.

• ns – (Black-smoke) black-smoky
• as – (Blue-smoke) blue smoky
• bs – (Chocolate-smoke) chocolate smoky
• cs – (Lilac-smoke) lilac smoky
• ds – (Red-smoke) red smoky
• es – (Cream-smoke) creamy smoky

When looking at a smoky cat, you may get the impression that its color is absolutely uniform. But as soon as the cat begins to move, the light silver undercoat becomes noticeable. So the first impression, as they say, is deceiving.

BRI fs, gs, hs, js.

• fs – black tortoiseshell, smoky
• gs - blue-cream, smoky
• hs - chocolate cream, smoky
• js - lilac-cream, smoky

For example, look at the photo of a black and smoky cat. Please note that taking a photograph of any “smoky” cat is a highly professional matter. Apparently, it is for this reason that it is not so easy to find good photographs of “smoke”.

Shaded and chinchilla colors

The following group of silver colors: shaded And "chinchilla" (shell).

If “smoky” colors look light, then shaded and chinchilla colors look almost white, with a characteristic “spraying” at the very tips of the hairs. In cats with a shaded color, this “spraying” occupies only a sixth of the hair, and in individuals with a chinchilla color, even less - an eighth. Naturally, no one measures the length of a hair with a ruler, much less 1/6 or 1/8 of its color. And anyway, we call all such elegant pussies chinchillas. The following points should be noted regarding shaded and shell colors.

1. Both colors are coded as “smoky” colors, but with the numbers 11 - shaded and 12 - chinchilla (shell). For example, BRI ns11 – black, shaded. Outwardly, she looks white, with a black “spray”, and her paw pads, the rim of her nose and the rim of her eyes should be completely black.

2. Both colors imply that there should be no closed stripes on the limbs, tail, or chest (such stripes on the chest are called a necklace). Shaded cats should have shaded hair on the head, ears, sides, back and tail.

3. Chinchillas must have bright green eyes. Shaded, that is, slightly darker, have the right to have yellow (or orange) eyes. Only then the eye color coding is then added to the color coding: 62, for example, BRI ns11 62.

No less interesting are the golden colors (coded by the letter y, which is indicated by analogy with the letter s in the designation of “silver”). However, this is even more rare for the British breed.

The chin, belly and lower part of the tail should be painted a pale apricot color, the nose - brick, while a transition to black or dark brown is considered quite acceptable. The paw pads of animals of the color in question are black or dark brown, and their eyes are green.

British chinchilla cats look amazingly rich and elegant. Their fur is similar to a fox fur coat. The chinchilla was developed in the early 1970s. English breeder Norman Winder, who crossed the Persian chinchilla with the British shorthair. The breeder was attracted by the luxurious silver coat of the chinchilla and the power of the British. The experiment was a success: in 1973, Winder demonstrated a new breed at an exhibition, which was called the British black with tipping (“spraying”).
This color was recognized in 1980 in England by the board of the cat fanciers' club.

Patterned colors

All patterned colors are called the unifying word “tabby” or “tabby”, which is more correct (English: “tabby”). Tabby colors are more reminiscent of wild cats than others. The coat color can be any

For the British breed, the standard establishes three types of patterns: brindle (mackerel), spotted and marbled. So simple? But any such pattern can be on the “main” color, on a silver or gold background. So try, describe them all, if only there are 6 “main” colors. And also turtles, and “silver” ones, and many, many others. Therefore, now we will not focus on the color of the drawing and the color of the base.

The encoding of the picture is indicated by numbers:

• 22 – Marble
• 23 – Mackerel
• 24 – Spotted

When assessing the exterior, coat color is not in the first place. The highest scores are given to the British cat's head (30), coat color (25), and body type (20 points). A separate line in the standard marks the description of the eyes. Their color is assessed especially strictly when they are blue. It should be very intense, a bright copper or orange color.

● Marble (classic tabby) - characterized by a dense, clear pattern with wide lines. On the shoulder blades the pattern resembles the wings of a butterfly, wide, dark stripes run along the back from the withers to the tail, curls on the sides, the tail is surrounded by 2-3 wide rings. There are several closed rings (“necklaces”) on the neck, which should be as large as possible.

● Tiger (mackerel) - a longitudinal line is “drawn” along the center of the back, from which many thin transverse stripes descend perpendicularly to the sides. The tail is also striped. The “necklaces” around the neck look like chains.

● Spotted tabbies - the body has separate spots, evenly scattered on the back and sides.

The spotted tabby is characterized by frequent and dark spots, which should be clearly visible against a lighter background. In their shape they can be round, oblong or rosette-like. The spotted tabby's head is colored the same as the classic tabby's. The limbs are also spotted. There may not be spots on the tail, but their presence is still desirable. In addition, the tail is sometimes decorated with open rings.

The most common are silver and black, brown and black, and red and brick spotted tabbies. The standard also allows the presence of spotting in cats with even colors: black, blue, brown, red. Their eyes are dark orange or copper in color.

U silver tabby with a pattern, the main color of the coat is pale with a clear silvery tint. The pattern is clear, black, with individual areas painted red or its soft shades, located on the body and limbs. It can be classic, brindle or spotted. Cats of this color have a brick nose, black and/or brick paw pads, and diamond green or hazel eyes.

Main color red tabby, of course, red. The drawing is clear, rich red. The nose and paw pads are brick. Eyes are golden or copper.

Main color brown tabby with a pattern (varieties: classic, brindle, spotted) - shiny copper-brown. A special feature of the black pattern are spots or stains of red or soft shades of this color, which can be located on the body and limbs. Such animals have a brick-colored nose, black and/or brick-colored paw pads, and golden or copper eyes.

U blue tabby the main color, including the jaws, is pale blue or ivory; a pattern of rich blue color, contrasting with the main one. The nose and paw pads are dark pink. Eyes are golden or copper.

Blue tabby with a pattern (classic, brindle, spotted) differs from the previous type by the presence of cream spots or streaks on the body and limbs. The nose and paw pads of cats of this color are pink. Eyes are golden or copper.

U cream tabby the base color, including the jaws, is a very pale cream. The pattern is beige or cream, much darker than the main color, contrasting. The nose and paw pads are pink. Eyes are golden or copper.

U tabby with white the main color is red, cream, blue, silver or brown. According to the requirements of the standard, the cat must have a pure white muzzle, “slippers” on its paws, hips and lower body, without any admixture of other colors. Particular importance is also attached to the symmetry of the design. The nose, paw pads and eyes are the main tabby color.

A large selection of colors in combination with silver and gold or without it, plus three types of designs - isn’t this the soil and incentive for the breeder’s work?

Color point colors

Colorpoints are characterized by the presence of darker markings (points) that contrast with the lightened body. Points cover the muzzle, ears, tail, and limbs. The color of the points corresponds to one of the main color groups. The color of the body is very light, has a shade that is harmonious with the color of the points. Let's remember the main colors of British dogs.

• n – black
• a – blue
• b – chocolate (chocolate)
• c – lilac (lilac)
• d – red
• e – cream

The number that codes the Siamese color is 33. If the strokes are black, then this color is called seal-pont. And the coding of this color is n33. But with the following “points” everything is simpler: blue-point (blue-point, a33), chocolate-point (chocolate-point, b33), lilac-point (lilac-point, c33), red-point , d33) and cream-point (cream-point, e33).

Color-point tabbed (patterned) colors are not distinguished by pattern. That is, there cannot be color-point merle or color-point brindle. All patterned color-point colors are called Links-point and are designated by a combination of two numbers 21 33. But how beautiful these British are!

Beautiful eye color is the dream of any British Colorpoint breeder.

Bicolor colors

B and color colors are a combination of any main color with white. In addition, tortoiseshell and patterned colors can be combined with white. There are three main groups. Van - only the tail and two spots on the head are colored. Harlequin - about 1/5 of the total surface of the body is colored, individual large spots are located on the back, head and rump. Bicolor - about 1/2 of the entire surface of the body is colored. There is a white spot in the shape of an inverted “V” on the muzzle, and a white closed “collar” on the neck.

The more white, the lower the color coding number:

• 01 - "Van"
• 02 - "Harlequin"
• 03 - “Bi-color”

If the second color (besides white) is black, then the color is called Black Van / Harlequin / Bicolor. And so on, white with all other colors.

Bicolor cats should have white muzzle, chest, lower torso, hips and “slippers.” Ideally, the muzzle should be colored symmetrically, as if in a scarf. At the same time, slight asymmetry not only does not spoil the appearance of two-color animals, but, on the contrary, gives them some piquancy. For Harlequins and Vans, a white collar is a mandatory requirement. Bicolor may not have it.

All three varieties of bicolors (Van, Harlequin and Bi-color) can be white not only in combination with the main and tortoiseshell colors, but also with tabbed, shaded, etc. The eyes of bicolors are golden or copper.

Cats with aristocratic roots were bred in Great Britain and to this day are the pride of the country. Large and medium-sized Murkies with short plush fur and a charming “Cheshire” smile are a British breed that officially appeared in 1987 and has won millions of fans. The first officially recognized representative was pure white. The desire to breed a large, strong, hardy, calm and intelligent cat has led to the fact that the colors of British cats include more than 25 species. Some of them are considered very rare and are highly valued not only in breed, but also in monetary terms.

Intensive work on popularization, attraction of other popular breeds to breeding, and obtaining offspring from cats from different continents has led to the expansion of breed species. The first Britons had a thick undercoat and short coat. The relationship with the Persian cat gave birth to the British semi-longhair.

Associatively, a British cat appears to be smoky or blue in color; many “cat lovers” cannot even imagine what colors British cats come in and how unusual kittens can appear in a family of two “standard” parents. The types of colors of British cats are divided into groups depending on the pattern, the predominance of color and the method of pigmentation.

Blue solid

The standard color of the breed, popularly called gray or classic. The British Blue's coat is monochromatic, without light hairs; the undercoat may be slightly lighter. The skin is exclusively blue. Representatives with a lighter tone are more valuable for the breed. Kittens are allowed to have a residual pattern, which disappears as the animal grows.

Myths about British blue cats!

№1. It is a common belief that Blue British kittens should have bright orange eyes - this is not true. Kittens of all breeds and colors are born with blue or gray “cloudy” eyes; the iris gradually gains color.

№2. If a breeder offers you an exclusive British Blue Fold, say “Thank you” and walk away. At best, you are offered a Scottish cat, at worst, a mixed breed. There are no shorthaired British Folds.

Golden color, suggests darkened pigmentation on 1/8 of the length of the hair, the rest is painted in a rich golden color. Gray tint or undercoat is not allowed. At the same time, the collar is light, often white, and the ear tassels are silver. Despite the light tone of the coat, cats predominantly have black paw pads, dark or black eyeliner and nose. “Home name” is golden chinchilla.

Tortoiseshell

A prerequisite is an equal presence of tones, the absence of a pattern in red/beige areas. Red/cream spots on the face are desirable. The eyes are copper or orange. According to the laws of genetics, only females can have a tortoiseshell color, so obtaining the ideal color is painstaking work and calculated “for luck.” Tortoiseshell is a rare and difficult to obtain color that combines several colors:

• black/brown/chocolate;

• red/cream;

• blue/lilac.

This is interesting! The birth of males of the correct tortoiseshell color has been recorded in the world. However, an error in the genetic code makes cats infertile.

Patterned, aka tabby

One of the colors allows a difference in the color of the fur at the base. British tabbies have a variety of body patterns, from stripes to large and leopard spots. Tabby is divided into silver, golden and color point subspecies.

British cats, whose breeding began at the end of the 19th century, are to this day the true pride of Great Britain. Large cats with plush fur, according to legend, inherited their smile from the Cheshire cat. The first snow-white beauty belonging to this breed was officially presented at the exhibition in 1987. To this day, the colors of British cats are of particular interest to cat lovers. There are no British Folds; this anatomical feature is inherent in Scottish cats.

Since then, the popularity of the breed has been steadily growing. The British attract not only their intelligent character and plush fur, but also a huge variety of colors, of which there are more than 25 types. A table with photos will help you study the colors of British cats, as well as a description of the types and types of colors of this breed. Among the color range of wool there are very rare combinations that are extremely highly valued by both professional breeders and breed lovers. Let's figure out what colors British cats come in.

Types of colors

Selection work on representatives of the British breed, involving various bloods, has led to a variety of both colors and breed types. If initially the British had short hair with a thick undercoat, then crossing with the Persian cat made it possible to obtain semi-long-haired animals. The colors of British longhair cats correspond to the colors of shorthair cats.

Many people only think of Britons as smoky, blue or tabby cats and don't even realize how many colors the breed has. Even a pair of quite ordinary parents can produce a kitten of a rare color.

To organize the variety of colors of British cats, they are divided into types and groups according to color, pattern and method of pigmentation.

Types of colors of British cats:

• solid (or plain);
• typed: smoky, veiled, shaded;
• gold;
• silver;
• tortoiseshells;
• color point;
• particolors: harlequin, bicolor, van, mitted;
• tabbies: spotted, striped, marbled, ticked.

A table of the colors of British cats will help you imagine all the diversity.

Blue solid

This is the color that comes to mind when thinking about the British, so we'll start with it. It is often called classic, or simply gray. The coat should be a single color, the undercoat may be lighter, but white hairs are not allowed. A lighter color is considered valuable. A small kitten may have stripes that disappear as they age. The beautiful rich amber eye color of blue Britons develops with age, although kittens are born with gray and blue irises.

Plain

In addition to blue, there are six more solid colors: black, white, chocolate, lilac, red, cream. The color is uniform and uniform, without white hairs, spots or patterns. The wool is soft, thick, plush.

Charcoal black plush Britons look extremely impressive, they have rich pigmentation of the undercoat, fur and skin, but purchasing such a kitten is not easy. This is due to the fact that during adolescence, kittens can change their coat color to chocolate.

The fur of a white British cat is snow-white, without yellowness or spots. In kittens, blue or black stripes on the forehead are acceptable, which disappear without a trace with age. It is difficult to obtain kittens with perfectly white fur, and breeding cats of this color is associated with the risk of producing sick offspring. Since 1997, breeding work has not been carried out with this color.

In warm chocolate color, richness and depth of shade are appreciated. The darker the color, the better. This color is called havana, or chestnut.

Considering the solid colors of British cats, lilac is the most difficult to imagine. This color is a combination of pink and blue. The paw pads and nose are colored to match the coat. Obtaining this color is the result of professional breeding. There is no gene responsible for the purple color. The goal is achieved by a rare combination of parental genes. Kittens are born a delicate, almost pink color, and the color of an adult animal resembles a latte.

Red British cats are most often called ginger cats. The wool is uniformly dyed, without stains or patterns. The nose and paw pads are brick red. Intensity of color is valued.

Delicate creamy Britons are often called beige or peach. Their nose and paw pads are pink.

Rare colors of British cats

Today, relatively new and rare uniform colors stand out - cinnamon and fawn. Dark colors of British cats are dominant, so light-colored kittens are rarely born.

Cinnamon is a very rare and desirable color, its name comes from the English cinnamon, which translates as cinnamon. The color is similar to lightened chocolate. The gene for this color, discovered 50 years ago, is recessive, so cinnamon kittens are born quite rarely.

Fawn is an even rarer color, which is a bleached cinnamon. It was recognized quite recently, in 2006, and is of particular interest to breeders, as it makes it possible to develop new lightened colors.

Fawn-like kittens, i.e., fauns, and cinnamon cinnamon kittens are classified as cream and blue at birth. To identify a rare color, a DNA examination is carried out, which confirms that the animal belongs to a rare color.

Silver and gold

Silver color is one of the most popular among British cats. It can be of the following types:

• shaded;
• veiled;
• smoky;
• tabby

Golden color is also not found in its pure form. This bright color is one of the most expensive among British cats. It can be represented by the following types:

• shaded;
• veiled;
• tabby

Ticked tabby, shaded and veiled colors are called chinchilla. It is the representatives of golden and silver colors that are called chinchilla and golden chinchilla.

Tortoiseshells

Tortoiseshell cats are a favorite among breeders. From these mothers you can get a wide variety of offspring. Their unique color, also called torti, combines two groups of colors at once - red and black, and this is possible only in females. Tortoiseshell cats can only be born as a result of a genetic anomaly - mosaicism. Such animals are infertile and have the XXY genotype.

The tortoiseshell color consists of black and red spots evenly distributed throughout the body (or derivatives of these colors, for example, blue and cream, chocolate and cream, lilac and cream, etc.).

There are a huge number of British tortoiseshell species:

1. Classic turtle (black-red, chocolate-red, lilac-cream, fawn-cream, cinnamon-red, lilac-cream).
2. Smoky turtle (black and red smoky, chocolate red smoky, etc.).
3. Tortoiseshell tabby, or torby (black and red tabby, chocolate red tabby, etc.).
4. Tortoiseshell color point, or tortie (tortie point - black tortoiseshell, blue cream point - blue tortoiseshell, etc.).
5. Bicolor tortoiseshells or calicos (black and red bicolor tortoiseshell, etc.).
6. Bicolor tabby tortoiseshell, or torbico (marbled, striped, spotted bicolor tortoiseshell).

A tortoiseshell kitten can be born from parents of different color groups, for example, the mother is red and the father is black.

Tabby

The patterned cats resemble wild ones in color. They have spots, stripes, rings on the body and paws and the obligatory letter "M" on the forehead. Tabby color also has several types:

1. Spotted, spotted, or leopard print is the most common tabby. Cats of this color look like miniature leopards.
2. Striped, mackerel, or tiger. Narrow frequent stripes should not be interrupted or intersect with each other. After a year, the brindle color may turn into leopard if the stripes begin to break up.
3. The merle color is very impressive, bright and the most complex of the tabbies. The stripes on the back are straight, but on the sides they form clearly visible circles and rings.
4. The ticked color stands apart - it has no pattern and looks like a plain one with “spraying”. Resembles shaded or veiled. Each hair has its own stripes.

Color point

Color-point Britons have a light body color and dark markings on the face, ears, paws, and tail - points. This color is also called Himalayan or Siamese. The color of the points corresponds to one of the main colors, and the body color is in harmony with it.

Types of color point:

• solid;
• shaded;
• veiled;
• bicolor;
• smoky;
• turtle;
• tabby

Colors with white

The combination of any basic, patterned or tortoiseshell color with white is called the general name bicolor - these are colored spots without white fibers, with clear boundaries. There are several groups of this color:

1. Bicolor - from 1/3 to 1/2 white - muzzle, chest, paws, belly. Colored - one or two ears, head, back, tail.
2. Harlequin - only 5/6 white - collar, neck, chest, paws.
3. Van - main color - white. Colored spots on the head, but the ears are white, colored tail, colored spots on the back are allowed.
4. Tricolor, or calico, is a tortoiseshell (i.e., two-color) color with white.
5. Mitted - is not recognized by the standard and is considered a disadvantage. There is little white, no more than 1/4, the head, neck, collar, belly and paws are white.

Now you know what the colors of British cats are. The table with photos helped us understand the variety of types and types of colors.