A guide to cat coat colours, patterns, and types

We believe every cat is beautiful, though we’re also intrigued by their varied coat colours, patterns, and types. So, we’ve created a guide to explore the glorious array of domestic cat coats!

Cat coat colours

Our fascinating feline friends are unique, with individual personalities and habits, though we’re wondering whether it’s possible to judge a cat’s personality by their coat colour – let’s find out…

Black

Due to their negative reputation in some cultures, thanks to their association with witchcraft, black cats in rescue centres struggle to find forever homes sometimes. 

However, we’ve discovered that black cats are considered ‘lucky’ in many societies. Our Animal Wellbeing Specialist suggests many people share superstitions that support the belief our dark-coated feline friends are just as cuddly as cats of other coat colours!

White

While white is a coat colour that can be associated with deafness and skin sensitivity in the sun, light-coloured cats are considered rarer than others. Additionally, some people are of the belief that white cats are ‘good luck’ charms, and that they’re calmer than other felines.

Did you know? A condition called ‘heterochromia’ is the reason some white cats have two different-coloured eyes.

Brown

The chocolate-coloured coat of brown cats can match their sweet personalities!

Ginger

Also known as ‘orange’ or ‘red’ in colour, ginger cats are considered characterful – likely thanks to the portrayal of comedic cartoon cat, Garfield. 

Fun fact: Most ginger cats are male, thanks to a gene mutation! 

Grey

In the UK, we often associate the colour grey with gloomy weather and overcast skies. However, grey cats are as gorgeous as the myths surrounding them are mysterious! For example, legend has it that the Russian Blue was once valued for their supposed ability to repel evil spirits. 

Grey-coated cats have a black hair gene that’s been diluted, which makes them appear to have a blue coat!

What is the most common cat colour?

There’s a lot of debate surrounding which cat coat colour is the most common. 

It seems the black and white coat is most popular with cats living in the USA. However, it’s thought that the top solid cat colours seen in the UK include black and ginger, with coat patterns like tabby and tortoiseshell outshining the rest!

Cat coat patterns

The range of incredible cat coat patterns is far too extensive for us to cover in detail here, so we’re focusing on a few of the most familiar patterns:

Solid colour

Cats whose coats are a ‘solid colour’ won’t have any other markings or patches of different colours.

Colourpoint

Often associated with Siamese cats, the ‘colourpoint’ coat usually consists of a pale base with darker ‘points’, e.g. a sandy-coloured coat with darker markings on their face, paws, and tail.

Bicolour

If your cat has a ‘bicolour’ coat, that means their coat consists of two distinct colours. An example of a bicolour coat is the ‘tuxedo’ pattern, when a cat’s base coat is black with white markings on their neck, chest, and paws. 

Tricolour

Another way to describe a tricolour cat coat is to use the term ‘calico’. Tricolour and calico cats have patches of contrasting colours splashed over their entire coat. Some of the colours you might see in a calico cat’s coat include white, black, and ginger.

Tabby

Perhaps the most commonly seen coat in cats, ‘tabby’ can refer to the striped, blotched, or spotted pattern of your feline friend’s coat. Tabby cats can have any coat colour, including ginger, brown, or grey.

Fun fact: All cats are born with a tabby-patterned coat, yet not all of them keep their tabby coat into adulthood!

Tortoiseshell

Affectionately referred to as ‘tortie’ by some, tortoiseshell cats tend to have an eye-catching coat made up of a brindled or patchy mix of ginger and black or brown.

In the same way that most ginger cats are male, the majority of tortoiseshell cats are female.

Cat coat types

As well as exploring our cats’ coat colours and patterns, it’s helpful to understand how their coat type has an impact on their care. 

For advice on caring for your cat’s coat and keeping it in the best possible condition, whichever their coat type, you can check out our cat grooming hacks.

Short hair

If you’re looking for a cat who has a low-maintenance coat, a short-haired cat may be the one for you. Short hair cats can have coats of any colour or pattern. 

Did you know? The Cheshire Cat (from Alice in Wonderland) is thought to be a British Shorthair!

Long hair

Cats who have long coats are well-known for their intensive hair-care needs. Long-haired felines also shed more than those who have shorter fur. 

Many long-haired cats are known for being fun-loving and affectionate companions, like the Ragdoll and Persian breeds.

Hairless

Have you seen our blog post about beloved ‘ugly’ pets? We contemplated the perspective that a lot of people consider hairless cats to be less appealing than short-haired felines or those with long fur. 

While we feel hairless cats are just as lovely as others with hair, it’s important to note that hairless cats require considerable effort to care for their sensitive skin.

Fun fact: The Sphynx cat, a breed who is considered hairless, is actually covered in fine, soft fur.

Which coat colour, pattern, and type does your cat have? Please let us know via Facebook or Instagram!