NICOLA GINZLER

Senior Graphic Designer

Combining obsessions

Complex chart: "Guide to Housecat Coat Colors and Patterns." Leftmost column: Solid/Self/One-color in various hues; Tortoiseshell/Tortie - red and black in large patches; Tortoiseshell and White; Calico - black, red and white in large patches. Second column: Tabby - main color with stripes of darker color; Patched Tabby/Tabby-Tortie/Torbie - black, red and light red in smaller patches; Patched Tabby and White/Torbie and White; Patterned Calico/Calico Tabby; Caliby. Third column: Colorpoint - face, paws and tail darker than body. From most to least different between points and body: Point/Siamese/Himalayan; Mink/Tonkinese; Sepia, Solid/Burmese. Row below: Piebald/Bicolor/White-spotted, from least to most white. Color is on back, white starts on chest and toes and proceeds upwards. Bottom row: Abyssinian/Somali/Singapura - Ticked Tabby coat in various colors, with darker points. (Ticked coat has hairs that are darker on the ends.) Fourth column: Tipped colors: white or yellowish hair shaft with colored tip. Chinchilla/Shell white hair shaft with very end of hair shaft colored; Shaded - hair shaft is 1/4 colored, darkest on back, creating a gradation; Smoke, 1/2 of hair shaft colored, coat appears solid with white ruff; Golden Series, same as above but with golden hair shaft.
Cat cols poster realDownload poster

Cats! Color! Chart of cat coat colors!

I’m obsessed with both color (vocation) and cats (avocation). Here’s an exhaustive chart showing many (all?) possible coats seen in the average housecat, with notes about purebred distinctions. According to this chart, my cat Eights (below) is a Blue and White Tuxedo Short-hair. Scroll down for my kitties who are no longer with us.

#eightsthecat has lots to say.
Perdita: Tortoiseshell Long-hair. Blep!
Isotope: Blue Lynx Point Short-hair. Note striped stockings.
My beautiful sweet Lucy, my first cat: Solid Black Short-hair
The owner of this website has made a commitment to accessibility and inclusion, please report any problems that you encounter using the contact form on this website. This site uses the WP ADA Compliance Check plugin to enhance accessibility.