Cat color chart

Reference tables for the colors produced by black series, dilute, agouti, and orange — the same four loci as the calculator.

Genetic Tables

Base Pigment & Dilution Matrix

Series Dominant (Full Color) Recessive (Dilute)
Black Black (Seal) Blue (Grey)
Chocolate Chocolate Lilac
Cinnamon Cinnamon Fawn
Orange Red (Ginger) Cream

How to Identify Tabby Patterns

Identifying tabby patterns requires looking closely at the individual hairs. The Mackerel tabby is the most common, characterized by vertical stripes like a fish skeleton. The Classic (or Blotched) tabby features circular swirls and butterfly markings on the shoulders. Spotted tabbies have distinct broken stripes forming spots, while Ticked tabbies (like the Abyssinian) have agouti-banded hairs across the whole body with no obvious stripes or spots.

Mackerel
Classic
Spotted
Ticked

All Cat Colors

8 Color Examples
Solid Black coat example
Solid

Solid Black

Genotype: B/B D/D a/a

Blue (Dilute) coat example
Solid

Blue (Dilute)

Genotype: B/B d/d a/a

Brown Tabby coat example
Tabby

Brown Tabby

Genotype: B/- A/- D/- o/y

Red Tabby coat example
Tabby

Red Tabby

Genotype: O/Y A/- D/-

Tortoiseshell coat example
Tortie

Tortoiseshell

Genotype: B/- O/o a/a

Blue-Cream coat example
Tortie

Blue-Cream

Genotype: B/- O/o d/d

Cream coat example
Orange

Cream

Genotype: O- d/d

Chocolate coat example
Solid

Chocolate

Genotype: b/b D/- a/a