Colors of British cats

Today, few people remember that the first representatives of the British breed of cats were monochromatic and exclusively of a smoky blue color. Over time, thanks to the many years of efforts of breeders, individuals with new interesting colors were born.

Today there are about 200 different types of British wool color scheme. However, all this variegated variety is clearly regulated. There is a whole system of international norms and standards, color gradation according to the point system. Specialists in the field of felinology evaluate each kitten presented to them for examination and assign a unique code to it, which is recorded in the pedigree of the animal.

The assessment is influenced by many different factors: general genetics, color compatibility of a couple, how close the parents are to each other. One color gene can prevail over another - this also affects the resulting offspring.

The main points on which the assessment is carried out:

• intensity of coat and undercoat color;
• the presence or absence of a picture;
• the color of the eyes, pads on the paws, and the color of the tip of the kitten's nose.

All currently existing color varieties of British cats can be roughly divided into several main groups.

• Solid colors... They are also called solid or solid. The main requirement for them is that the color must be uniform.

• Tortoiseshell... This color is obtained by knitting partners of black with blue, cream or red.There are no special requirements for this color, since in this case it is impossible to predict the result in advance.

• Smoky... The main coat color of the smoky Britons is observed only on the surface of the skin, and the undercoat is lighter in contrast. The color can vary from silvery gray to black with drag. A typical example of a smoky cat is the chinchilla.

• Tabby... Various designs are allowed here. The pattern can be implicitly marked - ticked or marbled, as well as with a traceable pattern - for example, clearly marked spots or stripes. Typical signs of tabby (in some sources it is written tabby) are marked on the forehead in the form of the letter "M", the presence of dark stripes near the eyes and on the cheeks, as well as a pattern in the form of rings on the neck and chest.

• Bicolor - these are any combinations of white as an additional one with other basic shades. In this case, the white part should be no more than 1/3 of the main color. Various patterns, patterns and spots are allowed. A prerequisite is the presence of color on one ear and on the head. The presence of a pattern all over the body is allowed, subject to the proportionality of the staining.

• Colored coloring (or Siamese) - when the body itself is white, and a dark color is present only at the edges: the lower parts of the paws, the tip of the tail, the muzzle and ears. The color of the coat may vary with temperature.

The following monochromatic colors are considered classic.

• Black... Cats of this color are quite rare, so they are highly prized in the market. Black wool is tough to the touch by standards and has a beautiful sheen. The animal must be black without exception: from the pads of the paws to the tip of the nose. For eye color, some indulgences can be made: in addition to the usual green, copper and golden shades are allowed. The purity of the breed also depends on the undercoat - its color must exactly match the color of the coat.

• Blue... It is otherwise interpreted as gray. This is a classic British breed color. The wool is completely devoid of even a hint of shine and looks like a plush toy - just as soft and pleasant to the touch. Some interpretations are allowed from light smoky to graphite color. For knitting, lighter shades of wool are appreciated, but dark colors are quoted a little. Here, color uniformity is also appreciated; any impurities of other tones are unacceptable.

• Chocolate... This color has appeared relatively recently, so there is still little chance of meeting it at exhibitions. But he has already managed to become a favorite at all kinds of exhibitions. Unlike the blue group, dark shades are more appreciated here, although there are semitones from light brown, almost beige to coffee, almost black. The nose and paw pads are also dark brown, with bright yellow to coppery colored eyes. The peculiarity of chocolate-colored kittens is that the color is not formed immediately and is finally formed at about the age of 1.5 years.

• Lilac (or pink)... A very beautiful and aristocratic shade that is very popular. Colors of three degrees of intensity are allowed: light white-pink color, medium with a violet tint, dark type of coffee with milk. The lighter the shade of the coat, the more valuable it is considered.

The feet and nose should be the color of the coat, the eyes are traditionally copper or orange.

• Faun... This is a lighter version of the lilac color. The only differences are in shades: cats with a faun color have a lighter, sandy shade of coat. Their paws and nose, respectively, are also lighter than those of the group of lilac kittens. They are characterized by a delicate pinkish-beige color. Often it is this factor that is decisive in determining which group the individuals belong to.

• Cinnamon or cinnamon color... This group is often confused with chocolate, however, they differ in color intensity. Cinnamon kittens have a more delicate color, with a light, barely perceptible bloom of copper or bronze. A characteristic feature of this group is that these kittens have a slightly lighter coat near the eyes and mouth than the rest. Warm powdery nose and pads. This breed was also bred relatively recently, but already has a whole army of fans. To obtain this shade, it is necessary that both parents have this color.

• Red, commonly referred to as "red" or "golden"... A very complex color: brightness and depth are valued in it, the richer the color, the more it is appreciated. Cats and cats that have a coat of the correct red color without any impurities is a rather rare phenomenon, therefore experts admit minor inclusions and a distant hint like a striped tabby pattern.

• Cream... There is also the name "beige". This soft peach shade breaks all breeder records. As in other variants of the classic colors of British cats, uniformity and depth are appreciated here, without any transitions from one shade to another. The nose and feet are pastel pink shades, the eyes can be from bright orange to copper brown.

• White... As with blacks, perfect white is extremely difficult to achieve. The fact is that offspring from two parents with white hair often have congenital problems with the hearing aid. The color should be clear, without the slightest hint of yellowness or other shade - this is considered a fault of the breed. Often kittens are born with colored spots that should disappear closer to the first year of life. It is quite difficult to achieve the ideal color, therefore it is not put on stream, and such kittens are appreciated by breeders. The nose and legs of white kittens are pale pink, without harsh pigment. Eye color can be classic yellow-green, as well as blue.

Among all this variety, blue and purple colors are considered the most popular. They are the easiest to remove and have the least cleanliness claims. Was withdrawn not so long ago a new breed of British with a golden color, which today are considered one of the rarest and most beautiful. Gold-colored wool looks especially impressive in combination with emerald eyes - this condition is mandatory when determining quality standards. No other eye color is accepted in individuals of a golden hue. The coat is soft, with a double undercoat in the color of a ripe apricot, slightly longer than that of the British solid color group.

No other eye color is accepted in individuals of a golden hue. The coat is soft, with a double undercoat in the color of a ripe apricot, slightly longer than that of the British solid color group.

Also kittens with a silvery skin are very popular... Various impurities of gray and black shades are allowed, but the presence of yellow spots is considered a gross violation of accepted standards. However, unlike the "golden" kittens, the eyes of the representatives of the silvery breed can have not only green color, but also all shades of yellow and orange. During the first year of life, silver kittens may change the color intensity, as well as the pattern itself. It can become more pronounced or, on the contrary, weaken its presence.

British cats of gold and silver color are divided into several subspecies.

• Shaded (or veiled)when the pigment appears only on the tips of the hairs, and the undercoat remains white. At the same time, the general tone is even, without a pattern.
• Ticked when a pattern is clearly visible... It can be spotted or striped, marbled or otherwise, but it is clearly marked.

The colors of the British are so diverse that there are very interesting colors among them. For example, two-tone kittens are very popular - this color is also called bicolor - when there is a clear distinction between white and some other color. In this case, the white color should dominate over the other pigment. Most often there are bicolors with black and white wool... This color is often called magpie or "meglay".

Combinations of white with beige and other colors are not very common.

Another interesting color variety found in British cats is color point... This color is found in the breed of Siamese cats, when the whole body is light, and the muzzle, ears, feet and tip of the tail are darker. A prerequisite for Britons with this coat color is blue eyes.... Due to the lack of genetic material, the reproduction of this breed is problematic.

Also, the color is influenced by the habitat of animals: at a lower air temperature, the wool begins to darken, and in a warm climate of darkening, on the contrary, it brightens. Caring for them is also quite troublesome. Long hair needs to be brushed daily to keep it looking good. In addition, the animals require a special balanced diet.

The color-point color can be divided into several independent subspecies. Here is a brief description of them.

• Seal point characterized by the presence of dark brown spots on the forehead, on the nose and on the pads of the paws. The body itself is light beige.

• Point chocolate - the spot on the forehead has a lighter brown tint, the nose and pads are the same light brown color with a pinkish hint.

• Blue point: the main color is light gray with a bluish tint, the presence of a pronounced bluish-gray spot. The paw pads and nose mirror are gray.

• Lilac point bears some resemblance to blue point, only paws and nose are gray with a pink tint.

• Lynx point: There is a dark tabby spot. The presence of a spotted or brindle pattern is allowed.

• Cream blue point also assumes the presence of a spot of the same color.

Very interesting color - tortie (tortie)... Here, the most intricate variations of multicolor are possible, from patchwork color to the presence of small specks. This color can contain up to 80 different colors. The main condition is that all this variegation looks harmonious. Kittens' coat is short, dense, soft, matte, without glossy sheen.The eyes are traditionally golden or coppery, but as for the nose and pads on the paws, there may be several options: monogamous colors of pink and black are allowed, as well as a combination of both colors.

Whichever "British" kitten you choose, be guided, first of all, by its character. After all, the main thing is that your new pet becomes a friend and a full-fledged member of your family.

Interesting facts about British cats are waiting for you in the video below.