the 12 colors and colors of the British shorthair cat patterns explained
This page contains affiliate links. we may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post through our independently chosen links, earning us a commission.
The British Shorthair is the perfect snuggle companion. This teddy bear-like feline is loved by many cat owners.
The British Shorthair’s name is a perfect description of what you can expect from this feline. British shorthair cats have a thick, silky, short coat. these kitties also have a no-nonsense but laid-back and easy-going attitude towards life, which is why they make such wonderful family pets.
The characteristic dense British Shorthair coat comes in a variety of colors and patterns. the classic blue british kitten that has a solid blue-gray coat is probably the most popular with lovers of the british shorthair.
but there are other cute cats as well. For example, the stunning Chocolate British Shorthair has a beautiful chocolate-colored coat. Other cute British Shorthair coat colors include, Fawn, Cinnamon, Ginger, Black, Smoke, and Lilac, as detailed below.
1. blue color
It is the oldest and most common color among British shorthair cats. British blue cats have a dense, light to medium blue-gray coat with no spots, stripes, white hair, or patterns. the undercoat is slightly lighter in color than the coat.
A kitten born with this classic coat color may have some striping that will fade with age. the blue british shorthair has bright gold, orange or copper eyes and a blue nose and paw pads.
2. chocolate color
The coat color of the chocolate British shorthair is also called havana or chestnut. This breed gets its chocolate coloring from crossing with chocolate Persian cats.
The chocolate British shorthair cat has a rich, deep chocolate color, and the darker the coat color, the better. according to breed standards, no white hairs or other colors in the chocolate coat are accepted, while all shades of chocolate are accepted, from light milk chocolate to dark chocolate.
It takes 1-1.5 years for this cat’s coat color to fully form. chocolate-colored British shorthair cats have dark orange or copper eyes and cats with a more saturated eye color are more valued. the pads of the toes and the tips of the nose of the Chocolate British Shorthair are pink or chocolate.
3. cream color
This coat color belongs to the older types of British Shorthair solid colours. cream-colored British shorthair cats have light red fur that appears cream when the diluted white gene is present.
This cat has soft, pastel-hued fur with a whitish undertone that’s not as dark as fawn or reddish as red. Cream-colored British Shorthair cats have pink noses and paw pads. cats’ eyes are orange, copper or gold.
4. lilac color
This is a common color among British Shorthair cats. Lilac British shorthair cats have a combination of pink, gray and blue colors in their coats. coat colors come in different variations, from cool lavender to warm grayish-pink.
The lilac british shorthair’s nose and paw pads match the coat tone. the color of the undercoat of this feline is slightly lighter than the outer coat. this cat has bright copper-orange or amber eyes and a mauve-pink tint to the paws, nose, and eye rims that darken over time.
5. white color
This is a purebred, snow white cat with no spots, stripes, smoky or yellow undertones.
This beautiful British shorthair cat has a pink nose and foot pads with sapphire blue, orange or yellow eyes. it is difficult to breed this cat because there is a high probability of getting a breed with health problems such as deafness.
6. red color (ginger)
The red/ginger british shorthair is also known as garfield. this cat inherits its red gene from Persian cats and other exotic cat breeds with red fur.
The red color of the cat’s coat is not solid, but it is unevenly distributed. your red british shorthair will have brindle markings on the forehead and paws. this cat also has brown or orange eyes and a brick-red hue to the nose and paw pads.
7. black color
Black among British Shorthair cats is a rare color that is difficult to breed. this cat will have a pure jet black coat with no rusty tones or brown markings.
This cat’s nose and paw pads are both black. the pigments of the coat, undercoat and skin are saturated. The British Shorthair’s orange black eyes go perfectly with the cat’s deep black hair.
8. tan
This is a rare cat that is highly prized among British Shorthair cat lovers. It is similar to the Dilute Chocolate Cat, but its coat is a soft, warm chocolate color with a coppery or reddish-brown undertone.
A cat with a light brown or milk chocolate color is not considered a tan cat. Tan British Shorthair cats have bright orange or amber eyes and pink or tan foot pads and nose tips.
9. fawn color
The Fawn British Shorthair is an extremely rare and exotic breed that is highly valuable. This cat has a soft, elegant coat and a beautiful mushroom color with a pink undertone. its fur is a diluted tan color that looks like burnt cinnamon.
Fawn British shorthair cats have small noses and pink paw pads. A fawn British Shorthair cat is born if both parents carry the fawn gene. the fawn color gene is confirmed only by a DNA test. cat species with unconfirmed similar colors are referred to as cream, blue, or reject.
10. turtle or tortoiseshell color
The British Shorthair tortoiseshell cat breed has orange, amber, or copper colored eyes. This cat has a combination of tabby patterns with solid-toned spots that leave a patchwork pattern on his coat. a tortoiseshell pattern takes time to fully develop, and often this cat is born with few patches of color that increase with age. British shorthair tortoiseshell cats are called kings and queens as they can produce offspring of various colours, including:
- black tortoiseshell: is a combination of proportional shades of red and black with different specks. the black color is saturated while the red is bright and intense. the black tortoise fur has a uniform color. its head and legs have red and blue colors
- chocolate turtle: it is a combination of chocolate and red colors in identical proportions. the chocolate color is saturated while the red is bright and intense. the chocolate turtle has red and chocolate tones on the snout and legs.
- Blue Turtle: Has a proportional combination of blue color and cream spot patterns. The blue tortoiseshell cat has an overall coat tone of light cream or medium blue. may also have a cream nose.
- tan tortoise: This is a combination of red tones and tan spots in equal proportions. this color is very soft and warm yet saturated. a tan turtle nose and paw pads are red. this breed is very rare and highly valued.
- lilac tortie- this british shorthair has a lilac and cream color scheme in even proportions. Lilac Tortoise cats can also have red and lilac colors distributed clearly and evenly throughout their coats with no spots, marbles, stripes, or white hair.
- tawny tortoise: This is a very soft and light combination of tawny and cream spots. this species is very rare. the tawny tortoise has cream-colored pads on its feet and nose.
- Smoky Torie Colors: This is a combination of the classic torie colors with smoke. The undercoat of this cat is light in color with silver hair at the roots. this british shorthair will have pink, black, cream, blue or brown nose and foot pads
- Torbie Colors: This cat’s coat will have a combination of the classic tortie color with a tabby pattern featured by stripes, spots, or marble markings. tortie colors come in different variations and color points, including bi-color or percale, tri-color, or tortie with white.
- classic tabby: This beautiful cat has butterfly markings on the shoulders and full rings on the tail. this tabby also features a line from the butterfly markings to the back and tail.
- taby mackerel- this breed is characterized by many narrow stripes. has continuous or broken ring-shaped stripes on tail
- Spotted tabby: This cat’s paws have spotted patterns. it has the same head marking as the classic tabby and mackerel. this cat also has dark spots on its fur
11. brindle color
This British shorthair breed has an ‘m’ marking on its forehead. his coat has light, dense patches of color and is not brindle. this cat has no white hair and no markings on the coat, chin, or lips. the ears have stripes of the same color as its fur. the cat’s tail and feet have numerous narrow ring-shaped markings.
This cat also has spots on its toes and belly. British shorthair tabby cats are classified into the categories Classic Tabby, Mackerel Tabby, and Spotted Tabby:
12. solid color
This color is monochromatic and is evenly distributed throughout the coat of your British Shorthair with no streaks, spots, patterns or white hair(s).
Classic solid colors for the British Shorthair are lilac and blue, while black, chocolate and cream are not very common. cinnamon, red and fawn are the rarest and most genetically interesting solid colors of the British Shorthair.
