Page 19 - The Complete Cat Breed Book (DK)
P. 19
WHA T IS A C A T? 17
UNDERSTANDING COAT COLORS
Pigmentation in cat fur varies from
an even distribution along the hair shaft,
which produces a solid-color coat, to no
pigment at all, which produces white fur.
A solid coat’s color is determined by the
density of the pigment in its hairs. Diluted
red, for example, becomes cream. If just the
end of each hair has color, the coat is
tipped, shaded, or smoke, depending on
exactly how much of the shaft holds color.
Ticked shafts with alternating dark and light
bands give a tabby color called agouti. Solid Tipped Shaded Smoke Ticked
Tipped fur Shaded fur
When just the very tip of each In shaded coats the upper
cat hair—about one-eighth of quarter of each hair shaft
the overall length—is strongly Light has color. This pattern is Cream
pigmented, the effect is known chocolate produced by the same genes shaded
tipped Cameo
as tipped, shell, or chinchilla. responsible for tipped fur
The rest of the hair’s length is but in shaded cats the coat
usually white (unpigmented), appears darker on the back,
although in some breeds where the fur lies flat. The
yellow or reddish colors have heavier degree of tipping
also been produced. Tipping in shaded fur produces a
is controlled by the interaction Blue- dramatic rippling effect
of several different genes. tipped as the cat moves. Shaded Silver
silver shaded
Some Burmillas, Persian coats are accepted and
Chinchillas, and Persian sought after in many
Cameos have tipped coats. breeds, especially Persians.
Smoke fur Ticked fur
About half of the hair shaft (the In ticked coats the hair shafts
uppermost half) has color in have alternating pigmented
smoke fur. When still, many Black and paler bands (see box, Silver
smoke cats appear to have a smoke above). The tips of the hair sorrel
solid coat with just a paler neck shafts are always pigmented.
ruff, but when the cat moves, Ticked fur is a characteristic
the lighter roots become more of many wild cats and other
visible and the cat shimmers. mammals, and it provides good
Smokes are very popular and camouflage. Ticked, or agouti,
are found in many breeds, hair makes up the lighter
including the Manx, Exotic areas of tabby coats. A full,
Shorthairs and Longhairs, unpatterned agouti coat is a
Maine Coons, and Persians. Blue characteristic of Abyssinians Ruddy
smoke
Smoke kittens are often and their longhaired relatives,
difficult to tell apart from solid Somalis. Abyssinians have
kittens, since the smoke effect 4 to 6 bands of color on each
can take a few months to appear. hair and Somalis up to 20.
