Dogs
- Why Do My Dog’s Eyes Glow In The Dark?
By Tamara McRill Ever spot a pair of demonically glowing green or red eyes in the dark, only to realize they belong to your cute and cuddly dog? What really gets to me is when I’m the one outside and I see the floating bright orbs peering out my window....
- What Makes A Cat's Coat Change Colors?
By Linda Cole When I was in high school, my family had a Siamese cat. She had a beautiful light colored coat with chocolate brown markings on her face, tail and legs. As she aged, however, her coat began to darken up. Three of my cats are black, but...
- Cat Breed Profile: The Turkish Van Aka Swimming Cat
By Julia Williams Although I’ve never actually had a purebred cat myself, I always like learning about different cat breeds. Many have fascinating histories or characteristics that make them unique. The rare Turkish Van cat actually has both. The Turkish...
- Beagle Dog Colors And Markings
Below is a list of the colors and markings available for this breed. Please refer to the breed standard for descriptions and the difference in types. Description: The name of the color and/or markings. Type: Standard or alternate. This is the classification...
- 10 Myths About Cats
Cats have been revered in ancient societies and today are one of the most popular pets in the United States. Though often aloof and appearing to be a solitary creature, cats are social animals and can be quite affectionate with their human companions....
Dogs
A “Coat” of Many Colors…
Tabby, Calico, Gray – okay, well gray is kind of easy, but you get the idea. What kinds of colors are available for cats? And how do you know what you have? We have the answers for you.
Interesting Fact
Tri colored cats are almost always female. About 1 in 3000 are males, but they are almost always sterile. This is due to the genetic factors required to create the color pattern. It’s no reason to avoid neutering your cat though!
Solids
Typical “solids” are just that – one solid color. There are really four basic colors, but they can vary in shades. The colors are white, blue (which is really gray), black and “red” which is the official term for “orange”.
Tabbies
Tabbies are one of the oldest, and most common, patterns. They can become complex though.
- Striped: Striped tabbies look similar to tigers, but are often called “Mackeral Tabbies”.
- Classic: These cats have a round color pattern, similar to a target. They are one of the most common patterns.
- Spotted: These cats have spots that resemble a cheetah, but are more commonly found in breeds like the Ocicat and American Bobtail.
Bi-Colors
- Tuxedo: These are the kitties with glossy black coats and white socks or white bib.
- Other Bi-colors: There are other bi-colored cats that may include gray and white or red and white, or even brown and white colors.
- Points:
- “Points” are darker shades at the ears, tail, and/or feet of a cat. The Siamese is known for this type of marking. A white cat with brown “points” is known as a sealpoint.
Tri-Colors
- Calico: These cats have separate solid color blocks. They may be “diluted” which results in a very angelic looking kitty or could be in blocks similar to a tabby, which creates a very colorful cat.
- Tortoiseshell (aka Torties): These tri-colored cats have several shades of color that are all blended together in an intricate, muted pattern.
Stacy Mantle
- Why Do My Dog’s Eyes Glow In The Dark?
By Tamara McRill Ever spot a pair of demonically glowing green or red eyes in the dark, only to realize they belong to your cute and cuddly dog? What really gets to me is when I’m the one outside and I see the floating bright orbs peering out my window....
- What Makes A Cat's Coat Change Colors?
By Linda Cole When I was in high school, my family had a Siamese cat. She had a beautiful light colored coat with chocolate brown markings on her face, tail and legs. As she aged, however, her coat began to darken up. Three of my cats are black, but...
- Cat Breed Profile: The Turkish Van Aka Swimming Cat
By Julia Williams Although I’ve never actually had a purebred cat myself, I always like learning about different cat breeds. Many have fascinating histories or characteristics that make them unique. The rare Turkish Van cat actually has both. The Turkish...
- Beagle Dog Colors And Markings
Below is a list of the colors and markings available for this breed. Please refer to the breed standard for descriptions and the difference in types. Description: The name of the color and/or markings. Type: Standard or alternate. This is the classification...
- 10 Myths About Cats
Cats have been revered in ancient societies and today are one of the most popular pets in the United States. Though often aloof and appearing to be a solitary creature, cats are social animals and can be quite affectionate with their human companions....