Base Colors:
* White: Pure white cats lack any pigment.
* Black: True black cats have solid black fur with no other colors.
* Red/Orange/Ginger: These are different shades of the same pigment.
* Cream: A lighter version of white, often with a slightly yellowish hue.
* Brown: Similar to black, but with a brown undertone.
* Gray: A diluted version of black.
Patterned Colors:
* Tabby: A pattern of stripes, swirls, and spots on a base color. Common tabby patterns include:
* Classic Tabby: Large, swirling patterns.
* Mackerel Tabby: Thin, vertical stripes.
* Ticked Tabby: Small, evenly spaced spots.
* Tortoiseshell (Tortie): A combination of black, orange, and white, often in a mottled pattern.
* Calico: A variation of tortoiseshell with patches of white.
* Dilute Tortoiseshell/Calico: Similar to tortoiseshell/calico, but with paler colors.
Other Color Variations:
* Silver: A combination of black and white, often with a shimmering effect.
* Smoke: Similar to silver, but with a darker undercoat.
* Lynx Point: A combination of white and another color, with darker points on the ears, face, legs, and tail.
* Seal Point: A darker version of lynx point, with brown or black points.
* Blue Point: A lighter version of lynx point, with a greyish blue color.
Important Notes:
* Genetics: The color of a cat is determined by their genes. Some colors are more common in certain breeds.
* Color can be tricky! There can be a lot of overlap between different color names, and it's easy for one cat's color to be described differently by different people.
This is just a brief overview. There are many other color variations and patterns that cats can have.