British Shorthair Colours Chart

  • By: Ufaq Jibran
  • Time to read: 9 min.
Ufaq Jibran
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Are you looking for a loveable pet as your companion? Then, British Shorthair cats will be the best option for you. The British Shorthair cats are the world’s most beloved cat breeds.

These lovely creatures are nothing short of intriguing, boasting a combination of unique features, a distinctive personality, and a robust health profile. When thinking about a British Shorthair cat, the image of a beautiful blue-grey fur cat with solid amber eyes may pop into your mind. That’s the most common breed you might have come across. 

British Shorthair cats come in various colours, like blue, grey, white, lilac, silver, gold, orange and many more. In this article, you will find a British Shorthair breeding colour chart and details about the beautiful colours and textures the breed comes in. So, keep reading! 

British shorthair colours chart

British Shorthair cats are more colorful than other cat breeds. We will start debating the most popular combinations since there are too many. The Shorthair has a solid color coat without stripes, spots, or even other markings. The cat is uniformly colored. Undercoats can be lighter than overcoats.

Best British Shorthair Color

To be honest, about all British Shorthair cats are the best and most beautiful fluff minions. However one of the most elite British Shorthair cats is the cinnamon-coloured feline. These beautiful kittens have a similar colour to chocolate shades, just a tad bit lighter than chocolate. 

They have a coppery or red undertone which makes them unique, rare and most valued breed. The mischievous charm of cinnamon British Shorthair will surely make your heart thump. Their nose and paw pads are either pink or brown in colour. They have stunning amber or orange eyes that will leave you in awe.

Common British Shorthair Colors

Yes! The image that popped into your mind in the start of our intro was of a British Shorthair cat, which is the most common breed. The blue-coloured British Shorthair with a stunning coat that’s a combination of pink, grey and blue colours with striking orange, copper or amber eyes. Their paws and nose pads are a cute shade of pink. 

Other than the blue-coloured British Shorthair cat,chocolate and lilac coloured British Shorthair are the most common felines. Chocolate Shorthair kittens have a rich warm chocolate coloured coat. Their eyes are typically copper or gold in colour. They have a thick, strong muscular build. Moreover these cats have a warm and affectionate temperament.

Lilac coloured felines have a pale muted greyish-lavender coat colour. Their eyes are usually pale green or golden in colour. They have a robust build and dense coat. They are laid-back and friendly in nature.

Here’s a quick round up of the most common British Shorthair Colors.

ColorDescription
Blue ColorBritish shorthair cats’ oldest and most frequent color.
Chocolate ColourChocolate British shorthair cats have Havana or chestnut coats. It is cross-breed with chocolate Persian.
Cream ColorThe oldest British Shorthair solid color is this one.

Also read: British Shorthair Weight chart

Rare Colors of British Shorthairs

There are many rare breeds of British Shorthair cats and have a rich history which can be traced back to Roman times. After WWI and WWII these cats were bred with Persian cats, which resulted in the birth of unique coloured, and different patterned cats. 

British Shorthair kittens required time and food to grow properly , hence the famine after WWII decreased their breeds. Their rarity increased because of their unique colours, and specific patterns and of course, they are a part of great history.

The rare British Shorthair cats are chubby, have rounded face and round ears. These characteristics have earned them a nickname ‘teddy bear cats’. According to the British Shorthair colour chart,some of the rarest and most beautiful colours of British Shorthair cats are mentioned below.

British Shorthair Colours Description
Fawn ColourFawn British Shorthair has a warm mushroom-like coat, soft cream coloured with pink hues. It is one of the hardest colours and breeds to produce, so they are extremely rare. 
Red ColourRed British Shorthair cats have stunning red coats with no white hair. They have brick-red noses and paw pads.
Cream ColourCream-coloured British Shorthair is rich in colour without any white hair or tabby patterns. Unfortunately, cream-coloured British Shorthair are a very rare breed. 
Cinnamon Colour Cinnamon-coloured cats have a warm reddish-brown coat similar to cinnamon. Their nose and paws are of pink hue. The gene is recessive, so cinnamon-coloured breeds are very rare.
Silver Colour Silver shaded British Shorthair are basically ticked tabby cats with ombre effects from base to tip. They have more melanin at the tip of every hair strand, giving it a darker shade of silver. These felines have a striking gren or gold eyes, with Their nose leather and paw pads are silver or pink.

Expensive Colors of British Shorthairs

The British Shorthair cats with more exotic colours and rare breeds are the most expensive cats because it is challenging to produce these breeds. Their price ranges from $1500 to $3000. The most expensive British Shorthair cats are fawn, chocolate, cinnamon or golden fluff balls. 

First comes fawn-coloured felines. They are very expensive because their breeding is difficult and very rare. The second expensive British Shorthair is a chocolate fluff ball. They are born when mated with brown Persian cats. It is believed that the deeper the colour of the cat, the more elite it is. 

Another one on the list is Cinnamon British Shorthair. They are born after breeding with a chocolate feline, but their colour complexion is lighter than chocolate British Shorthair, hence are called cinnamon British Shorthair. 

Golden British Shorthair is the fourth most expensive fluff ball. Their colour coat is a dense and thick plush coat that is golden in colour. These cats are believed to be usherers of wealth and property which is one of the reasons why it’s one of the most valued breeds of British shorthair.

Explore the Range of Colors

These sleek and stylish felines exhibit elegance, and simplicity with evenly distributed colours throughout their body. Unlike their patterned counterparts, monochrome British Shorthair lacks any patterns, stripes, spots or white hair. Here are some British Shorthair cats that fall under the classic monochrome category. 

Lilac Colour: Lilac British Shorthairs are pink, grey, and blue with a colour coat ranging from frigid purple to warm pink-grey. This cat has vivid orange-copper or amber eyes with pink mauve paws, snout, and eye contours that darken with age.

White Colour: This beautiful cat breed has a white coat with no yellowish undertones, spots or stripes. This cat breed has vivid sapphire blue, orange, yellow or odd colour eyes, with cute pink paws and nose pads. It is a rare breed because the risk of deafness is large in them.

Red Colour: Our favourite Garfield is the red/ginger British Shorthair cat. In reality, Persian and other exotic red-coated cats gave this cat its red gene. Their forehead and paws will be tabby. This cat has copper or orange eyes, a brick-red nose and paw pads.

Black Colour:  British Shorthair cats rarely breed black. This cat will be jet black without rusty or brown spots. This cat has a black nose and paw pads, a saturated coat, an undercoat, and skin pigments. British shorthair cats have rich black hair and orange eyes.

Solid Colour: The British Shorthair cats with no stripes, spots or patterns, having an even coat of the same colour. Lilac or blue are the most common colours while black, chocolate and cream colours are the rarest. Cinnamon, red and fawn are the finest and most genetically fascinating British Shorthair colours. 

Fawn Colour: These felines have an even colour coat of a mushroom-like soft cream with pink colour. They have common orange or amber eyes while their nose and paw pads are of fawn-pinkish hue.

Cinnamon Colour: This is a very rare cat that has a high value among those who are passionate about British shorthair cats. It has a coat that is a warm and soft chocolate colour with a copper or reddish-brown undertone.

Tortie Coloured British Shorthair Cats: 

Tortie British Shorthair cats have a solid colour with tabby markings. Their coat contains a pattern that resembles a tortoise’s shell or a mosaic pattern. Almost all Tortie British Shorthair are females since this combination of colours is related to the X chromosome. Male Tortie cats are as rare as 1 in 3000. 

The tortie-coloured British shorthair is present in eight different colours, with their exotic beauty and uniqueness. Their patterns are distributed in a mottled or patchy manner. These felines usually exhibit independent and calm demeanour which is why they are preferred by cat owners. 

Here are the Tortie British Shorthair cats’ unique features for you. 

Tortie Coloured British ShorthairFeatures 
Black TortieThese cats have proportions of both red and black colour spots. Their paws and muzzles are of both colours.
Chocolate TortieThis breed has a combination of chocolate and red colour. Their paws and heads have both colours present.
Blue TortieThe Blue Tortie cat has a spotted pattern of cream and blue colour. No white hair or tabby patterns are present.
Cinnamon TortieThey have specks of cinnamon and red coat, with no white hair or tabby markings. Their muzzles and paw pads have red spots.
Lilac TortieLilac and cream-coloured patterns are evenly distributed on the skin of a Lilac Tortie cat.
Fawn TortieFawn Tortie even distributed coats of fawn and cream colour. 
Smoke Tortie ColourThese cats have smoke markings, and silver and light-coloured undercoats.
Torbie ColourTorbie-coloured coats with tabby stripes or patterns heighten this breed’s beauty. 

Tabby British Shorthair Colours

Tabby British Shorthair cats have a dense and well-defined marking on their coat. You can easily identify the letter ‘M’ marked on their forehead. The Tabby genes date back to their wild ancestors, like African wildcats, European wildcats and Asiatic wildcats.

Tabby British Shorthair is a delightful combination of striking patterns and captivating colours that can be seen on its coat and ears. Tabby kittens are not a specific breed, but rather kittens with distinctive coat patterns. Almost all cat breeds have a Tabby member in them. These felines with their classic beauty or playfulness are sure to steal your heart. They might all look similar but have subtle differences. 

The chart below provides detailed descriptions and unique features of the five types of Tabby British Shorthair cats, and the unique patterns they exhibit. 

Tabby British Shorthair Features 
Classic TabbyClassic Tabby is a distinguished cat breed with a butterfly pattern on its shoulders. It has an evenly ringed tail, with unbroken rings on its neck/chest. It has swirls on its cheeks.
Mackerel TabbyA Mackerel Tabby has several stripes on its body that make it look like a mini tiger. Moreover, it has one long stripe along its spine.
Spotted TabbyOblong, rosette or round spots are exclusive to Spotted Tabby cats. Their tail may be ringed or spotted and the tip of the tail is the same colour as the markings on their coat. 
Patched TabbyWhen a tabby cat is mated with a tortoiseshell, it produces patched tabby kittens. These kittens have patches of tabby stripes and tortoiseshell unique patterns covering their cat. Their colours can be orange, grey, or brown 
Ticked TabbyRather than classic tabby markings, these felines have a lighter coat and the darker shade lines up their hair ends. Giving them a beautiful darker shade in their coat. 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, British Shorthair felines are of different colours and are warm, affectionate and mischievous fluff balls. Their beauty is unmatched so if you want to become a cat owner for a calm yet affectionate little pet, a British Shorthair cat is your best pick..

The British Shorthair breeding colour chart offers a variety of colours and patterns exclusive to British Shorthair cats, which make the cats more unique and beautiful. The charts above also helps in identifying various shorthair breeds, their nature, costs, and everything that follows.
I hope this article is the ultimate guide to your queries about British shorthair felines

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