It's a lot too much and hard to compare all it would become messy and hard to read so I choose to only compare classic tabby to the shaded, shell and smoke, as well as black tabby to golden tabby, golden shaded, and golden shell. Please do learn about all the other patterns as well, knowledge is good. I'm not a member of FIFe, however when it comes to describing the colors, there is no standard who do describe the colors in detail as much as the FIFe standard, that's why I use this one as a tool for us all.
I tried to do it as clearly as possible, I will continue to check this to make sure I have not missed anything.
Silver variations
Golden variations
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Silver Classic tabby | Silver Shaded | Silver Shell | Smoke |
| Coat color |
Hairs show various numbers of silver-white bands, separated from each other by the corresponding color (ticking). The hairs may be uniform all over the coat or separated from each other by solid-colored hairs. Forming the different patterns.
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Hairs are tipped with the appropriate color. Tipping as even as possible. Tipping shading down from the back to the flanks and lighter on the front of the legs. The coat on the head, ears, back, flanks, and upper side of the tail must be tipped with color. |
Hairs are tipped with the appropriate color. Tipping as even as possible. Tipping shading down from the back to the flanks and lighter on the front of the legs. The coat on the head, ears, back, flanks, and upper side of the tail must be tipped with color. |
Hairs are tipped with the appropriate color, whit a narrow silver-white band at the roots, which can be seen ONLY when parting the hair. |
| Undercoat |
Pure pale silver |
Undercoat pure white | Undercoat pure white | Undercoat silver-white |
| Description |
The appropriate base color is a "dark" and clearly defined pattern with good contrast without ticked hairs (brindling). Shoulder markings are in the shape of a butterfly with both upper and lower wings distinctly defined. The back markings consist of a vertical line On each flank, there are large blotches in the color of the ground color encircled by one or more unbroken "darker" lines. Markings should be the same on each side. |
Tipping about 1/3 of the complete hair length. Tipping evenly distributed to give the characteristic sparkling silver appearance. |
Tipping about 1/8 of the entire hair length. Tipping evenly distributed to give the |
In stillness, the cat appears to be solid colored, but in motion, the silver-white undercoat is clearly visible. |
| Head |
Whiskerpads marked (spotted). Eyes are first surrounded by the darker color of the pattern, then surrounded by the lightest color of the pattern. Marking in the shape of an "M" on the forehead, an unbroken line runs back from the outer corner of the eye, 2 or 3 spirals on the cheeks, thumbprints on the ears, and 2 unbroken necklaces on the chest. |
Eyes and nose leather outlined with the color of the tipping, an even, distinct nose/eye rim is preferred. | Eyes and nose leather outlined with the color of the tipping, an even, distinct nose/eye rim is preferred. | The cats are silvery around the eyes and have silvery frown markings. Ruff and ear tufts are silvery white. |
| Legs |
The legs are evenly banded. The back of the feet is colored in the "dark" color. |
Broken rings on the legs are permitted. |
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| Belly | A double row of "dark" spots (buttons) appears on the chest and the belly. | No spots on the chest or belly | No spots on the chest or belly | Undercoat silver-white. In repose, the cat appears to be solid colored, but in motion, the silver-white undercoat is clearly visible. |
| Remarks | White/light color is tolerated besides the nostrils, above the lips, on the chin as long as it does not extend down to the chest. Cats with white/lighter-colored chin are preferred |
In general, a shaded cat appears to be much darker than a shell. Shaded is considered a tabby pattern. |
In general, a shell cat appears to be Shell is considered a tabby pattern. |
A smoke without ghost markings is preferred. A smoke, is a cat of contrast Kittens often have ghost markings, which usually disappear when the kitten develops. |
| Faults |
Unbroken rings on the legs Spots on the chest or belly Uneven tipping Brown or yellowish tinge in the coat |
Unbroken rings on the legs Any color extending up to the joint of the hind legs. Spots on the chest or belly Uneven tipping Brown or yellowish tinge in the coat |
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Black Classic tabby | Golden tabby | Golden Shaded | Golden Shell |
| Coat color |
Hair shows various numbers of yellowish bands separated from each other by the corresponding color (ticking). These hairs may be uniform all over the coat, or separated from each other by solid-colored hairs forming different patterns. The appropriate base color is a "dark" and clearly defined pattern with good contrast without ticked hairs (brindling). 2 unbroken necklaces on the chest. |
Patterns as described for 22/23/24/25 A Golden Tabby is a tabby cat where the yellowish bands in the hair are somewhat wider. This gives in general a lighter expression of color. Clear and visible pattern, and as described in the corresponding tabby pattern.
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Hairs are tipped with the appropriate color. Tipping as even as possible. Tipping shading down from the back to the flanks and lighter on the front of the legs. The coat on the head, ears, back, flanks, and upper side of the tail must be tipped with color. The ground color is more intensive on the face and back, with a lighter shade on the chin, the ear tufts, down the flanks, on the belly, and the underside of the tail. Color and distribution of tipping as for the Hairs are tipped with the appropriate color. Tipping as even as possible. The coat on the head, ears, back, flanks, and upper side of the tail must be tipped with color. |
Hairs are tipped with the appropriate color. Tipping as even as possible. Tipping shading down from the back to the flanks and lighter on the front of the legs. The coat on the head, ears, back, flanks, and upper side of the tail must be tipped with color. The ground color is more intensive on the face and back, with a lighter shade on the chin, the ear tufts, down the flanks, on the belly, and the underside of the tail.
Color and distribution of tipping as for the Hairs are tipped with the appropriate color. Tipping as even as possible. The coat on the head, ears, back, flanks, and upper side of the tail must be tipped with color. |
| Undercoat |
Ground color: Warm, brilliant coppery brown down to the roots, black ticked. Pattern/Ticking: Clear dense black. |
Very warm, from dark yellow to apricot | Very warm, from dark yellow to apricot | Very Warm, from dark yellow to apricot |
| Description |
The appropriate base color is a "dark" and clearly defined pattern with good contrast without ticked hairs (brindling). Shoulder markings are in the shape of a butterfly with both upper and lower wings distinctly defined.
On each flank, there are large blotches in the color of the ground color encircled by one or more unbroken "darker" lines. Markings should be the same on each side. |
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Tipping about 1/3 of the complete hair length. Tipping is evenly distributed. The ground color is more intensive on the face and back, with a lighter shade on the chin, the ear tufts, down the flanks, on the belly, and the underside of the tail. Color and distribution of tipping as for the corresponding silver shaded/shell varieties(*s 11/12). |
Tipping about 1/8 of the entire hair length. Tipping is evenly distributed. |
| Head |
Whiskerpads marked (spotted). Eyes are first surrounded by the darker color of the pattern, then surrounded by the lightest color of the pattern. The edges of the ears are colored by the lighter color of the pattern. Marking in the shape of an "M" on the forehead, an unbroken line runs back from the outer corner of the eye, 2 or 3 spirals on the cheeks, thumbprints on the ears, and 2 unbroken necklaces on the chest. |
Eyes and nose leather outlined with the color of the tipping, an even, distinct nose/eye rim is preferred.
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Eye rims are the same color as the tipping Whisker pads, chin, and chest may be light to deep cream. |
Eye rims are the same color as the tipping Whisker pads, chin, and chest may be light to deep cream. |
| Legs |
The legs are evenly banded The back of the feet is colored in the "dark" color. |
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Broken rings on the legs | Broken rings on the legs |
| Belly | A double row of "dark" spots (buttons) appears on the chest and the belly. | The belly without tipping | The belly without tipping | |
| Remarks |
White/light color is tolerated beside the nostrils, above the lips, and on the chin, as long as it does not extend down to the chest. Cats with white/lighter-colored chin are preferred. |
White/light color is tolerated besides the nostrils, above the lips, and on the chin as long as it does not extend down to the chest. Cats without white/lighter-colored chin are preferred. The dark color of the nose rim may extend over the whole nose leather and thus be the same as the corresponding solid color |
White/light color is tolerated beside the nostrils, above the lips, and on the chin as long as it does not extend down to the chest. Cats without white/lighter-colored chin are In general, a shaded cat appears to be much darker than a shell. Shaded is considered a tabby pattern A Golden shaded without tabby markings and bars and with a warm coat color is |
White/light color is tolerated beside the nostrils, above the lips, and on the chin as long as it does not extend down to the chest. Cats without white/lighter-colored chin are preferred. In general, a shaded cat appears to be much darker than a shell. Shaded is considered a tabby pattern A Golden shaded without tabby markings and bars and with a warm coat color is |
| Faults |
Ticked hairs (brindling) in the dark parts of the pattern Lack of contrast |
Coat too pale or too grey in tone Grey undercoat Unbroken rings on the legs Spots on the chest or belly Uneven tipping Solid colored hairs All tabby markings |
Coat too pale or too grey in tone Grey undercoat Unbroken rings on the legs Spots on the chest or belly Uneven tipping Solid colored hairs All tabby markings |
