17 rare cat colors and patterns

Welcome to the wonderful world of rare cat colors and patterns. From the astounding albino to the glamorous gold, we’ve got them all — clearly, these 17 rare cat colors are sure to dazzle and delight. 

Each hue is a purr-sonal masterpiece, showcasing the stunning diversity of feline fur. So, get ready for one heck of a colorful quest across the fabulous feline kingdom!

1. Lilac cat

Lilac is one of the most fascinating rare cat coat colors. Why? Well, it's actually a brown so pale that it takes on a light purr-ple hue. It’s not exactly the color of your favorite flower, but there's just enough lilac tint to make your fabulous feline friend look ready for a lavender field photo shoot!

This unique hue happens when a kitty inherits not one, but two copies of the recessive allele gene for chocolate fur (b/b), and then adds a pinch of the recessive allele for diluted pigment (d/d). The result? A rare cat coat color that’s light, lilac, and ludicrously purr-fect.

Breeds with this rare cat color: Siamese, Balinese, Persian, Oriental Shorthair

2. Fawn

Fawn is frankly fur-bulous: a unique, subtle shade that’s lighter than cream but not quite the same. Much like lilac kitties, fawn felines are usually a type of brown cat breed — more specifically, a diluted form of the warm, light brown cinnamon.

It’s a rare "diluted" hue, making these kitties look like they’ve been dipped in a latte with a dash of cinnamon. This soft, warm tint primarily graces the coats of pedigree felines, bred specifically for their fur-tastic color palette.

Breeds with this rare cat color: Abyssinian, Oriental Shorthair, British Shorthair

3. Cinnamon

Ahh, sweet cinnamon. Spicy, delicious, and one of the rarest cat colors out there. Cinnamon kitties flaunt a warm, reddish-brown coat that looks as delicious as its namesake, giving them an earthy tone that sets them apart from the usual crowd. 

To don this unique hue, kitties need two copies of the recessive black allele (b1/b1), resulting in a stunning cinnamon shade that’s as rare as a bathtime-loving feline. Now, that’s rare!

Breeds with this rare cat color: Ocicat, Abyssinian, British Shorthair, Oriental Shorthair

4. Smoke

The smokey kitty color pattern is truly unique. What seems to be a solid color has hidden white roots beneath a predominantly black coat, creating a sublime, swirling smoke effect.

This rare cat color pattern is almost as elusive as the prized silver coat. So, if you’re looking for a feline with a mysterious flair, a smoke-patterned feline friend might just be your purr-fect match in furry heaven!

Breeds with this rare cat color: Persian, Siberian, Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat, Turkish Angora, Egyptian

5. Chinchilla

Chinchilla cats, named after their tiny rodent namesakes, sport a dazzling silver coat tipped with black, making them look like they've rolled in sparkling fairy dust. Or dipped slightly in silver paint. Hey, who knows what they get up to in the backyard!

Either way, this rare cat color gives them a glistening, almost sparkling appearance. Often seen in Persian cats, chinchilla coats are as rare as a feline that shares its catnip with its pooch pals (almost literally never).

Breeds with this rare cat color: Persian, Maine Coon

6. Caramel

Caramel cats are the purr-fect blend of elegance and coziness. With a coat that’s a sweet mix of mellow gray and warm brown, this rare cat color adds a subtle splash of sophistication to any fabulous feline family member.

With their gentle hues and chic kitty vibes, caramel cats are a meow-velous choice for those who appreciate a feline with a bit of fancy flair. You could say that they’re the crème de la crème of the fabulous feline world!

Breeds with this rare cat color: Oriental, Manx, Abyssinian, Persian, Maine Coon, British Shorthair

7. Chocolate

With a rich, dark brown coat that’s as luxurious as it sounds, chocolate cats are surprisingly unique. Why? Well, this paw-sitively rare cat color needs a double dose of those recessive alleles, making it a special find! 

Breeds like the Havana Brown, which always sports this charming hue, and the Oriental Shorthair, are known for their beautiful coats. 

As you’d expect, the chocolate color on our fabulous feline friends is a deep, velvety brown that stands out from the more common browns, which makes finding a chocolate cat like discovering a hidden (and delicious-looking) gem!

Breeds with this rare cat color: Persian, Burmese, Balinese, Havana Brown, Siamese, Devon Rex, York Chocolate

8. Apricot

Apricot-colored kitties stroll on the sunny side of life, sporting a soft, warm orange coat that’s lighter and more pastel than your typical ginger or red. 

The hue of these kitties is as sweet as their name suggests, giving them a bright and cheerful appearance that’s sure to make you feel purr-fectly happy whenever they waltz through the door! Okay, whenever they strut through the door seems more appropriate. 

With their apricot tones, this rare cat color is a sweet ray of sunshine that should brighten up any rainy day!

Breeds with this rare cat color: Abyssinian, American Bobtail, Maine Coon, Persian, Bengal

9. Golden

Struck gold with a new furry family member? Lucky you! Golden kitties boast a stunning, shiny coat with a rich, golden (well, of paws) hue that looks almost metallic. 

As one of the rarest cat colors out there, it’s only usually seen in breeds like the Burmilla, giving these felines a truly opulent look. Ancient Egyptians built golden cats, after all!

Breeds with this rare cat color: Burmilla

10. Blue point

Blue point kitties strut their stuff with a creamy white coat paired with stylish blue-gray points on their ears, face, paws, and tail. Talk about a fur-tastic fashion statement! 

Of course, this rare cat color combo is as striking as a blues-jazz solo, making these kitties stand out like a meow-velous melody of color, commonly associated with Siamese kitties.

Breeds with this rare cat color: Siamese 

11. Seal point

Wanna seal the deal with these fabulous felines? Paw-fect choice. Seal point kitties rock a creamy coat paired with dark brown, almost black points that are sharper than a cat's playful wrestling move on your wrist.

This rare cat coloring turns furry heads faster than a laser pointer, making these kitties the true seals of approval when it comes to style and elegance in the fabulous world of felines.

Breeds with this rare cat color: Thai, Shorthair, Ragdoll, Tonkinese, Snow Bengal, Colorpoint, Burmese, Himalayan

12. Amber

Amber kitties flaunt a warm, golden-brown coat that’ll warm the hearts of any two-legged friend they stroll past.

It’s a rare cat color that’s pure purr-fection, with a hue that evolves over time like a fine wine — as these kitties age, their coat darkens. How cool is that?

Breeds with this rare cat color: Norwegian Forest 

13. Lavender

Want more whimsy and wonder in your life? Lavender kitties are the purr-fect furry family members for you. Rocking a soft, pale purple-gray coat that’s as dreamy as the fields of Provence, and slightly lighter than lilac, this rare cat color is like finding a pot of purr-ple gold at the end of the rainbow. 

Breeds with this rare cat color: Siamese, American Bobtail, Lykoi, Persian Burmese, Ragdoll

14. Ticked tabby cat

These whiskered wonders don coats with barely-there stripes or spots, known as an agouti pattern, making it one of the rarest cat colors on our list. But don’t be fooled — they’re tabby cats all the way. 

With Ticked tabbies, it’s the hairs that are striped, not the coat. From their legs to their face and tail, these tabbies boast a purr-sonality that’s all about subtlety and style.

Breeds with this rare cat color: Abyssinian

15. Lilac tortoiseshell

Lilac tortoiseshell cats are pure pastel purr-fection, boasting a delicate blend of pale purple with mottled black and orange hues in their coat.

Born from parents carrying the recessive gene that creates this intricate coloring, torties can be found in many breeds, proving that their rare cat color is truly timeless!

Breeds with this rare cat color: British Shorthair, Persian, Siamese, American Shorthair

16. Cream tabby cat

Cream-colored kitties are the purr-fect blend of rarity and beauty, boasting a soft white hue with a subtle undertone of orange.

In fact, cream cats are often considered part of the orange family! Now that’s one interesting rare cat color.

Interestingly, their rarity stems from historical trends — breeders in England were known to neuter cream-colored cats that didn't quite meet the "red enough" standard, or they shipped them across the pond to the US!

Breeds with this rare cat color: Manx, Ragdoll, Persian, Maine Coon, British Shorthair, Munchkin, Snowshoe

17. Albino

The albino kitty is the holy grail of rare cat colors and patterns. Complete albinism, caused by two recessive alleles in the C gene, is a genetic marvel rarely seen in our feline friends. 

Distinguished by their trademark blue eyes, albino kitties are ultra-sensitive to light and need protection from the sun, so look after your striking furry friend!

Breeds with this rare cat color: Any cat breed