What Your Cat's Color Says About His Personality

To some, the idea that a cat's color reflects its personality may seem proposterous. After all ("dumb blonde" jokes aside) human hair color has little to say about our own personalities. However, careful examination of feline genetics reveals a strong link between a cat's fur color and his personality.

Gray Tabby Cats

Domestic house-cats ultimately descend from one, small group of African wildcats, who self-domesticated about 10,000 years ago. The cats that spawned our current pallette of colors were all gray tabby cats, closely resembling the African wildcats of today. Rural feral cats in the U.S. and Europe also generally display this fur pattern.

Cats that resemble their primitive ancestors in appearance are also more likely to have a wild edge to them, and may be inclined toward hunting and aggressive play. They may be more solitary, but also opportunistic. Because they crave the great outdoors, these genetic throwbacks may be difficult to keep contained.

Black-and-White or Gray-and-White Cats

A number of geneticists and cat fanciers have noticed that a disproportionate number of city-dwelling alley-cats are bicolored. While feral cats in rural areas are generally gray tabbies, feral cats in cities are almost always white with black or gray patches, or they have tuxedo-style prints. It was actually a colony of such cats that led to T.S. Elliot's famous poetry about alley cats, which in turn cave way to the broadway musical, Cats.

Cats with black-and-white or gray-and-white markings are generally resourceful and clever. They tend to be excellent mousers, very active, and somewhat less affectionate than other cats. Like strays, these patchwork felines are likely to be friends with many humans, as well as other cats, but these friendships may be fleeting.

Solid White Cats

Cats that are completely white, with no other markings, are at a very high risk for congenital deafness. Blue-eyed white cats are almost always completely deaf from birth, even though their owners often have no idea. Solid white cats are also more likely to have poor vision and skin disorders.

Because of the discomforts and impaired understanding that are associated with poor vision and poor hearing, white cats tend to be at once both irritable and clingy. The world can be a very frightening place if you are unable to hear and see well, and the behavior of a cat will reflect his fears and uncertainties.

Chocolate Cats

Chocolate cats are uncommon, because the gene that is associated with their lush mohogany coats is seen only in a small, select genepool. All chocolate cats are descended directly from a single individual, a Havana Brown cat. The Havana Brown breed was created by crossing a black, blue, and color-point cats.

Because of their specific and verifiable ancestry, chocolate cats of all shapes and sizes hold their personalities in common. They are often surprisingly intelligent, very friendly, and quite playful. They tend to be communicative, often extending paws and swatting at their owners to gain attention.

Cream, Gray, Lilac, and Blue Cats

All cats who have pale-colored coats carry the same gene, known to cat breeders as the dilution gene. Red cats with the dilution gene appear cream, black cats with the dilution gene appear blue or gray, and chocolate cats with the dilution gene appear lilac. In addition to having the personality traits associated with each of the base colors (red, black, or chocolate), dilute cats carry their own special set of personality traits.

The owners of pale-colored cats often describe them as playful, or even mischeivous. They tend to be curious and alert, often to the point that they may annoy their owners or other housecats. A cat who is cream, lilac, or blue in color needs constant attention, and might be seen running frantically from one end of the house to another, as if chasing something invisible.

Color-Point and Seal-Point Cats

All cats with colored points (darkened markings on the muzzle, feet, and tip of tail) are descended from the Siamese breed. Officially recognized breeds including the Birman, Himalayan, Color-point Shorthair, and Color-point Persian, all have Siamese ancestry. As a result, any cat with these markings will display behaviors associated with the Siamese breed.

Cats with color-points, including tabby-style markings as well as seal-points, are generally vocal, assertive, and quirky. Like their Siamese ancestors, they tend to be extremely affectionate, often attaching themselves to a specific individual, but they are also capable of being surprisingly independent. Color-point cats are often described as "dog-like" by their owners, and enjoy walking on leashes. They may also have the personality traits associated with the colors of their point-markings.

Calico and Tortoiseshell Cats

Cats who have both black and red patches are almost always female. The red and black color-coat genes are carried on the X chromosome, and to have more than one color in addition to white, a cat must have two X chromosomes, or, in other words, be female. A calico cat will display the tendencies typically associated with being a female cat, generally being more docile than male cats.

Male calicos are rare, but they do occur on occasion. For this to happen, a male calico must have an extra X chromosome, which renders him feminized and, usually, sterile. A male calico cat will have an unusual personality, and may display traits associated with both male and female cats. He may also have health problems associated with having an additional chromosome, so it is important to get him regular veterinary care.

Red Cats (Also Called Ginger or Orange)

Tabby cats with orange fur ("red" to breeders) are usually male, with females only accounting for about 1 out of every 5 red cats. Naturally, then, an orange male cat will display behaviors that are indicative of his gender. He may be vocal, assertive, and somewhat aggressive, and is likely to be less gregarious than female cats.

Female red cats are not nearly as rare as male calicos, and are not genetically mutated in any way. If a female cat has orange tabby markings, it simply indicates that her secondary X chromosome is not carrying any other colors. Her temperament is without the influences of any other color-gene related behaviors, and she will behave in a manner that is consistent with her family background.

Solid Black Cats

Cats that are solid black carry similar genetic traits to black-and-gray tabbies. As a result, their behavior may be similar to the behaviors of their striped kin. Black cats are very closely related to their wild ancestors. It is believed, based on the fact that many other feline species have melanistic mutations, that black cats were seen in the wild even before they were domesticated by humans.

Black cats have a reputation for being wilder and less predictable than most other cats. They are often at once both friendly and stubborn. They are sociable, both with people and other cats, but insist upon maintaining independence. If allowed outside, black cats tend to roam, often staking large territories that may span several miles.