Beautiful Brown cats aren’t particularly rare. Brown cats, especially brown tabbies, are one of the most common colors in cats. However, solid brown cats tend to be less common, and most tend to be strikingly very beautiful. In other breeds, the solid brown color goes by the name chocolate.
In this article, we’ll look at what makes a cat’s coat color, the beautiful brown cats we have around, and their rarity. We’ll also look at what recognized cat breeds come in brown coloration. Carefully go through this article to understand more about beautiful brown cats.
Table of Contents
- What Makes a Cat’s Coat Color?
- Beautiful Brown Cats and Their Rarity
- What Recognized Cat Breeds Come in Brown Coloration?
- Conclusion
What Makes a Cat’s Coat Color?
The beautiful sedentary cat you love so much may seem not to share plenty of resemblances compared to its relatives that prowl the African savanna. However, researchers from Stanford Medicine recently identified a unique gene (DKK4) that makes a cat’s coat color.
According to the researchers, the gene drives much of the development of a cat’s scars, spots, and stripes that decorate the entire feline fur. A cat with dominant genes could have more pheomelanin or eumelanin in its coat, making it dark brown, medium black, or red. But should a cat have recessive genes of either pheomelanin or eumelanin, most will have a different color.
According to Gregory Barsh and his team of researchers, a gene known as DKK4 regulates the early development of different fur patterns, especially in domestic cats. According to researchers, the DKK4 is heavily responsible for a cat’s color patterns and probably in other mammals.
（Two mottled brown cats）
Beautiful Brown Cats and Their Rarity
Brown cats are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful breeds of cats around. However, if you are keen enough, you’ll notice these cats are rare. Their population isn’t huge compared to cats of other colors.
Cats with slightly high amounts of eumelanin tend to display the coat color of B/b/b1. Here, the B code stands for black, while the b and b1 follow are recessive codes with some brown variations and some reduced eumelanin.
For that reason, you may find these cats’ coats appear brown. It may be perplexing. However, researchers argue that it’s a mutation of the black gene responsible for brown coats in cats.
There are several brown-colored felines, including cinnamon, brown, chocolate, and diluted chocolate.
（A cute cat）
What Recognized Cat Breeds Come in Brown Coloration?
There are several breeds of cats that come in brown coloration, as highlighted below:
The Havana Brown
Fondly known by many as “Chocolate Delights,” the Havana Brown spots mesmerizing green eyes, along with chocolate brown coloring. While solid brown cats are hard to come across, the Havana Brown may be your cat if you are looking for a brown cat.
The York Chocolate
Slightly darker than the Havana Brown, the York Chocolate is a cat-rich brown and spots a slightly longer coat. Its appearance could be chocolate brown, white, or lilac and chocolate.
The Burmese Cat
The Burmese cat is very common in the U.S, and its breeding with Siamese cats, saw it achieve a rare solid and unique brown coloring.
The Oriental Shorthair
The Oriental Shorthair cat explores all possibilities with color and pattern in a cat’s coat. There are more than 600 alternatives to the pattern, coat length, and color in the Oriental Shorthair.
（Oriental Shorthair Kittens）
Persian
The Persian cat is one interesting feline. When this cat is still a kitten, its have these tabby markings displaying its genetic history. However, as the kittens grow, the tabby markings disappear.
British Shorthair
The British Shorthair is slightly calm when compared to other shorthair cats. And even though they come in several colorings, the British Shorthair deep-brown coloring is most astoundingly adored.
（British Shorthair cat）
American Wirehair
The American Wirehair is another gentle, quiet, and affectionate cat loved by many pet lovers. The American Wirehair comes in several patterns and colors, including brown tabby.
Bengal
Created in the 1980s by crossing the Asian Leopard Cat and domestic cats, the Bengal cat is another cat breed that comes in different colors, including brown. While Bengals may look wild, interestingly, they are very affectionate cats.
（The Bengal Cat）
European Burmese
Closely related to the Burmese Cat that we’ve mentioned above, the European Burmese is a version developed in the UK. Unlike the Burmese cat, which comes in only four colors, the European Burmese comes in numerous solid colors, including brown. They are playful, easygoing, and cuddly.
（European Burmese）
Maine Coon
The Main Coon is one of the largest cat breeds, with males weighing up to 20 pounds or even more! Its long and shaggy coat comes in many patterns and colors imaginable, brown being the most distinctive color of this cat.
（Vet examining the Maine Coon）
Conclusion
Brown cats are very rare, but that doesn’t mean they are difficult to find. Unlike other coat colorations, you’ll likely find stray brown cats wandering around. Most brown cats tend to be friendly, playful, and fun to keep at home as pets.