Animal Care Tips

Breeds of gray cats. Gray cat breed: name, description and photo

The dominant eye color in cats are all sorts of shades of yellow and green. But there are several breeds of cats with blue eyes, firmly conquered our love for the unusual color of the iris.

Siamese cats

The only cat breed where no other eye color than blue is allowed. The unusualness of its recognizable color is determined by partial albinism, which is manifested depending on body temperature. The colder - the more pigment is produced, which is responsible for the coat color of the animal. It is not in vain that in older Siams the color of the fur coat becomes almost brick-like due to circulatory disorders. Yes, and young cats living on the street, much darker than their domestic relatives, having the opportunity only to watch them from a warm window sill. Siamese cats are very playful and clever. They can be trained like dogs, walking on a leash. But they are proprietors who are jealous of the owner and his entourage.

White cats

A cat with snow-white coat can have only two eye colors: blue and yellow. The poor animals were not very lucky - along with the gorgeous snow-white fur, nature rewarded a tenth of them with deafness, a weaker immune system than their relatives. The white color of fur in many breeds is accompanied by blue eyes:

Turkish Angora. This beauty, bred by American breeders, is   descendant of ancient cats who lived many centuries ago in Turkey. Today for Turkey, these cats are a national treasure. Animals with different eyes are especially appreciated, one of which is necessarily blue. A very intelligent and lively cat who loves to be in the center of attention and jealous of its owner. Angorka has for many years been one of the leading places in the ranking of popular and most beloved domestic cats.

Persians. White representatives of the Persian cat breed can also boast blue eyes. These are very rare animals and are valued rather highly. Their noses and paw pads are pink, which makes the animal look like a toy. The big lack of blue-eyed blondes among the Persians is a very common deafness and the possibility of giving birth to kittens in the litter with different eyes.

Ojoz Azules (blue-eyed)

Amazing animal, bred recently. This breed is a little over twenty years, but she managed to become popular among felinologists. Its peculiarity is the unusual combination of tortoiseshell and blue eyes. Usually blue-eyed cats can boast an exclusively white fur coat. Maybe with a little interspersed, like a Siamese. Interestingly, cats of this breed are not allowed to exhibitions, if they are dominated by white blotches. This is already considered a marriage in the breed. Today Ojoz Azules can be found only in the USA. In Russia in Altai, animals with the same genetic abnormality, previously called Altai blue-eyed, were found.

Of course, it is very prestigious to have an animal belonging to the blue-eyed cat breed at home. But we must remember that the health of such pets is much weaker than that of their fellows. They require special care, which not every owner can allow for some subjective reasons.

Funny videos about funny cats - video

Gray cat is a common type of these pets. Genetically, any gray cat is a bleached black individual. Evenly black (true or bleached) hair of an animal is rare, more often it is complemented with white, less often with red (bicolor) or several colors (tortoiseshell and other variations).

The gray kitten often has a fuzzy, feathery pattern of spots and stripes on its coat - this is a tabby color. Changing the "baby" hair, the animal becomes the owner of a uniformly colored coat. If the pattern is clear, it is preserved and becomes brighter with age.

Types of gray feline color

Evenly ashy is often called blue: in the bright sun, the fur coat really casts a light blue. Under moonlight, a gray cat appears in ink or deep graphite. Another variant of clarified black is smoky. The fur of the kitten is colored evenly, with a light coating.

Breeds of gray cats

Abyssinian and Somali cats have a blue color - one of four permitted. Typical Abyssinian color - “wild” with yellow eyes.

Blue is inherent in the Australian mist. The second name is Australian smoky, because this color is original. Felinologists subsequently received a ticked purple (pink-blue), as well as other interesting tones in the rock palette.

Asian tabby - a new breed. He has patterns of otherwise dyed hairs on the main background, a pattern on the forehead in the form of the letter “M”, a stroke of the nose and eyes, a pattern on the ear in the form of a fingerprint. Greyish tabbies have golden, copper or orange eyes.

American, Karelian, Kuril and Japanese bobtails allow artificially obtained bluish color. The initial color of the bobtail is beige or fawn with brown tabby.

The American hairless and short-haired cats are representatives of the same type. Their kittens are sometimes born greyish: their hair is pale in the sun and only slightly bluish.

American Curl - looks unusual due to ears curled out. Wool is colored variously: in blue, silver-blue, smoky-blue, dark gray and other options - evenly and with tabby.

Anatolian or Turkish Shorthair native cat. It can be a deep lead color or simply blue, monophonic or with tabby and ticking.

Arabian Mau is not recognized internationally. Clarified black in Arabian Mau kittens is rare and not typical.

Balinese or Balinese, Himalayan, Siamese and Thai cats, as well as ragdoll and snow-shu, are color-point. The body is light (ideally white), the muzzle, the tail, the tips of the paws — points — are dark, equally colored, with no white spots and hairs. Points are dark gray, almost black, and blue.

The Bengal breed recently received the right to officially wear blue as a background on which the black and brown stains of the characteristic marble tabby are located.

Brazilian Shorthair is also an aboriginal pussy with a fur coat of any color, including all shades of gray: from dark to silver-blue.

British and Scottish pets are spread all over the world. The classic are blue and blue with white (bicolor). Clear blue spots and tabby stripes are welcomed on blue.

Burma or Burmese cat is also blue and wears white socks on its paws.

Burmilla is a very beautiful and sociable cat. Her coat coat may be blue along with others, while the undercoat is golden or silver.

Devon Rex has a rare curly spine and a smooth undercoat adjacent to the body. The blue undercoat is allowed, but preferably purple. In Cornish Rex, the undercoat is curled into tight ringlets and colored the same way as in Devon Rex. The same applies to the German (Prussian) Rex.

Don and Canadian sphinxes, Ukrainian Levkoy and others naked wool. They have pigmented skin, not rare thin hairs. Colors are determined by skin pigmentation. Everything is allowed, including deep gray and blue.

The European Shorthair is bred in different colors: including dark gray, blue, and lilac. The cat is either painted evenly or has a tabby.


Egyptian Mau - very beautiful spectacular cat. To consolidate the breed colors (silver, bronze and smoky) otherwise painted kittens are rejected. Smoky have dark to black guard coat and silver undercoat.

The Californian shining cat is an amazingly beautiful animal with a long or semi-long, very shiny coat. The location of the spots on the main background (blue is allowed) makes the animal look like an ocelot.

Cymric looks like a bear cub because of a short tail, thick long hair and a fluffy collar. Cymric is divorced in various colors: including evenly ashy or in a duet with white.

Corat according to the standard is allowed for breeding only in a silver-blue coat, where each hair is dyed uniformly gray, and the tip is silver. It creates a wonderful tone, dazzlingly beautiful in the sun.

Laperm and Ural Rex are distinguished by their curls: preferably light, shaded or smoky, including blue.

Munchkin is a very unusual smoky cat. Their body resembles the body of a dachshund - long on short legs, and the standard includes all the colors. Expressive ashy and other smoky colors are spectacular, as well as tabby on a solid blue background.

Maine Coon - the largest smoky cat. This is an aboriginal breed with variously colored hairs. Dominated by black and red representatives. But there are light blue, smoky blue, silver blue and blue shaded. Solid blue - a rarity, often breaks spots and stripes on the head and paws, because in nature

The Maine Coons had a tabby pattern. Sometimes polycystic kidney disease is associated with the gray color of the fur.

Minskin - experimental dwarf naked cat. Her hair grows on her back and sides, very rare and thin. Any skin pigmentation, including grayish in all shades.

Napoleon is a tiny gray striped tabby cat. They have plush wool that does not require care.

Nibelung has a luxurious long fur coat of a rich and only possible blue color with a silver sheen. Shorthair Russian Blue has the same color restrictions.

The Norwegian Forest and Siberian cats have waterproof long hair of any tone, including gray, and fluffy tail.


Ocicat looks like an ocelot, as Californian is radiant, but with the only difference that the permissible shades of blue are wider - smoky, purple, silver, deep.

The Tonkin cat has a light gray color without reflux and blue colors, recalling the quality and density of fur mink.

French Chartreuse breeds are allowed to breed if the color is pure gray, smoky or silver.

Color features

Character in fact depends little on color, but they believe that gray individuals are the smartest and most appeasable. There are few genetically associated diseases with the clarified black genome: usually polycystic kidney disease and retinal diseases.

Gray cats are often attributed to the ability of healers. Whatever the animal, he needs love, care and competent care.

Related videos

48

Charming, angelic cat with blue eyes - the dream of many. Find such an aesthetic animal in the public domain is very problematic. Blue eyed cats  quite rare and highly valued. Therefore, the desire to find just such a cat should be accompanied by the understanding that you can hardly get it for free. Everyone knows that the color of the eye depends on the color of the iris. For the blue color of the iris requires a special pigment, melanocyte, and in a certain amount. If the amount of pigment granules is high, we get a brown or red eye color. Average - green. Blue iris requires a low content of melanocytes. It is also worth noting that there can be a great many shades of blue. The palette varies from light blue to dark blue (royal).

And now let's take a closer look at the reasons why a cat can boast of blue eyes. First, the dominant white gene. Most often, cats with a white color are blue-eyed. These include, for example, the Angora cat. The white gene is denoted by the letter W. As stated in our previous materials, white cats can sometimes be distinguished by poor hearing. The fact is that the W gene negatively affects the development of cells responsible for hearing acuity. But this is not always the case, so you do not need to worry in advance about the health of the potential white blue-eyed kitty that you liked.

Secondly, if the cat is an albino. Yes, there are blue-eyed albinos. Their genetic set looks like this: Sasa. Interestingly, the gene of albinism is still present in Siamese cats and therefore their fur is partially highlighted and their eyes glow with a celestial shade. Their genetic set looks like this: cscs. Lightening is due to the thermal sensitivity of wool in certain places. Under the influence of temperature changes, the wool changes its color and the cat acquires a characteristic Siamese color.

Third, spotting. Cats with tortoiseshell colors often contain white in their range. If a white spot is located near the eyes, the latter can intercept the W gene and acquire a blue color.

Fourth, there is a complete and special breed of cats with blue eyes. Ojos Azules was named so for the generic distinction of this breed - blue eyes. At the same time the cat can be multi-colored. Impairment of hearing, strabismus, visual impairment is not observed. Cats are unique in their kind and always highly valued. However, there is one "but." Such cats are not recommended to cross with blue-eyed other breeds. Otherwise, the stillbirth or mutation of the skull in kittens.

Invariably blue color of the iris, we can observe in the following breeds of cats:

But there are breeds of cats, the standards of which allow different variations of coat color. As a result, in such rocks, different colors of the iris are allowed. Below we present the breeds of cats, which are allowed blue eye color and its shades:

It's not all breeds of cats with blue eyes. In fact, there are several more, because felinologists regularly conduct experiments and find new features of different breeds or mixtures.

According to all the laws of genetics, a cat with blue eyes should be only white, either Siamese or color point. But there are exceptions to any rules. However, in our area it is possible, although rarely, to meet a special cat of unusual appearance. Her eyes are blue, but the coat is black. This is a big rarity, since a uniform black color indicates the dominant black gene (B), while the eyes are genetically completely opposite to the color. This breed is called "Altai blue-eyed".

Found a cat in Ust-Kamenogorsk and immediately named her in honor of his native land. After some time, it turned out that when such a cat is crossed with a normal one, some kittens are born with blue eyes. The only mandatory condition for the manifestation of blue in the eyes is the presence of the W gene. And it does not matter in what proportion. One white speck is enough. Even a few white hairs already give a chance to get the desired shade of the eyes. In fact, this breed is the Russian equivalent of Ohus Azules, bred at one time in California.

List of cats with blue eyes  big enough. It remains only to choose the breed and color. Although the main thing, nevertheless, in a cat is not the color of her eyes or coat. To choose a suitable cat is not enough to study the features of its breed. It is necessary that she fit you in character, so that you like each other. And this, as we know, does not depend on the breed.

Photos of her representatives sunk into your soul? Then this article is for you. Today we will talk about what breeds of gray cat are. They are not very much, but they are.

Gray color is often called blue. There are such colors as dark and light. Well, let's start. So, what are the gray cat breeds?

First name - Siberian cat

These purrs are very loyal and loving creatures. They have a strong muscular body, thick soft hair. Colors are different, including gray cats.

They love to play. They are interested in everything new, because they are very inquisitive. Siberian cats are clever and cunning. As a rule, do not make noise. Easy to get used to the name. Usually from such cats get good pets.

These purrs are very flexible and strong. They can jump long distances and heights. Easily jumped from one cabinet to another. Siberians like water. They love to play with toys in bowls of liquid. Also like to watch as the water in the bathroom decreases.

With children and other animals friendly. Almost all cats of this breed do not like being taken in their arms or embraced. So purrs prefer to sleep with the owner in the same bed, and the closer to him, the better.

Are you interested, what other cats are Breed next - interesting, many people know it. But not everyone knows that its representatives are with gray coat color.

Persian cat


In such a purr snub-nosed Body squat, medium length. The head is massive, round. Colors are different. You can meet a gray cat of this breed.

Appearance is very attractive, but their character is no less good. Persians are sedate, they like to play, to spend time with the owners. Their voice is soft, pleasant. Use it rarely. They need love, but they will not demand it openly. Loyal, completely trust the owners.

British Shorthair

Another breed of gray cat is the British Shorthair. Its representatives round copper shade. A full face and a round head are distinctive features of the breed. The British Shorthair cat body is strong, rounded, plush tail, chest wide. Her paws are short, round pads.



British character

This breed of gray cat, according to her lovers, is the best for home maintenance. Her representatives are smart and not too demanding. In addition, this cat turns a great companion.

This breed of gray cat differs fairly calm, not dirty temper. Her representatives are playful, loyal, not affectionate, not hyperactive. They are friends with everyone in the family, they do not single out anyone.

These cats are contacts, but they need a space for privacy. The only way they can feel happy.

This purr is not manual. She likes to curl up next to the owner, waiting for her to be ironed.

Such cats do not like being squeezed, taken in their arms. They begin to break out, push their paws, turn their heads. Also, these cats do not tolerate kisses. The British Shorthair is very angry with too much wrong attention. Therefore, noticing something like that, she can disappear for a while, hiding in a secluded place.


New family members these purrs, as a rule, accept well, peacefully, without fights and jealousy.

British cats are not shy, confident. Can easily live in the same apartment with the dog. Here they are, the British gray cat.

Breed: Turkish Angora

This wedge-shaped body has a small body. The coat is rather long, usually without undercoat. You can find not only a white Angora cat, but also a gray one.

Representatives of the breed are active, they spend most of their lives in motion. By the grace of this cat can be compared with a dancing ballerina.

Angoras are affectionate, loyal. They tend to have close relationships with only one member of the family, not with everyone. Therefore great for single people as a companion.

Angoras do not like sitting on their hands. Such a cat can sit for a couple of minutes and then she will jump to the floor and run around the house.

The Angora cat likes to play with toys, hide them and snatch from above. Such a pet can easily make a mess in the house. If you value order, then you probably should not get such a pet.

It is very interesting to watch how it plays. This is a very graceful "performance". Representatives of the breed like height, so they often sit on cabinets or refrigerators.

These cats are very intelligent, decisive, have a strong will, especially when they need it. If you, for example, hide a favorite purr toy on a cabinet, then it will not calm down until it reaches it. If she doesn’t have the strength or the capacity to do this, then she will torture her owners by asking her to return her mouse.

Turkish Angoras have the ability to swim. As you know, not all cats love water. But this one really likes to swim. Although, of course, a lot depends on education. If kittens were born to a floating mother, then they adopt this habit from her.

The representative of this breed needs a lot of attention and communication. If you leave her alone for a long time, she will be very lonely and bored.

Those angora owners who often have to leave the pet one, can be advised the following - to buy another kitty, preferably also the same active one.

Russian blue

What are gray cat breeds? The name of some speaks for itself. For example, when you hear a cat, you can roughly imagine what a purr it is. If you are not familiar with it, now let's talk about this baleen. This is a smart, gentle, attentive and devoted cat, with a beautiful quiet voice. long tail, neck, elongated body. The color is blue (uniform) with a silver tint. At first distrustful of new acquaintances. Such a cat does not like to change its habitat, prefers a routine. close relationship. With time it becomes I am a devoted friend.

Did you like this breed of gray cat? Photo representative you see in our article. You can get acquainted with its appearance in more detail.

Small conclusion

Now you know what a gray cat is. What breed can be such a purr, we also told you. We hope that the information was useful to you. If you are interested in some breed of gray cat, then be sure to find out more information about it so that there will be no surprises in the future. For example, the character does not fit or diet. Good luck in choosing a pet!

The blue eyes of a cat are not only very beautiful, but also the result of quite complex processes in the animal's body. Some breeds of cats may, or even must, have blue eyes, while others may not have them at all.

Blue-eyed cats have always been considered something of a cat aristocracy - I know everything about it. However, what is the reason for such eye color few people know. The reason for this is the content in the iris of the eye cells of a special pigment. These cells are called melanocytes. They are contained in two layers of the iris. The innermost layer, which is closer to the back of the eye, contains tightly packed melanocytes, and the stroma, the outer layer, contains loosely packed melanocytes.

The number of melanocytes in the stroma is responsible for the color of the iris, and the high number of pigment granules gives the eyes a copper / brown color.

If the number of melanocytes is smaller, the eyes turn green, and if there are very few of them, then the eyes will be blue. In the case of the complete absence of melanocytes, the eyes become red as in albino. As for blue eyes, it can vary in the range from pale blue to dark blue royal color.

It is worth recalling that the blue eyes have all the cats for a short period after birth, and after 4-12 weeks their color begins to change, if of course, it changes at all.



  Ragdoll

There are three main reasons for giving a cat blue eyes.

  • White dominance (the so-called epistatic white cats) - responsible for the white color of the gene, as well as blue-eyedness is conventionally denoted by the letter W. This gene is dominant and for the offspring to inherit these signs is quite enough one copy. This gene inhibits the production of pigment. In other words, if you have a genetically ginger (or black) cat, but which carries the W gene, its color will be disguised. And since this gene affects the development of acoustic cells, white cats are often completely or partially deaf.
  • Albinism. There are five albino alleles in these animals: red-eyed albino (cc), blue-eyed albino (sasa), Siamese albino (cscs), burma (cb) and solid (C). Blue eyes among all albinos have only blue-eyed albinos (Sasa) and Siamese cats (cscs).
    The gene that is responsible for color-point colors, including Siamese (cscs), is recessive. From this it follows that the offspring should inherit this gene not from one, but from each parent. In color-points / Siams, this gene leads to partial clarification of the color from black to dark brown, which is called the Himalayan mutation. This gene makes the color of the animal heat-sensitive, as a result of which the end parts of the cat, such as the tail, ears and limbs, retain a dark color, while the body becomes lighter in color from white to cream.
      Blue-eyed albinos have from epistatic white cats the difference that in the latter the W generates the color. In other words, blue-eyed albinos are white not because of the lack of pigment, but because their color is disguised.
      Different eye color - heterochromia - arises due to the fact that the cat's eyes are in differently colored areas that appear due to the migration of melanocytes. If the eyes are in the area that reached melanocytes, they will have a blue color, and if they are in different areas, then only one eye will have their blue color.
  • Pogost (white spot, gene S). Cats with such spotting are very common, and the amount of white can vary within very wide limits - from tiny spots, which are called medallions, to a completely white body surface. And if the white areas are close to the eyes, then the eyes will have a blue color.


In addition, it is necessary to note the breed ojos azules with its inherent So gene. This breed is very rare, has blue eyes and colorful color. Unlike blue-eyed Siamese, who have a tendency to strabismus, as well as, unlike epistatic white cats, which are often deaf, the gene ohos azules does not affect hearing or the eyes. But this gene can carry other genetic problems if the cat has two copies of the gene inherited from each parent, for example, stillborn offspring or skull defects. To avoid such problems, ochhos azules should not be crossed with blue-eyed cats.

  Loading...