# Id this cat coat pattern **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 27, 2013, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-cat-coat-pattern/669842 "2013-09-27T22:51:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2013, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-cat-coat-pattern/669842/1 "2013-09-27T22:51:38Z")
She’s mostly a [gray tabby](http://s294.photobucket.com/user/badger60/media/IMG_0024_zps7de106e7.jpg.html#/user/badger60/media/IMG_0024_zps7de106e7.jpg.html?&_suid=138032219700007418749772651491), but also has some orange highlights. Does this qualify as a tortoiseshell, or is there a specific name for this kind of tabby? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-cat-coat-pattern/669842/2 "2013-09-27T23:40:39Z")
[Torbie](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortoiseshell_cat#Patterns) ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2013, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-cat-coat-pattern/669842/3 "2013-09-28T01:15:25Z")
The shelter I work at calls that specific tabby with orange spots, a “spotted tabby” and in our experience they are only females, much like torties and calicoes are (99.999%) always female. The cat pictured would correctly be called a torbie, I’m just letting you know what one shelter reserves as a coat color for that kind (strong tabby markings with some orange splats) specifically. It might be just us. It seems to me that unless you’re in cat breeding/showing, what coat colors are called is rather varied and is technically incorrect at least 50% of the time! What color is your cat? Tiger! Ooookay. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-cat-coat-pattern/669842/4 "2013-09-28T01:32:08Z")
I’m not sure what you’d call that pattern, but I have a cat that looks exactly like that one. I just picked her up looked from her to the screen and back, and the resemblance is downright spooky. The only reason I think it might not be her is because there’s no visible flee collar on the one in the picture. ETA: I just noticed a _slight_ difference on the top of the head. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2013, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-cat-coat-pattern/669842/5 "2013-09-28T13:42:02Z")
Thanks,all. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-cat-coat-pattern/669842/6 "2013-09-29T06:33:57Z")
Check [http://www.pinterest.com/pin/232287293251283514/](http://www.pinterest.com/pin/232287293251283514/) for more detail on cat coat colors/patterns then you could ever want. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-cat-coat-pattern/669842/7 "2013-09-29T15:01:19Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Check [http://www.pinterest.com/pin/232287293251283514/](http://www.pinterest.com/pin/232287293251283514/) for more detail on cat coat colors/patterns then you could ever want. Do you have to have a Pinterest account to get a hi-res version of that chart? BTW, the kitty in the OP is very pretty! ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-cat-coat-pattern/669842/8 "2013-09-29T18:26:55Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > [Torbie](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortoiseshell_cat#Patterns) My late cat Austen was just this type–grey tabby with some orange. Her adoption papers from the county animal shelter called her a “torby.” It was the first time I’d ever run into that word (bi-colored tortoise-shell?) ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-cat-coat-pattern/669842/9 "2013-09-30T16:07:22Z")
> [@Miss\_Mapp](#): > > My late cat Austen was just this type–grey tabby with some orange. Her adoption papers from the county animal shelter called her a “torby.” It was the first time I’d ever run into that word (bi-colored tortoise-shell?) I think the word ‘Torby’ is a portmanteau of the words torty and tabby… ---
**Author:** ![Deegeea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Deegeea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deegeea)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-cat-coat-pattern/669842/10 "2013-09-30T18:23:56Z")
I couldn’t find full size of that picture on pinterest either, but a google image search for “guide to house cat coat colors and patterns” turned up quite a few, including this one: [![](http://www.earthpetsorganic.com/sites/all/libraries/fckeditor/editor/filemanager/connectors/php/sites/default/files/image/Cat-Color-Chart.jpeg) ](http://www.earthpetsorganic.com/sites/all/libraries/fckeditor/editor/filemanager/connectors/php/sites/default/files/image/Cat-Color-Chart.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_Hey_Paula)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-cat-coat-pattern/669842/11 "2013-09-30T18:27:10Z")
I would call her a dilute tortiseshell, because she’s grey and light orange rather than black and bright orange. I would also call her a pretty kitty, and give her chin scritches. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-cat-coat-pattern/669842/12 "2013-10-03T04:56:59Z")
> [@Deegeea](#): > > I couldn’t find full size of that picture on pinterest either, but a google image search for “guide to house cat coat colors and patterns” turned up quite a few, including this one: > > [http://www.earthpetsorganic.com/sites/all/libraries/fckeditor/editor/filemanager/connectors/php/sites/default/files/image/Cat-Color-Chart.jpeg](http://www.earthpetsorganic.com/sites/all/libraries/fckeditor/editor/filemanager/connectors/php/sites/default/files/image/Cat-Color-Chart.jpeg) That’s just what I was looking for, thanks!