# What color is my cat?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-color-is-my-cat/717718>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 15, 2015, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-color-is-my-cat/717718 "2015-04-15T09:46:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2015, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-color-is-my-cat/717718/21 "2015-04-18T03:35:11Z")

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Am I remembering correctly that “dilute” is used as an adjective (e.g., “dilute torby”) to describe a cat with markings/colors plus white areas? I seem to remember having a calico-and-white cat describes as a “dilute calico” in her vet record.

These days, my cats are called “DSH” and “DMH” with a photo rather than a description.

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**Author:** ![FrillyNettles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ea924/32.png) [@FrillyNettles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrillyNettles)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2015, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-color-is-my-cat/717718/22 "2015-04-18T04:11:07Z")

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In the veterinary world, we would call her a torbie.

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**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2015, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-color-is-my-cat/717718/23 "2015-04-18T05:35:31Z")

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> [@susan](#):
>
> Am I remembering correctly that “dilute” is used as an adjective (e.g., “dilute torby”) to describe a cat with markings/colors plus white areas?

Not quite - “dilute” means a faded color, like [this](http://www.catfinders.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Epping-Penelope-dilute-tortie.jpg) dilute tortie or [this](http://www.mspca.org/assets/images/30603.jpg) dilute calico. Contrast with non-dilute [tortie](https://snarla.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/tortie-on-linoleum-cropped.jpg) and [calico](http://stuffpoint.com/cats/image/26027-cats-calico-cat.gif).

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**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-color-is-my-cat/717718/24 "2015-04-18T17:51:44Z")

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> [@RivkahChaya](#):
>
> All I get is a page that says “Please join Flickr.”

Me too. I closed the tabbed and clicked again, then it magically worked. Weird.

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**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2015, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-color-is-my-cat/717718/25 "2015-04-19T04:39:44Z")

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> [@Lorene89095](#):
>
> Is she as sweet as she looks?  
> Beautiful kitty,appropriately adored.

Beautamous!

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