There are a few reasons why brown cats are less common than other colors. For one, the gene for brown fur is recessive, so it takes two copies of the gene to produce a brown cat. That means that if two non-brown cats have a kitten, there’s only a 25% chance that the kitten will be brown.
Another reason is that some color mutations are linked to health problems, and so breeders avoid them. For example, the gene for Siamese coloration is linked to deafness, so many breeders don’t want to produce Siamese kittens. And since brown is often considered a “diluted” version of black, some people just prefer black cats over brown ones.
How Do Cats Get their Color?
Cats get their color from two types of pigment: eumelanin, which produces black and brown colors, and phaeomelanin, which produces red and cream colors. All cats have some eumelanin, but the amount varies depending on the color. For example, a black cat has more eumelanin than a brown cat.
The amount of each pigment that a cat has is determined by its genes. So, if a cat has two genes for black fur (BB), it will be black. If it has one gene for black and one gene for brown (Bb), it will be brown. And if it has two genes for brown (bb), it will also be brown.
Cats can have different colors on different parts of their body because of something called “color spotting.” This is when one part of the body has more or less pigment than the rest. For example, a cat with color spotting may have black fur on its back and white fur on its belly.
Color spotting is caused by a mutation in a gene called “S.” Cats with two copies of the mutated gene (SS) are completely white, while cats with one copy of the mutated gene (Ss) have some color on their body.
So, to sum up, brown cats are less common than other colors because the gene for brown fur is recessive, and because some color mutations are linked to health problems.
Are Brown Cats the Rarest Color?
No, brown cats are not the rarest color. Purple or lilac is even more rare. Blue is also quite rare. Brown cats are less common than other colors because the gene for brown fur is recessive.
Chocolate Colored Cats
The color “chocolate” is actually a very dark brown. So, a chocolate colored cat is just a brown cat with very dark fur. Chocolate cats are not especially rare, but they are not as common as black or orange cats.
Cinnamon Colored Cats
Cinnamon is a light brown color. So, a cinnamon colored cat is just a brown cat with lighter fur. Cinnamon cats are not especially rare, but they are not as common as black or orange cats.
Siamese Cats
Siamese cats are usually either brown or chocolate colored. This is because the gene for Siamese coloration is linked to the gene for brown fur. So, most Siamese cats are brown. Siamese cats are not especially rare, but they are more common than other colors of cat.
Popular Brown Cat Names
- Brownie
- Walnut
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Caramel
- Cinnamon
- Mocha
- Woody
- Ginger
- Penny
- Peanut
- Pecan
- Syrup
- Tawny
- Cedar
- Mr. Brownsville
Cat Breeds that have a Brown Color Coat
Although brown cats are less common than other colors, there are still a few breeds that come in this color. The Bombay is a black cat that can also come in brown, and the Burmese comes in several shades of brown. Other brown cat breeds include the Egyptian Mau, Himalayan, Ocicat, and Russian Blue.
Havana Brown Breed
The Havana Brown is a breed of cat that is brown in color. This breed is quite rare, and it is not as common as black or orange cats.
It is the result of breeding a standard black house cat with a Siamese. The Havana Brown was developed in the 1950s by American breeder Mrs. Stone.
The breed is also known as the Swiss Mountain Cat, and it is recognized by some cat registries such as the World Cat Federation.
Bombay Cat Breed
The Bombay is a black cat that was originally created by crossing a Burmese with a black American Shorthair. The breed was developed in the 1950s, and it was given the name “Bombay” after the city in India.
The Bombay is a medium-sized cat, and it has a short, glossy coat. The coat can be black, brown, or copper, and it usually has a gold or greenish tinge to it. The eyes are large and round, and they can be green, amber, or copper.
The Burmese Cat Breed
The Burmese is a brown cat that was originally developed in Myanmar (formerly Burma). The breed was brought to the United States in the 1930s, and it quickly became one of the most popular cat breeds in America.
The Burmese is a medium-sized cat, and it has a short, glossy coat. The coat can be brown, chocolate, or cinnamon, and it usually has a gold or greenish tinge to it. The eyes are large and round, and they can be green, amber, or copper.
Egyptian Mau Cat Breed
The Egyptian Mau is a brown cat that was originally developed in Egypt. The breed was brought to the United States in the 1950s.
The Egyptian Mau is a medium-sized cat, and it has a short, glossy coat. The coat can be brown, black, or silver, and it usually has a gold or greenish tinge to it.
Himalayan Cat Breed
The Himalayan is a brown cat that was originally developed by crossing a Siamese with a Persian. The breed was developed in the 1950s, and it was given the name “Himalayan” because of its resemblance to the Himalayan rabbit.
The Himalayan is a medium-sized cat, and it has a long, silky coat. The coat can be brown, black, or blue, and it usually has a white “mask” on the face. The eyes are large and round, and they can be blue, green, or amber.
Ocicat Cat Breed
The Ocicat is a brown cat that was originally developed by crossing an Abyssinian with a Siamese. The breed was developed in the 1960s, and it was given the name “Ocicat” because of its resemblance to the ocelot.
The Ocicat is a medium-sized cat, and it has a short, glossy coat. The coat can be brown, black, or cinnamon, and it usually has a spots. The eyes are large and round, and they can be green, blue, or amber.
Russian Blue Cat Breed
The Russian Blue is a blue-gray cat that was originally developed in Russia. The breed was brought to the United States in the early 1900s, and it quickly became one of the most popular cat breeds in America.
The Russian Blue is a medium-sized cat, and it has a short, dense coat. The coat can be blue-gray, green-gray, or gray-brown, and it usually has a silver sheen to it. The eyes are large and round, and they can be green, blue, or amber.
So if you’re looking for a brown cat, there are plenty of options to choose from! Just remember that the gene for brown fur is recessive, so you might need to look at a few litters before finding the perfect kitten.
Do Brown Cats Like to Go Outside?
Of course, most cats like to explore the great outdoors from time to time, regardless of color. However, brown cats are especially fond of basking in the sunbeam and playing in the grass. After all, their coat helps them blend in with nature.
While all cats should be supervised when outdoors, brown cats are especially adept at camouflage and may be harder to spot in the bushes. So if you have an adventurous brown cat, be sure to get him a catio so he can enjoy the outdoors while being safe.
