Patterns in the Domesticated Cat - Part 3: The Shaded Patterns

Patterns in the Domesticated Cat – Part 3: The Shaded Patterns

August 27, 2026

The Shaded Patterns

Pat Jacobberger

*You can clearly see the white at the base of the coat where the coat separates down the spine of this black smoke Persian.*

Cats with patterns such as chinchilla, shaded, and smoke all share the common characteristic of having color-tipped hairs and a white undercoat. What makes each pattern different is the degree of tipping. These patterns are influenced by the melanin inhibitor gene, which inhibits the deposition of yellow pigment in the coat so that the color will not be present at the portion of the hair nearest the skin. Thus, the hair closest to the skin will appear silvery-white.

The chinchilla pattern represents the heaviest expression of the melanin inhibitor gene. All the color is at the very tip (the last one-eighth) of the guard hair and may be one of any of the solid colors, tortoiseshell, or dilute tortoiseshell patterns. The undercoat is pure white. The coat on the back, flank, head, and tail is sufficiently tipped with color so that you can see that the cat is not a white cat. The legs may be slightly shaded with tipping, but the chin, ear tufts, stomach, and chest are usually pure white.

The shaded pattern is a moderate expression of the melanin inhibitor gene. All the color is at the last quarter of the guard hair and may be one of any of the solid color, tortoiseshell, or dilute tortoiseshell patterns. Generally, the effect is much darker than the chinchilla pattern. The undercoat is white. There is a mantle of colored tipping shading down from the sides, face, and tail, from dark on the spine to white on the chin, chest, stomach, and under the tail. The legs have the same tone as the face.

The smoke pattern is the lightest expression of the melanin inhibitor gene. All the color is on the last half of the guard hair and may be of any solid color, tortoiseshell, or dilute tortoiseshell. The effect is that when the cat is sitting and resting, it appears to be a solid-color cat. When the cat is in motion or when you pull the coat backwards, the white undercoat is clearly – and dramatically – apparent.

This diagram shows the distribution of color in each of the shaded patterns:

From left to right: chinchilla, shaded, and smoke hair shafts showing black coloration at the ends. Some breeds, such as the Persian and the Maine Coon Cat, use the terms shell and cameo for red chinchilla and red shaded patterns respectively.

Only one pedigreed breed is defined by one or more of the shaded patterns, and that is the Burmilla. They are bred and shown exclusively in the chinchilla and shaded patterns.