Please note that this page is a work in progress! Eventually I hope to have examples of all the PKC-accepted colours/patterns, as well as the unaccepted colours/patterns.. Check back often to follow the rainbow's progress!
Despite the breed's name, Orange Shorthairs come in a variety of colours and patterns. This page is intended to showcase different PKC-accepted colours as well as non-standard colours that are not (or are no longer) accepted. It will also hopefully provide some insight into the real life cat genetics of all these colours and patterns for those who are interested in using this knowledge when producing litters.
Smoke, Tabby or AOV?
Before we begin looking at the different colours and patterns accepted in the Orange Shorthair, it's worth mentioning that the breed is divided into three varieties:
Smoke - Black, blue, red, cream and tortie combinations thereof in the smoke pattern, with or without white markings. The original breed colour is considered red smoke and may have a black nose without fault. Smoke cats should have gold or amber eyes. High white (at least 75% white) can have blue eyes.
Tabby - Brown, blue, red or cream tabby and their torbie combinations. Ticked, classic, mackerel or spotted tabby patterns are allowed. Silver tabby in these colours is also accepted. With or without white. Silver tabbies can have green eyes - the rest should have gold or amber eyes. High white (75% white or more) can have blue eyes.
Any Other Variety (AOV) - Black, blue, red and cream self and their tortie combinations with or without white in any amount. Solid white also falls under AOV. Silver shaded and chinchilla patterns also accepted. Shaded and chinchilla cats can have green or teal eyes. The rest should have gold or amber eyes unless they are more than 75% white, in which case they can have one or two blue eyes.
Non-standard Varieties - In addition to the three accepted varieties, Orange Shorthairs of other colours and patterns can be P-registered and shown in non-championship classes. These colours/patterns include chocolate, cinnamon, lilac and fawn-based patterns, as well as golden shaded and chinchilla versions of all the colours found in the breed, colour point, mink and sepia cats. Eye colours follow the same rules as for the standard varieties. Colour point cats have deep blue eyes. Some of these colours/patterns were previously accepted as standard but have been removed. Others have never been permitted.
Smoke - Black, blue, red, cream and tortie combinations thereof in the smoke pattern, with or without white markings. The original breed colour is considered red smoke and may have a black nose without fault. Smoke cats should have gold or amber eyes. High white (at least 75% white) can have blue eyes.
Tabby - Brown, blue, red or cream tabby and their torbie combinations. Ticked, classic, mackerel or spotted tabby patterns are allowed. Silver tabby in these colours is also accepted. With or without white. Silver tabbies can have green eyes - the rest should have gold or amber eyes. High white (75% white or more) can have blue eyes.
Any Other Variety (AOV) - Black, blue, red and cream self and their tortie combinations with or without white in any amount. Solid white also falls under AOV. Silver shaded and chinchilla patterns also accepted. Shaded and chinchilla cats can have green or teal eyes. The rest should have gold or amber eyes unless they are more than 75% white, in which case they can have one or two blue eyes.
Non-standard Varieties - In addition to the three accepted varieties, Orange Shorthairs of other colours and patterns can be P-registered and shown in non-championship classes. These colours/patterns include chocolate, cinnamon, lilac and fawn-based patterns, as well as golden shaded and chinchilla versions of all the colours found in the breed, colour point, mink and sepia cats. Eye colours follow the same rules as for the standard varieties. Colour point cats have deep blue eyes. Some of these colours/patterns were previously accepted as standard but have been removed. Others have never been permitted.
Smoke
...with White
Tabby
...with White
Silver Tabby
...with White
Any Other Variety
...with White
Silver Shaded & Chinchilla
...with White