Understanding colors of Exotic Shorthair kittens and Persian Kittens (Or Exotic Longhair kittens) can be confusing. What is a dilute, van? Is a red really red? What are lilac, blue and cream? We have added photos to help clear the fog.
What Does Van Mean?
A van means that white is the most dominant of its color or colors. Below is an example of a lilac van Exotic Shorthair kitten. White being the dominant color.
What Does Tabby Mean?
Tabby is a reference to pattern of darker stripes on coat on the kitten or cat. See the darker stripes on the photo of the kitten below and on her side? This makes her a tabby.
What is a Calico Exotic Shorthair Kitten or Calico Exotic Longhair Kitten?
A calico is a tri-colored cat with white, black, and orange patches. They typically have white faces, chests, and legs. Calicos usually have black or orange foreheads, ears, and backs. Their legs may be either white or colored. Their spots may be more one color than the other, but they must have some combination of the two. The calico Exotic Shorthair kittens and calico Exotic Longhair kittens we breed can come in the following variations: calico, calico van, dilute calico and dilute calico van! A van calico simply means that whites the most dominant of its 3 colors. See our calico Exotic Shorthair gallery for more examples of both calicos and dilute calicos or see images below.
What is a Dilute Calico Exotic Shorthair or Dilute Calico Longhair Kitten?
A dilute calico has the same coloring as calico cats, but “diluted,” meaning dilute calicos are calico cats with less intense color hues. The dilute calico Exotic Shorthair kittens and dilute calico Exotic Longhair kittens we breed can come in the following variations: dilute calico and dilute calico van! A van calico simply means that whites the most dominant of its 3 colors. See our calico Exotic Shorthair gallery for more examples of both calicos and dilute calicos or see images below.
What is a Tortoiseshell Exotic Shorthair Kitten?
Tortoiseshell kittens are named for their bicolored coats that look like the shell of a tortoise. Affectionately referred to as “torties,” The tortoiseshell Exotic Shorthair kittens and tortoiseshell Exotic Longhair kittens we breed can come in the following variations: tortoiseshell and chocolate tortoiseshell and light chocolate tortoiseshell. See our tortoiseshell Exotic Shorthair kitten gallery for more examples.
What Is A Lilac or Blue Exotic Shorthair or Exotic Longhair Kitten?
A lilac Exotic Shorthair or a lilac Exotic Longhair kitten visually looks LIGHT gray. They may also be referred to as silver. According to CFA* standards they are called lilac. A blue Exotic Shorthair or a blue Exotic Longhair kitten visually looks DARK gray. According to CFA* standards they are called gray. The lilac and blue Exotic Shorthair kittens and lilac and blue Exotic Longhair kittens we breed can come in the following variations: lilac bicolor, lilac bicolor van, blue bicolor, and blue bicolor van. Van means there are two colors or it is a bicolor but white is more dominant. See our blue and lilac Exotic Shorthair and Exotic Longhair Kitten gallery for more examples or see photos below.
Chocolate Exotic Shorthair & Exotic Longhair Kitten Color Variations
A chocolate is visually a rich brown and can vary from light to dark. The chocolate Exotic Shorthair kittens and chocolate Exotic Shorthair kittens we breed can come in the beautiful variations such as light chocolate, chocolate and chocolate bicolor, chocolate smoke, and chocolate bicolor van. Chocolate smoke is when the kitten’s undercoat is white, deeply tipped with chocolate. The kitten appears appears chocolate in a still photo. In motion the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Face, legs and tail, chocolate with narrow bands of white at base of hairs next to the skin which may only be seen when hair is parted. Van means there are two colors or it is a bicolor but white is more dominant. See our gallery of chocolate Exotic Shorthair kittens for more examples or view photo below.
What is a Red Exotic Shorthair or Red Exotic Longhair?
A red Exotic Shorthair or red Exotic Longhair actually visually looks orange. However according to CFA color standards, it is a red and so this how breeders refer to them. The red Exotic Shorthair kittens and red Exotic Longhair kittens we breed can come in beautiful variations such as red, red bicolor, red bicolor van and red tabby. Van means there are two colors or it is a bicolor but white is more dominant. A tabby has darkened stripes on its face. See more examples in our gallery of Red Exotic Shorthair kittens or see photo below.
What is a Cream Exotic Shorthair or Cream Exotic Longhair Kitten?
A cream Exotic Shorthair or cream Exotic Shorthair actually visually look like a light shade of orange or peach. However according to CFA color standards, it is a cream and so this how breeders refer to them. The cream Exotic Shorthair kittens and cream Exotic Longhair kittens we breed can come in beautiful variations such as cream, cream bicolor and cream bicolor van. Van means there are two colors or it is a bicolor but white is more dominant. A tabby has darkened stripes on its face. See examples in our cream Exotic Shorthair kitten gallery or see photo below.
What is a Colorpoint Exotic Shorthair or Exotic Longhair Kitten?
A colorpoint is a kitten that has a light-colored coat with darker-colored ears, face, feet, and tail. The colorpoint Exotic Shorthair kittens and colorpoint Exotic Longhair kittens we breed can come in the many beautiful variations such as blue point, lilac point, seal point, chocolate point, cream point, flame point, chocolate tortie point, and tortie point. Can also be referred to as seal point bicolor or blue point bicolor. See more examples in our colorpoint Exotic Shorthair kitten gallery or see examples below.
Mon Chéri Cattery Exotic Shorthair Kitten Breeders
Mon Chéri Cattery is an Arkansas breeder of Exotic Shorthair kittens and Exotic Longhair kittens or some may call Persian kittens both pet and show-quality and a CFA Cattery of Excellence. Our Exotic Shorthair kittens for sale and Exotic Longhair kittens for sale are of outstanding pedigrees, including champions, which trace to Kings and Queens from Russia, Germany, European imports, and carefully chosen domestic bloodlines. For over 20 years we have breed Exotic Shorthair kittens that are healthy, beautiful, well-socialized and smart. Our Exotic Shorthair kittens for sale are available in the most desired shades of chocolate, calico, lilac, red, cream, bicolor, solid, tabby, colorpoint, black smoke, and the rare tortoiseshell.
*CFA or The Cat Fanciers’ Association, Inc. is currently the world’s largest registry of pedigreed cats and known as the most prestigious pedigreed cat registering association in North America. See our Mon Chéri Cattery profile on CFA.