Sphynx Color Q&A

[madi]

I have

I am by no means an expert on anything but I do find genetics very interesting and have done a ton of research on sphynx colors and patterns. I thought it might be helpful to have a thread where people can ask their color questions and we can try to figure out the answers as a group. Hopefully I’ve put it in the right section. I’ll start us off by posting some of the basic questions that come up a lot and we can add to it.

What is the difference between Point and Mink?

Both are called “thermal” because they are born pale and their color develops on the cooler parts of their bodies as they grow.

Pointed cats have blue eyes. They have a tendency to have more contrast between body and extremity colors than Mink cats. The Point gene in Sphynx is the same as in Siamese.

This is a Seal Point with White
View attachment 19962
Same Seal Point as a kitten -
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Mink cats have aqua eyes. They have a tendency to have less contrast aka more similar body and extremity colors than Pointed cats. The Mink genes in Sphynx are the same as in Tonkinese (which is one Burmese [amber eye] gene and one Siamese [blue eye] gene present at the same time)

This is a Seal (aka Natural) Mink with White
View attachment 19963 View attachment 19965


Is my cat blue?

Blue cats are basically black cats with an extra gene that makes them dilute. Their nose leather and paw pads will be steely blue, not black. Telling them apart can take some practice since most black sphynx don’t really look dark black, they look more gray. Blue cats usually have mint green eyes unless they are Blue Point or Blue Mink.

I don’t have a solid so here is a Blue Cream (which is the dilute version of a black and orange Tortie) she is a darker example of a Blue Cream.
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I have a chocolate point baby girl and she is soo cute.☺️☺️☺️

 

[MCLetter]

Hey all - I'm new to Sphynx life and wondering what color my girl is! Thanks everyone!

 

[Shanebakertat2]

So I've had my little Dobby for a couple months now, and his coloration has changed, a bit with his face darkening. My friend who had the kittens thought he was a Mink - to me he looks like some kind of pointed. Frequently mistaken for a siamese, by strangers, and one vet tech who I guess wasn't close enough to see the lack of fur. This pic was taken my little creature today, in the sunlight. As a kitten he appeared to have very little coloration, then his ears and nose became noticeably darker, now most of his face is dark, and the darkness has continued to creep up from his paws and tail. I assume he'll be all darker toned, either black or Seal. Any one have a clearer idea?

 

[KitKat26]

So I've had my little Dobby for a couple months now, and his coloration has changed, a bit with his face darkening. My friend who had the kittens thought he was a Mink - to me he looks like some kind of pointed. Frequently mistaken for a siamese, by strangers, and one vet tech who I guess wasn't close enough to see the lack of fur. This pic was taken my little creature today, in the sunlight. As a kitten he appeared to have very little coloration, then his ears and nose became noticeably darker, now most of his face is dark, and the darkness has continued to creep up from his paws and tail. I assume he'll be all darker toned, either black or Seal. Any one have a clearer idea?
View attachment 64155

Ya, Piper looks nothing like my thumbnail photo now. She is a seal point and was pretty light in color with dark point markings and now she is pretty dark, almost dark grey and the points have spread on her face quite a bit.

 

[Toa and Ross]

No idea of the colour and what he is (i'm not experienced on this) but I do know Dobby is very handsome!

 

[Catzzzmeow]

@Shanebakertat2 This chart might be helpful. Mink refers to eye color being Aqua rather than true blue. http://sphynxlair.com/community/styles/Skincolor.jpg

Let us know if you figure it out by the chart. I would simply say beautiful color...lol.

Patti

 

[Ty Flea]

What would you call this guy then. He's got a orange and white flame on his nose, his ears are orange then fade into white, his tale is banded orange and white, and his back is splotched light orange and white.

 

[AlexaEels]

So I am still not clear on what colour Seymour is. I have been told he is a blue and white, a tuxedo, a tabby, and some silver something or other. He is getting lighter then he was a few weeks ago. He is a light black dare I say silver? He has the cutest little black lips and strips on his legs and tail. I think he is a tabby but really have no idea. Not that I care what colour he is, but it is nice to have an idea

 

[Ra the Sphynx]

Anyone have an idea what our little Ra might be? We have no clue! He has a white spot on his hind leg, white feet, brown paws, a fuzzy white blaze down his nose and aqua colored eyes.

 

[admin]

Anyone have an idea what our little Ra might be? We have no clue! He has a white spot on his hind leg, white feet, brown paws, a fuzzy white blaze down his nose and aqua colored eyes. View attachment 64228View attachment 64229 View attachment 64230

I'm not a color expert but maybe tuxedo. Welcome by the way!

 

[Ra the Sphynx]

I'm not a color expert but maybe tuxedo. Welcome by the way!

Thank you! It's been fun looking at everyones kitties!

 

[linathehuman]

Wondering if anyone could help pinpoint what our little girl Mavis is? Her sisters are classic calico. But Mavis doesn't have the brown mixed in with her grey markings.

 

[GoldHazel]

Wondering if anyone could help pinpoint what our little girl Mavis is? Her sisters are classic calico. But Mavis doesn't have the brown mixed in with her grey markings.

@linathehuman I would say, "Tortie", but she's still changing. What does the breeder call her? I think the coloring on her nose might be considered lynx, but don't quote me on that. Depending on what color her eyes will be, that might change what color she'd be considered. Blue eyes = point and aqua eyes = mink.

 

[OurSphynxFamily]

Can anyone help me decide what colour my new girl is? Her breeder told me she is tabby and white.. But the fine fur over her body is more of a creamy colour and her patches on her head and tail have no tabby stripes.
Any help greatly appreciated!

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[Cleos mom]

This my baby Cleo. I'm thinking She is blue. I'm not sure. This is my first sphynx kitty. Well first kitty ever ( I'm severely allergic but not to Cleo for some reason. ) she is 9 weeks old and weighs one pound. She's very cuddly here's a pic. What do you all think? Also eye color. Mom has ice blue eyes dad has green. First pic Cleo second is mom and dad

 

[NinaGato]

@Cleos mom I would go with blue too unless there is any barring/stripes and then she is blue tabby. Her mum and dad are lookers. I love the tabby pattern on her dad.

 

[Cleos mom]

@Cleos mom I would go with blue too unless there is any barring/stripes and then she is blue tabby. Her mum and dad are lookers. I love the tabby pattern on her dad.

Thanks!! we love her! It's like having our own personal gargoyle..haha. She is always on our shoulder. she is definitely solid grey, no stripes. I was thinking that her mom looks Siamese-ish.. and I love her blue eyes...

 

[GoldHazel]

Thanks!! we love her! It's like having our own personal gargoyle..haha. She is always on our shoulder. she is definitely solid grey, no stripes. I was thinking that her mom looks Siamese-ish.. and I love her blue eyes...

@Cleos mom her mom looks Siamese-ish because she's a blue point. If she had aqua eyes instead of the blue eyes, she'd be Tonkinese-ish.

 

[Sphynx mama]

I am wondering........at what age do kittens develop their colors? I have 2 little boys who are 3 wks old now and haven't changed from the pink they were born with, so my question is will the now stay this color or can the still change??

 

[momdeeze]

@Sphynx mama here are photos two weeks apart of Valentine's litter with two black boys, two Blue point boys and a tortie girl. The blue boys and tortie girl were all pink at birth and definitely started showing colors by week 1 at least.

 

[GoldHazel]

@momdeeze beautiful litter.

 

[Catzzzmeow]

@Sphynx mama I think you are inquiring about when kittens are born thermal. This means they are born white and can change color a few weeks after they are born. Not all kittens are born thermal...it is a genetic abnormality that is closely related to albinism. Our one girl was in a litter with 3 thermal kittens so we waited to make a choice until after their colors started to come through. Siamese kittens are all born thermal (born white) this is due to the heat in the mother's womb. A few weeks out they start to darken up. If you are seeing no changes when they are 4-5 weeks old then there is a good chance your pinkies will remain pink.

Patti

 

[GoldHazel]

@Sphynx mama if you look at the photo posted above with @momdeeze kittens and mama, you can compare the both photos and see that the two male blue points in the second photo are getting their points (darker ear tips, fuzz on nose, etc.). When viewing the first photo of them when they were younger, they were simply all pink. The points and the minks are born thermal and develop their color as time goes by. The points will always have blue eyes and the minks will have aqua colored eyes after the baby blue eyes go away.

 

[Jrs4]

I was told Lily was a silver smoke?! Curious what do you think! Her eyes are green. She has a dark nose (black/brown) and brownish/brick paw pads. Ear tips and nose are darker, tail has faint stripes.

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[GoldHazel]

@Jrs4 Lily is absolutely adorable, that's what I think. Quite honestly, I never heard the term, "Silver Smoke" referencing a cat's coloring. The colors you are describing of her nose leather and paw pads, etc., etc. sounds like a seal color, even though she's not Seal Point or Seal Mink because of her green eyes and the stripes on her tail. Maybe there is such a thing as "Silver Smoke". Hopefully someone will chime in knowing about that.