Can’t quite make up your mind how to register that funny coloured kitten in your latest litter? Then maybe this guide to LaPerm colours from the Cat Fanciers Association will help! (Some of the colour names have been adapted to use GCCF terminology). Although there are no points for colour and pattern for LaPerms at GCCF shows, it is important to get them right when kittens are registered. Not all LaPerms will live up to these ideal descriptions of how the individual colours should look on a LaPerm coat!

 

WHITE: pure glistening white. Nose leather and paw pads: pink.

BLACK: dense coal black from roots to tip of fur. Nose leather and paw pads: black.

BLUE: one level tone most important, light shade preferred. Nose leather and paw pads: blue.

RED: deep, clear, without markings or ticking. Lips and chin same as coat. Nose leather and paw pads: brick red.

CREAM: one level shade, without markings, lighter shades preferred. Nose leather and paw pads: pink.

CHOCOLATE: rich, warm chocolate-brown, one level tone. Nose leather and paw pads: brown.

CINNAMON: light reddish brown, the colour of a cinnamon stick, distinctly warmer, lighter and redder than chocolate. Nose leather and paw pads: tan to pinkish beige.

FAWN: light lavender with pale cocoa overtones. Nose leather and paw pads: a light shade of dusty rose pink (no blue or lavender tones).

LILAC: one level shade, frosty pink. Nose leather and paw pads: lavender pink.

SILVER SHADED SERIES: undercoat white with a mantle of specified marking colour tipping shaded down from sides, face and tail from dark on the ridge to white on the chin, stomach and under the tail. Legs to be the same tone as the face. Rims of eyes, lips and nose outlined with marking colour. Nose leather and paw pads as defined below.

BLACK SILVER SHADED: Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black.

BLUE SILVER SHADED: Nose leather and paw pads: blue or blue with pink tone.

CHOCOLATE SILVER SHADED: Nose leather: pink. Paw pads: cinnamon.

CINNAMON SILVER SHADED: undercoat white with a mantle of cinnamon tipping. Rims of eyes, lips and nose outlined with cinnamon. Nose leather: pink. Paw pads: coral pink.

LILAC SILVER SHADED: Nose leather and paw pads: lavender pink.

FAWN SILVER SHADED: undercoat white with a mantle of fawn tipping. Rims of eyes, lips and nose outlined with fawn. Nose leather: pink. Paw pads: pink.

RED SILVER SHADED: Nose leather and paw pads: rose.

TORTIE SILVER SHADED: Nose leather and paw pads: as in the solids, may be mottled with pink.

BLUE-CREAM SILVER SHADED: Nose leather and paw pads: as in solids, may be mottled with pink.

CHOCOLATE SILVER TORTIE SHADED: Nose leather and paw pads: as in solids, may be mottled with pink.

LILAC TORTIE SILVER SHADED: Nose leather and paw pads: as in solids, may be mottled with pink.

SHADED SERIES (NON-SILVER): Undercoat corresponds with equivalent tabby base coat colour while mantle of shading corresponds with equivalent tabby markings colour. Rims of eyes, lips and nose outlined with marking colour.

SMOKE PATTERN: white undercoat more deeply tipped with specified marking colour. Cat in repose appears to be of marking colour. In motion, the white undercoat is apparent. Points and mask of marking colour with narrow band of white at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when fur is parted. Nose leather and paw pads: appropriate to pattern and marking colour (see below).

BLACK SMOKE: Nose leather and paw pads: black.

BLUE SMOKE: Nose leather and paw pads: blue.

RED SMOKE: Nose leather and paw pads: rose.

CHOCOLATE SMOKE: Nose leather and paw pads: brown or brick.

CINNAMON SMOKE: Nose leather and paw pads: tan to pinkish beige.

FAWN SMOKE: Nose leather and paw pads: a light shade of dusty rose pink (no blue or lavender tones).

LILAC SMOKE: Nose leather and paw pads: lavender pink.

CREAM SMOKE: Nose leather and paw pads: pink.

TORTIE SMOKE: Nose leather and paw pads: mottled with pink on nose and paws.

BLUE-CREAM SMOKE: Nose leather and paw pads: mottled with pink on nose and paw pads.

CHOCOLATE TORTIE SMOKE: Nose leather and paw pads: mottled with pink on nose and paws.

LILAC TORTIE SMOKE: Nose leather and paw pads: mottled with pink on nose and paws.

CLASSIC TABBY PATTERN: markings dense, clearly defined and broad. Legs evenly barred with bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail evenly ringed. Several unbroken necklaces on neck and upper chest, the more the better. Frown marks on the forehead form intricate letter “M”. Unbroken line runs back from outer corner of eye. Swirls on cheeks. Vertical lines over back of head extend to shoulder markings which are in the shape of a butterfly with both upper and lower wings distinctly outlined and marked with dots inside outline. Back markings consist of a vertical line down the spine from butterfly to tail with a vertical stripe paralleling it on each side, the three stripes well separated by stripes of ground colour. Large solid blotch on each side to be encircled by one or more unbroken rings. Side markings should be the same on both sides. Double vertical row of buttons on chest and stomach.

MACKEREL TABBY PATTERN: markings dense, clearly defined and all narrow pencillings. Legs evenly barred with narrow bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail barred. Necklaces on neck and chest distinct; like so many chains. Head barred with an “M” on the forehead. Unbroken lines running back from the eyes. Lines running sown the head to meet the shoulders. Spine lines run together to form a narrow saddle. Narrow pencillings run around body. SPOTTED TABBY PATTERN: markings on the body to be spotted. Spots can be round, oblong or rosette-shaped. Any of these are of equal merit but the spots, however shaped or placed, should be distinct. Spots should not run together in a broken mackerel pattern.

A dorsal stripe runs the length of the body to the tip of the tail. The stripe is ideally composed of spots. The markings of the face and forehead shall be typically tabby markings. Underside of the body to have “vest buttons”. Legs and tail are barred.

TICKED TABBY PATTERN: body hairs to be ticked with various shades of marking colour and ground colour. Body when viewed from top to be free from noticeable spots, stripes, or blotches, except for darker dorsal shading. Lighter underside may show tabby markings. Face, legs, and tail may show tabby striping.

TORTIE TABBY PATTERN: a tortie tabby (torbie) is an established Classic, Mackerel, Spotted or Ticked Tabby in silver, brown, blue, chocolate, lavender, cinnamon, or fawn with patches of red and/or cream clearly defined on both the body and extremities; a blaze on the face is desirable. Nose leather and paw pads: same as non-patched tabbies, may be mottled with pink.

SILVER TABBY: ground colour, including lips and chin, pale clear silver. Markings dense black. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black.

BROWN TABBY: ground colour brilliant coppery brown. Markings dense black. Lips and chin the same shade as around the eyes. Back of legs black from paw to heel. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black or brown.

BLUE TABBY: ground colour, including lips and chin, pale bluish ivory. Markings a very deep blue affording a good contrast with ground colour. Warm fawn overtones or patina over the whole. Nose leather: old rose. Paw pads: rose.

RED TABBY: ground colour red. Markings deep, rich red. Lips and chin red. Nose leather and paw pads: brick red.

CREAM TABBY: ground colour, including lips and chin, very pale cream. Markings buff or cream sufficiently darker than the ground colour to afford good contrast but remaining within the dilute colour range. Nose leather and paw pads: pink.

CHOCOLATE TABBY: ground colour is warm fawn, markings are rich chestnut brown. Nose leather: chestnut or pink rimmed with chestnut. Paw pads: cinnamon.

CHOCOLATE SILVER TABBY: ground colour, including lips and chin, is silver. Markings rich chestnut. Nose leather: chestnut, or pink rimmed with chestnut. Paw pads: coral.

CINNAMON TABBY: ground colour fawn. Markings light reddish brown, the colour of a cinnamon stick, distinctly warmer, lighter and redder than chocolate. Nose leather and paw pads: tan to pinkish beige.

FAWN TABBY: ground colour pale off white. Markings light lavender with pale cocoa overtones. Nose leather and paw pads: a light shade of dusty rose pink (no blue or lavender tones).

LILAC TABBY: ground colour is pale lavender. Markings are a rich lavender, affording good contrast with ground colour. Nose leather: lavender, or pink rimmed with lavender. Paw pads: lavender-pink.

LILAC SILVER TABBY: ground colour, including lips and chin a cold, clear silver. Markings solid lavender. Nose leather: lavender or pink rimmed with lavender. Paw pads: lavender pink.

BLUE-SILVER, CREAM-SILVER TABBY: tabby pattern with colours and leathers same as for corresponding shaded colours.

TORTOISESHELL: black mottled with red and/or cream. Blaze on face is desirable.

BLUE TORTOISESHELL: blue mottled or patched with cream. Blaze on face is desirable.

CHOCOLATE TORTOISESHELL: rich chestnut brown mottled or patched with red and/or cream. Blaze on face is desirable.

LILAC TORTOISESHELL: lavender mottled or patched with cream. Blaze on face is desirable.

TORTIE AND WHITE: white with unbrindled patches of black and red. White predominant on underparts. Any combination of colours of solid, tabby, smoke or shaded and white. Also pointed.

BI-COLOUR: solid colour and white, tabby and white, smoke and white, shaded and white, colourpoint and white.

VAN BI-COLOUR: solid colour and white, tabby and white, smoke and white, shaded and white, colourpoint and white. Colour confined to extremities: head, legs, tail. One or two small patches on body allowable.

SEAL POINT: body even pale fawn to cream, warm in tone, shading gradually into lighter colour on the stomach and chest. Points deep seal brown. Nose leather and paw pads: seal brown.

CHOCOLATE POINT: body ivory with no shading. Points milk chocolate colour, warm in tone. Nose leather and paw pads: cinnamon pink.

BLUE POINT: body bluish-white, cold in tone, shading gradually to white on stomach and chest. Points blue. Nose leather and paw pads: slate blue.

LILAC POINT: body glacial white with no shading. Points frosty grey with pinkish tone. Nose leather and paw pads: lavender pink.

LILAC TORTIE POINT: body glacial white with no shading. Points lilac with patches of cream. Nose leather and paw pads: lavender pink, pink or combination of pink and lavender pink.

RED POINT: body creamy white. Points deep orange flame to deep red. Nose leather and paw pads: flesh or coral pink.

CREAM POINT: body creamy white with no shading. Points buff cream with no apricot. Nose leather and paw pads: flesh pink or salmon coral.

TORTIE POINT: body creamy white or pale fawn. Points seal with unbrindled patches of red and/or cream. Blaze of red or cream on face desirable. Nose leather and paw pads: seal brown with flesh and/or coral pink mottling to conform with colours on points.

CHOCOLATE-TORTIE POINT: body ivory with no shading. Points chocolate with unbrindled patches of red and/or cream Nose leather and paw pads: chocolate with flesh and/or coral pink mottling to conform with point colour.

BLUE TORTIE POINT: body bluish white or creamy white, shading gradually to white on the stomach and chest. Points blue with patches of cream. Nose leather and paw pads: slate-blue, pink or a combination of slate-blue and pink.

SILVER POINT: body ivory to glacial white. Points shaded silver. Rims of eyes, lips and nose outlined with black. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black.

TABBY POINTS: body colour appropriate to marking and ground colour. Mask must be clearly lined with dark stripes vertical on forehead with classic “M” on forehead, horizontal on cheeks and dark spots on whisker pads clearly outlined in dark colour edges. Inner ear light with thumbprint on outer ear. Markings dense, clearly defined and broad. Legs evenly barred with bracelets. Tail barred. No striping or mottling on body, but consideration given to shading in older cats.

SEAL TABBY POINT: Nose leather: seal or brick red. Paw pads: seal.

BLUE TABBY POINT: Nose leather: blue or brick red. Paw pads: blue.

CHOCOLATE TABBY POINT: Nose leather and paw pads: cinnamon, or pink rimmed with cinnamon.

LILAC TABBY POINT: Nose leather and paw pads: lavender pink or pink rimmed with lavender.

RED TABBY POINT: Nose leather and paw pads: flesh or coral pink or red.

CREAM TABBY POINT: Nose leather and paw pads: pink or pink rimmed with salmon coral.

SILVER TABBY POINT: Nose leather: coral pink or brick red lined with black. Paw pads: black or seal.

DARKER POINTS (TONKINESE COLOUR RESTRICTION): body medium brown, shading to lighter hue on the underparts. Ruddy highlights acceptable. Points are dark brown. Nose leather: dark brown corresponding to the intensity of the point colour. Paw pads: medium to dark brown (may have rosy undertone).

CHOCOLATE DARKER POINTS: body buff-cream, points medium brown. Nose leather: cinnamon-brown. Paw pads: cinnamon-pink to cinnamon-brown.

BLUE DARKER POINTS: body blue-grey, shading to lighter hue on the underparts. Fawn overtones permissible. Points slate blue, distinctly darker than body colour. Nose leather

and paw pads: slate grey (may have rosy undertone).

LILAC DARKER POINTS: body pale, silvery grey with warm overtones. Not white or cream. Points pewter-grey, distinctly darker than the body colour. Points may have a lavender cast due to the colour of the skin underneath. Nose leather: lavender-pink to lavender-grey. Paw pads: lavender-pink.

BROWN BCR (BURMESE COLOUR RESTRICTION): rich warm sable brown, shading almost imperceptibly to a slightly lighter hue on the underparts, but otherwise without shading, barring or markings of any kind (kittens are often lighter in colour). Nose leather and paw pads: brown.

CHOCOLATE BCR: warm honey beige, shading to a pale golden tan underside. Slight darkening on ears and face permissible. Nose leather: light warm brown. Paw pads: warm pinkish tan.

BLUE BCR: medium blue with warm fawn undertones, shading almost imperceptibly to a slightly lighter hue on the underparts, but otherwise without shading, barring or marking of any kind. Nose leather and paw pads: slate grey.

LILAC BCR: pale, silvery grey with pale fawn undertones, shading almost imperceptibly to a slightly lighter hue on the underparts, but otherwise without shading, barring or markings of any kind. Nose leather and paw pads: lavender pink.

OTHER LAPERM COLOURS: any other genetically possible colour or pattern.