Standards for colors

Although there are only a few genes responsible for solid colors, breed associations complicate matters by giving the same genetic color different names, depending on the cat it appears in.

This tendency is most prevalent in the patterned coats  but also happens in the self colors. Lilac is also called lavender or frost in some associations, black Oriental Shorthairs are also called ebony, genetically chocolate Oriental Shorthairs are called havana in Britain and chestnut in North America, and chocolate Havana Brown looks closer to cinnamon and is called chestnut.

 Reds are often specified to be red selfs, perhaps because the distinction between red selfs and red tabbies is subtle, and in the Turkish Van red-and-white may be called auburn-and-white. Tortie-and-white cats are called calicos in some North American associations, notably CFA, because someone, at some time, perceived a resemblance to brightly printed calico cloth.

According to breed standarcs, the color of the nose, lips, and paw pads (the leather) should be in harmony with the coat color: pink in white cats, black in black cats, blue in blue cats, pink to brick red in reds, This can vary; in some cases, the color of the leather depends on the particular breed, or even the association