Traits

Eumelanin affects the Black pigment in cats and is almost exclusive to Black base coat cats. There are two variations, Chocolate and Cinnamon. The Chocolate gene (bb) turns black into a chocolate-brown, while the rarer Cinnamon (blbl) turns black into a lighter, cinnamon-brown.

This is a recessive gene, so a cat with (Bb) would be only a carrier of the gene. Chocolate is dominant over Cinnamon, so if a cat has a single copy of both genes, it will present as Chocolate.

Examples:

• BB: No change.
  
• Bb or Bbl: No change, carries Chocolate or Cinnamon respectively.
  
• bb: Chocolate
  
• bbl: Chocolate carrying Cinnamon
• blbl: Cinnamon

These are basic color palletes for chocolate and cinnamon. You are not required to color pick these when designing your cat as these are only guidelines!

Design note: Chocolate is still darker than most Pigmented cats, while Cinnamon can be as or more light than Pigmented cats. While Pigmented Cats can have this gene, it is up to the artist if they want to have a distinct difference (Eumelanin may optionally make Pigmented cats slightly lighter) and is not required. Please note that eumelanin affects all black, including the tabby striping as well.

Dilution is a recessive gene that lightens a cat's coat overall. Dilution (dd) turns Black cats Gray (Sometimes called “Blue” in real life, such as the Russian Blue breed), Red cats Cream, Yellow cats Sand, Blue cats Ice. 

These are basic color palletes for each of the dilute coat colors. You are not required to color pick these when designing your cat as these are only guidelines!

See also: Dilution Modifiers Warm and Cold.

New Paths has two different Dilution Modifiers, as opposed to the Caramel Modifier that exists in real life. Both Dilute Modifiers are Dominant, but only present if the cat displays the Dilute Gene as well.

Warm pushes a cat’s overall color toward warmer colors. Turns Gray cats Caramel, Cream cats Apricot, Sand cats Honey, and Ice cats Heather.

These are basic color palletes for each of the warm coat colors. You are not required to color pick these when designing your cat as these are only guidelines!

New Paths has two different Dilution Modifiers, as opposed to the Caramel Modifier that exists in real life. Both Dilute Modifiers are Dominant, but only present if the cat displays the Dilute Gene as well.

Cold pushes a cat’s overall color toward warmer colors. Turns Gray cats Slate, Cream cats Wine, Sand cats Tea, and Ice cats Cyan.

These are basic color palletes for each of the warm coat colors. You are not required to color pick these when designing your cat as these are only guidelines!

A Colorpoint (cpcp) cat has fur that is darker at the extremities or “points”. Also known as Siamese, Burmese, or Mink. When a cat shows Colorpoint, the artist may determine how sharp this contrast is, as we do not differentiate between Siamese and Burmese genes.

These cats are born completely white and darken over time. Around three weeks of age, the points will start to darken, but the full colorization won’t appear until around one year of age.

This is a recessive gene, so a cat with (Ccp) would be only a carrier of the gene. Colorpoint is dominant over Albino, so if a cat has a single copy of both genes, it will present as Colorpoint.

Examples:

• CC: No change
  
• Ccp: Carries Colorpoint
  
• cpcp: Colorpoint
  
• cpc: Colorpoint carrying Albino

See also: Albino

Albinism is a rare, recessive gene that causes a cat to have no pigment. This gives them a white pelt, pink skin, and blue or red eyes. This hides all markings, similar to Dominant White. It only presents if a cat has two copies of the gene (cc).

This is a recessive gene, so a cat with (Cc) would be only a carrier of the gene. Colorpoint is dominant over Albino, so if a cat has a single copy of both genes, it will present as Colorpoint.

Examples:

• CC: No change
  
• Cc: Carries Albino
• cc: Albino
• cpc: Colorpoint carrying Albino

Also known as: Golden

The Wideband (WbWb/Wbwb) is a dominant gene that causes Tabby cats to have a Golden color regardless of their base coat. Their stripes will still present as normal and be tinted as appropriate for their base color.

This gene has no effect on Solid cats. Interacts with the Inhibitor gene.

Also known as: Silver, Smoke

Inhibitor (InIn/Inin) is a dominant gene that affects the Wideband gene. The Inhibitor gene causes Wideband Tabby cats to be Silver instead of gold, with stripes presenting as normal and tinted as appropriate for their base color.

Additionally, Inhibitor has a unique interaction with Solid cats, with or without Wideband. Solid Inhibitor cats present as Smoke, a lighter gradient appearing throughout the fur due to having lighter strands with dark tips.

Sunshine (shsh) is a recessive gene that is similar to Wideband, however the cat is born as their basecoat and “warms” over time to a golden. Paw pads and tail tip remain darker in color. When present, the Inhibitor gene causes a cat to be bimetallic, appearing as patches of gold coloring that develop over time in a silver cat.

Although Sunshine is recessive, cats that carry the sunshine gene may be warmer in hue than they otherwise would be.

One of three Gemstone genes, Amber is comparable to the Amber gene in Norwegian Forest Cats, and appears as a drastic pelt change with age. Over time, the Amber (eaea) gene will begin to turn black pigment an amber (yellow) color starting from the back and working its way down.

A Solid Black cat will turn Amber but may retain black striping, as well as a black nose leather. A Black Tabby will turn into an Amber Tabby, similar to a Yellow Tabby but richer. A Black/Red tortoiseshell will become Amber/Red.  

This is a recessive gene, so a cat with (Eea) would be only a carrier of the gene.

See also: Sapphire and Ruby.

One of three Gemstone genes, Sapphire is comparable to the Amber gene in Norwegian Forest Cats, and appears as a drastic pelt change with age. Over time, the Sapphire (eses) gene will begin to turn black pigment a sapphire (blue) color starting from the back and working its way down.

A Solid Black cat will turn Sapphire but may retain black striping, as well as a black nose leather. A Black Tabby will turn into a Sapphire Tabby, similar to a Blue Tabby but richer. A Black/Red tortoiseshell will become Sapphire/Red.  

This is a recessive gene, so a cat with (Ees) would be only a carrier of the gene.

See also: Amber and Ruby.

One of three Gemstone genes, Ruby is comparable to the Amber gene in Norwegian Forest Cats, and appears as a drastic pelt change with age. Over time, the Ruby (erer) gene will begin to turn black pigment a ruby (red) color starting from the back and working its way down.

A Solid Black cat will turn Ruby but may retain black striping, as well as a black nose leather. A Black Tabby will turn into a Ruby Tabby, similar to a Red Tabby but richer. A Black/Red tortoiseshell will become Ruby /Red.  

This is a recessive gene, so a cat with (Eer) would be only a carrier of the gene.

See also: Amber and Sapphire.

The Rex gene represents curly fur of any kind found in real life (i.e. Cornish, Selkirk, Devon). The length of the curl is still dependent on the Fur Length gene. Typically also causes the cat's whiskers to be curly. This is a recessive trait, so a cat with (Rere) would be only a carrier of the gene. Only presents with both genes (rere).

Rex has a unique interaction with the Hairless gene. Rex is more common than the Hairless gene, but if both genes are present, the cat will appear Hairless and will be a carrier. A cat with Rex and Hairless is allowed a larger variation in baldness, but must be at least 50% bald.

Examples:

• ReRe: Normal fur
• rere: Rex fur.
• Rere: Normal fur, carrying Rex gene.
• rehr: Hairless, carrying the Rex gene.

LaPerm (LpLp or Lplp) is a dominant gene that causes curly fur. The length of the curl is still dependent on the Fur Length gene.

Compared to Rex fur, the hair is more wavy/fluffy and not as tightly curled. For the sake of New Paths, LaPerm is synonymous with Wirehair, and a cat with this gene can present as whichever the artist prefers.

Lykoi, aka the “werewolf” gene, is a partially hairless gene that causes cats to go through molts and have bald patches. Their fur is typically roan (with possible white spotting) in color, but for New Paths, a Lykoi cat can present as roan or their base colors. This is a recessive trait, so a cat with (Lyly) would be only a carrier of the gene. Only presents with both genes (lyly).

Lykoi is allowed to present as variations of Donskoy cats/Furred Points as well. As long as the cat has between 20-80% baldness, it is acceptable as Lykoi. For more than 80% baldness, see Hairless.

Hairless, aka Sphynx, is a gene that causes a cat to have little to no hair on their bodies. "Peach fuzz" around the extremities, particularly the nose bridge, is common.

A cat who presents Hairless should have 80% or more baldness/skin showing. For partial baldness, see Lykoi.

Additionally, Hairless has a unique interaction with Rex fur. Although more uncommon than Rex fur, Hairless will present over Rex fur when both are present. A cat with Rex and Hairless is allowed a larger variation in baldness, but must be at least 50% bald.

Examples:

• ReRe: Normal fur
• hrhr: Hairless
• rehr: Hairless, carrying the Rex gene.
  
• Rehr: Normal fur, carrying Hairless gene.

There is a rare Agouti variation called Charcoal (APbAPb), which is partially dominant over Solid (aa), and will only present if there is no dominant Tabby (AA). Charcoal is a darkening and bleeding of the tabby markings especially around the face and back striping, producing a more striking contrast between the base coat and the tabby markings.

Examples:

• APbAPb: Charcoal
  
• aa: Solid
• AAPb: Tabby carrying Charcoal
• APba: Charcoal carrying Solid.

Spotted (SpSp or Spsp) is a dominant gene that breaks Mackerel Tabby stripes into spots. A cat with only one copy of this gene will have their tabby stripes broken up, refered to as Broken Tabby, but not fully spotted.

Only visible on Mackerel cats, though Classic cats can be carriers. 

Examples:

• spsp: Normal Tabby
• Spsp: Broken Tabby
• SpSp: Spotted Tabby

Normal Tabby vs. Broken Tabby vs. Spotted Tabby

Ticked (TT or Tt) is a dominant gene that overrides any Tabby pattern with Ticking, usually presented as fine speckling on the main body. Face markings remain untouched, and some striping may still occur on the neck, legs, and tail.

Heterozygous Ticked (Tt) may optionally "mask" less of the the Tabby pattern underneath it.

Examples:

• McMcTt: (Het) Ticked Mackerel Tabby
• mcmcTt: (Het) Ticked Classic Tabby

The Bengal Modifier (BmBm or Bmbm) is a dominant gene that alters Tabby markings. It turns the tabby markings into a two-tone marking and generally looks more like wild cat markings. Turns Mackerel into Braided, Classic into Marble, and Spotted into Rosettes. 

Examples:

• McMcBmBm: Braided, aka Mackerel Modified
• mcmcBmBm: Marbled, aka Classic Modified
• McMcSpSpBmBm: Rosettes, Aka Spotted Modified
  
  Edge cases:
• mcmcSpSpBmBm: Marbled (Rosettes Carried due to Spotted only modifying Mackerel)
• McmcBmBm: Braided (Marbled Carried)
• McMcSpsp: Braided/Rosettes mixture, Broken Mackerel Modified.
• McmcSpspBmBm: Braided/Rosettes mixture carying Marble!

Braided (Mackerel) vs. Marbled (Classic) vs. Rosettes (Spotted)