Most cats have big eyes, so as a cat owner, you will spend a lot of time staring into those beautiful eyes. All that time might make you wonder how cats get their eye color, so you start to wonder: what color eyes can cats have?
Cats have almost ten eye colors, including yellow, copper, green, blue, and orange. A cat’s eye color can change throughout its life, but its eye color is dictated by the amount of melanin it has and its fur color.
It can feel like a game knowing what color eyes a cat will have, but there’s some science behind it. If you want to become a cat eye expert and know all about what color eyes cats can have, then keep reading!
What Cat Eye Colors Are There
Cats have several different eye colors.
Some cat eye colors are more common than others, but cats still have a long list of possible eye colors.
Cats can have eye colors like:
- Amber
- Yellow
- Copper
- Hazel, which may look brown
- Green
- Blue
- Orange
- Odd-colored, meaning that the cat has two eye colors
When Do Cats’ Eyes Change Color
Kittens’ eyes will change color after 1-2 months old.
Stay attached to your kitten’s eye color because it can change as it grows.
When your cat is eight weeks old, he will have his “adult” eye color. But it doesn’t stop there!
As your cat ages, you will notice that your cat’s eyes get darker. This is a normal part of the aging process and shouldn’t bring you any concern.
For instance, a cat with copper eyes will have a darker eye color when they are a senior cat.
What Causes Eye Color In Cats
Melanin and fur color causes eye color in cats.
What have we learned so far? Well, we know that cats can have tons of different eye colors and that those eye colors can change throughout your cat’s life.
But what is it that gives your cat’s eyes color?
Let’s talk about melanin first.
Most kittens have blue eyes because they do not yet have melanin in their irises. Melanin is a substance that causes color in your cat’s eyes, skin, and fur.
Another thing to know is that more melanin means that your cat’s eye will be darker; less melanin means that your cat will have lighter color eyes.
Fur color also affects the color of your cat’s eyes, which warrants a more in-depth discussion.
How Do You Tell What Color Eyes A Cat Will Have
The color of your cat’s fur will also affect your eye color.
Check out this chart to understand how your cat’s fur color relates to your cat’s eye color.
| Cat’s Fur Color | Cat’s Potential Eye Color |
| Brown | Copper |
| White | Blue; |
| Black | Yellow; copper; orange |
| Gray | Yellow as kittens; green as adults; sometimes blue |
As a general rule of thumb, a cat with lighter fur will have a lighter eye color because – as you might have already guessed – your cat has less melanin.
In addition, I will also note that some cat breeds will have certain eye colors that are specific to the cat breed.
What Is The Rarest Cat Eye Color
The rarest cat eye color isn’t one color at all; it is, in fact, dichromatic, meaning that the cat has two colors in its eyes.
If you ask people what eye color is the rarest, you might hear someone say it is blue or green, but that isn’t true.
Dichromatic eyes are indeed the most common, so your cat will have two eye colors in one eye.
A cat’s dichromatic eyes will have a greenish or yellow ring around the cat’s pupils with a different color in the outer part of the iris.
Different colors appear in a cat’s eyes when there are different levels of melanin within your cat’s eye.
As rare as this eye color is, it can happen in any cat breed, so if you and your cat are lucky, you’ll have a cat with pretty, unique eyes!
Can Cats Have Brown Eyes
Cats cannot have brown eyes.
As common as brown eyes are in humans, the same cannot be said for your cats.
Some people will say their cats have brown eyes, but they are most likely mistaken.
Now, I am not saying that they are wrong or mistaken. Instead, I am pointing out a very minute difference between brown eyes and deep copper or hazel eyes. The difference is not extreme, but it is there and worth mentioning.
Don’t worry: you can still call your cat a brown-eyed beauty. I won’t judge!
My name is James, and welcome to FAQCats!
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