Cinnamon and fawn cat
Also called: Cinnamon, Sorrel, Fawn, Cinnamon cat.
Cinnamon is the cat’s lightest and reddest brown, like the spice itself; fawn is its dilute version, a pinkish beige. They are pedigree colours, mainly in Orientals, Abyssinians and Somalis.
What it looks like
Cinnamon is a warm, reddish brown, lighter than chocolate, with a pinkish nose and paw pads. Fawn is a beige with a pinkish or mushroom tone. In Abyssinians, ticked cinnamon is called “sorrel” or red.
The genetics, made simple
It is the most recessive version of the brown gene: a cat needs two copies of cinnamon. Above it come chocolate and black, so a chocolate cat can carry cinnamon hidden, but a cinnamon cannot carry chocolate. With two copies of dilution, cinnamon becomes fawn. It should not be confused with orange, which is a completely different gene on the X chromosome.
Myths and what science says
“The red Abyssinian is ginger”
The “red” or sorrel Abyssinian does not carry the orange gene: it is a ticked cinnamon. That is why the rules of ginger do not apply to it (there are no more males than females).
Fun facts
- Many registries do not accept cinnamon or fawn in breeds such as the Norwegian Forest Cat or the Kurilian Bobtail.
- Fawn is one of the palest colours possible without the help of white or silver.
- The Ocicat is accepted in cinnamon and fawn, with its spots.
Does it affect its health?
The colour does not cause disease.
Breeds where it appears or is typical
This coat turns up in plenty of moggies. These are breeds where it is common, characteristic or accepted; under each one, the colours the breed comes in.
Oriental Shorthair
Oriental · United Kingdom
Over 300 combinations: solids, tabby, smoke, silver, bicolours…
Abyssinian
Wild-looking · Ethiopia / United Kingdom
Ruddy (usual), red (sorrel), blue, fawn and their silver versions
Somali
Semi-longhair · United States / Canada
Ruddy (the usual one), red or sorrel, blue, fawn and their silver versions
Ocicat
Wild-looking · United States
12 colours: cinnamon, chocolate, blue, lilac, fawn, tawny and their silver versions; always spotted
Australian Mist
Shorthair · Australia
Brown, blue, chocolate, lilac, gold or peach, spotted or marbled with a ticked veil
British Shorthair
Shorthair · United Kingdom
Blue (the classic), black, white, cream, lilac, chocolate, silver, golden, bicolours, colourpoint…
Frequently asked questions
What is a cinnamon cat?
A cat with two copies of the cinnamon version of the brown gene. It gives a light, reddish brown, warmer than chocolate.
What is the difference between cinnamon and ginger?
They are different genes. Orange is on the X chromosome and is more common in males; cinnamon does not depend on sex.
What is fawn?
Dilute cinnamon: a very pale pinkish beige.
Educational content from Michipedia. The genetics of coat colour are simplified so they are easy to follow; colour tells you nothing about the personality of a particular cat.