Persians are divided into seven color divisions that reveal an astonishing variety of color and pattern.

The coat color for all solids should be sound to the roots and free from markings or shadings.

Photo (c) Chanan Photography/Richard Katris

Blues, once considered the apex of the breed, have been interbred with other colors to produce a more uniform type. Their pale silver-blue coats are most beautiful when viewed in natural light.

Photo (c) Chanan Photography/Richard Katris

Among solid-colored Persians, only whites appear with more than one eye color. Some have brilliant copper or deep blue eyes, others the surprising combination of one blue and one copper eye of equal intensity.

Photo (c) Chanan Photography/Richard Katris

The Silver and Golden Division consists of chinchilla and shaded silvers and goldens.The chinchilla is a sparkling white cat with black tipping scattered ever so lightly on the face, legs, tail and body. Shadeds show a mantle of black on the back, shading evenly down the sides.

Photo (c) Chanan Photography/Richard Katris

In repose, the smoke appears to be a solid-color cat. In motion, the coat will break open, giving glimpses of a startling white undercoat. Their brilliant copper eyes seem almost like burning embers in their smoky setting.

Photo (c) Chanan Photography/Richard Katris

The tabbies are the extroverts of the Persian breed. The classic tabby has bull's eye markings on the side of the body, while the mackerel pattern displays narrow penciling. The patched tabby may exhibit either pattern with the addition of red patches.

Photo (c) Chanan Photography/Richard Katris

This division includes tortoiseshell, blue-cream, chocolate tortoiseshell, and lilac-cream. Tortoiseshell is a black (or brown, for chocolate) coat dispersed with patches of red. The blue-cream and lilac-cream are solid pastels patched with white. All four colors have brilliant copper eyes.

Photo (c) Chanan Photography/Richard Katris

The Calico and Bi-Color Division consists of calicos, bi-colors, smoke-and-whites, and tabby-and-whites. Bi-colors (black, blue, red, cream, chocolate, or lilac with white) commonly exhibit white on the feet, legs, undersides, chest, and muzzle.

Photo (c) Chanan Photography/Richard Katris

Calicos have white coats splashed with vivid patches of red and black, while the dilute calico is patched with blue and cream. The chocolate and lilac calicos have white coats splashed with vivid patches of chocolate and red or lilac and cream, respectively.

Photo (c) Chanan Photography/Richard Katris

Himalayans were developed by breeding Persians to Siamese to combine the Siamese point coloring with Persian type. After many years of cross-breeding they were approved as accepted color variations of Persians. All must have deep vivid-blue eyes to qualify.

Photo (c) Chanan Photography/Richard Katris