For Abyssinians and Somalis, the breed standard permits only brown-based colorings. Dark pigmentation and intense light absorption are encouraged by these color pigments. Breeding only permits the following four color varieties: fawn, blue, sorrel, and typical (sometimes called reddish).

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Usual: This is the original colouring of Somali cats and a warm brown. The base colour is a dark apricot or orange and has black ticking. All other colours come from this usual colouring, which can also be known as ruddy or tawny.

Blue: This does not necessarily refer to the colour blue, but more to different intensities in a blue-grey shade. This blue colouring actually comes from the usual colouring, caused by a mutation of the gene that causes the intensity of the colour. Blue Somali cats are a warm blue-grey, with individual hairs in dark steel-blue-grey ticking.

Sorrel: Not to be confused with the actual red colouring, this describes Somalis with warm, cinnamon colourings and chocolate brown ticking. It comes from a mutation of the gene for the colour black.

Fawn: Fawn is a diluted form of sorrel, with a light cream base colour and warm, cream ticking, combined with a pink muzzle.

Some Somali cats appear in other colours that are not yet recognised by breeding standards. These include chocolate and its diluted form, lilac.

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