Cats come in a variety of colors, patterns, and coat lengths, and we love them all! At the shelter, it’s important for us to be able to identify these sometimes subtle variations in pattern or color so that we can tell our pets apart. Litters of kittens can look incredibly similar, but it’s imperative we keep tabs on each individual to make sure they’re all adequately fed and hydrated, keeping warm, and free from illness. Being able to distinguish cats also comes in handy during field work while practicing TNR or Trap-Neuter-Return with community cat colonies. Knowing and identifying a cat who needs vet care can help us target that individual for trapping so that we can then try to help that cat medically.
Luckily, there are some amazingly helpful resources to grow cat identifying detective skills! If you need to ID cats, or maybe you’d like to see what markings or colors your own cat has, check out these helpful resources!
Alley Cat Allies Cat Identification Guide is a great read and also has some really helpful downloads!
Fear Free Happy Homes also has some wonderful resources to help ID our feline friends!
Cats of Many Colors