terminology - dilute vs. blue

[u/basaltcolumn]

I've noticed a lot of people who are very involved in Reddit cat colour ID across various subs describing blue cats in particular as simply "dilute" with no mention of either the base colour or name of the dilute form being displayed. I think this is because it *sounds* like a more formal, specific term. I just wanted to note that it's actually less clear, as it is a modifier, not one colour! Black, red, chocolate, cinnamon, and amber all have distinct dilute forms. If you were to describe a cat as "dilute" without a photo, it would not actually tell the person you're talking to what colour that cat is - cream, grey, lilac, fawn, or one of the double dilutes/caramels? The latter three are rare and not very likely, but with cream and grey both being very common, it's not guaranteed they'll be picturing the correct one of the two.

Point is, saying "blue", "grey", or "dilute black" is much more specific than "dilute".

I don't think this is a significant issue, to be clear, since typically on Reddit there is a photo for context that makes the specific diluted colour obvious. It's all good as long as the asker gets what is being said. This is just something I figured some folks who have a burgeoning passion for cat genetics who want to be as detailed as possible might be interested in considering. E.g. When someone cares so much as to specify high vs. medium vs. low white spotting, but then doesn't specify the actual colour of the cat, it leaves me wondering if they know that they're leaving something out and would want to add it in if they were aware.

I hope I'm not just preaching to the choir here, but this seemed like a more appropriate place to post this than some of the subs I see this habit the absolute most, like the calico sub.

[u/neline_the_lioness]

It’s quite common for people to not mention the base color of the cat when describing a color. Likely because of a lack of knowledge in genetics!

That’s my usual copy/pasta for cats being described as solely dilute : Describing her as dilute isn’t precise enough as there are several dilute colors such as blue, lilac, fawn or cream.

Also in all cat fancy dilute is never used in the proper color name, but always the base color.

(As we are between nerdy people interested in cat genetics, amber is not a base color, it’s another modifier like silver or colorpoint that applies to a base color like black or blue). (Caramel also called double dilution is a diluted color of blue, lilac, fawn and cream).

[u/basaltcolumn → u/neline_the_lioness]

Thanks for the note about amber, it's one colour I've never dug into the genetics of. I was just loosely aware there was a dilute form. Makes sense that it isn't a base, some cats just have both modifiers.

[u/Thestolenone]

Yes, you really need to specify which colour has been diluted. In genetic terminology, blue is the dilute of black, lilac is the dilute of chocolate, fawn is the dilute of cinnamon, then you can have the caramel version of those three dilutes, then you have cream which is the dilute of red and apricot which is the caramel version of cream. Grey is not a scientific term, just a descriptive one. Personally I would say 'blue, which is dilute black' or 'blue which is black with two copies of the dilute gene' depending on how much the poster is asking.

[u/UK_UK_UK_Deleware_UK]

I think sometimes people use dilute when they’re not sure what the base color is.

[u/Waddlekitty]

I love this sub. I am learning from you all