Are Brown Tabby American Shorthairs Rare? Which Pattern is the Most Expensive?

Brown tabby American Shorthairs are indeed relatively rare, primarily due to the instability of the genes responsible for their coloring, which makes breeding them a challenge. When it comes to American Shorthairs, the silver tabby pattern is generally considered the most valuable and sought-after.

Understanding Brown Tabby American Shorthairs

While silver is a common and popular color for American Shorthairs, the brown tabby variation exists but is less frequently seen. The scarcity of brown tabby American Shorthairs is attributed to several factors, including the difficulties in breeding, the instability of the responsible genes, and their consequent higher price tag. It's important to note that aside from the color of their coat, brown tabby American Shorthairs share the same physical characteristics and personality traits as their silver counterparts.

The Most Valuable American Shorthair Pattern: Silver Tabby

The silver tabby American Shorthair typically commands the highest price within the breed. American Shorthairs come in a wide array of colors and patterns, including brown tabby, orange tabby, blue tabby, solid colors, mackerel tabby, with white, cameo with white, and shaded patterns. Among these variations, the silver tabby, characterized by striking black stripes against a silver-white coat, is especially popular, particularly in the eastern part of the world.

The unique contrast of the black stripes with the bright silver makes the silver tabby visually striking and highly desirable for many cat enthusiasts. The gene that creates the silver color is a dominant gene and can sometime be difficult to get right, adding to the challenges of breeding this particular coat color.Bonus resource:Pet Knowledge