In describing silver tabby cats, there are three terminology variations that Devon breeders in North America use: silver, shaded and shell. A silver tabby has anywhere from 1/4 - 1/2 of the hair shaft that is white at the base. A shaded silver has 1/2 - 3/4 of the hair shaft that is white at the base and a shell silver has 3/4 or more of the hair shaft that is white at the base. Shell silvers are sometimes referred to as chinchillas. The amount of inhibiting that occurs on the hair shaft (1/4, 1/2 or 3/4) is thought to be determined by "widebanding" polygenes. Smoke in Devon Rex isn't distinguished by the amount of color inhibition at the base of the hair shaft. Combining silver or smoke with the thermal patterns can make color identification very difficult. Unless a Devon has a full coat, the Inhibiting of the color at the base of the hair shaft may not be obvious.
B L A C K
Silver Black Tabby + Inhibitor gene (I/-)
Smoke Black Solid + Inhibitor gene (I/-)
B L U E
Silver Blue Tabby + Inhibitor gene (I/-)
Smoke Blue Solid + Inhibitor gene (I/-)
C H O C O L A T E
Silver Chocolate Tabby + Inhibitor gene (I/-)
Smoke Chocolate Solid + Inhibitor gene (I/-)
L I L A C
Silver Lilac Tabby + Inhibitor gene (I/-)
Smoke Lilac Solid + Inhibitor gene (I/-)
C I N N A M O N
Silver Cinnamon Tabby + Inhibitor gene (I/-)
Smoke Cinnamon Solid + Inhibitor gene (I/-)
F A W N
Silver Fawn Tabby + Inhibitor gene (I/-)
Smoke Fawn Solid + Inhibitor gene (I/-)
R E D
Silver Red Tabby + Inhibitor gene (I/-)
Smoke Red Solid + Inhibitor gene (I/-)
The designer name "Cameo" is often used to describe a red silver factored cat.
