How many questions are in this quiz?

This quiz has 125 questions covering tabby, tortie, and calico patterns and common look-alikes.

No. The quiz has no timer, so you can take your time on each question.

What answer format does the quiz use?

Every question is multiple-choice with 4 options.

Can I choose the number of questions and the difficulty?

Yes. Set your preferred question count and pick a difficulty level before you start.

What’s the most common mistake with calico vs tortie?

Many people call any three-color coat “calico,” but calicos typically have larger color patches and noticeable white spotting compared with torties.

Cat coat patterns: tabby, tortie, and calico

About this quiz

What you’ll learn in this coat-pattern quiz

Tabby, tortie, and calico can look deceptively similar—especially in mixed coats or low-contrast photos. This quiz helps you name patterns confidently using the features breeders, vets, and rescuers look for.

Each question uses a 4-option multiple-choice format with no timer, so you can slow down and compare details. Before starting, pick how many questions you want to answer and select a difficulty level to match your comfort with coat terminology.

Skills you’ll practice

You’ll train your eye for pattern placement (stripes vs patches vs brindling), color distribution, and the vocabulary that often appears in listings and shelter notes. Mixed difficulty keeps it friendly for beginners while still challenging experienced cat fans.

Common pitfalls (and how this quiz fixes them)

Many players confuse “tabby markings” with any striped look, or assume every three-color cat is a calico. The questions intentionally include close look-alikes and edge cases so you learn the telltale signs rather than relying on quick guesses.

Telling tabby pattern types apart (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked)
Distinguishing tortoiseshell from calico based on patch size and white spotting
Recognizing torbie (tortie-tabby) and other blended descriptions
Avoiding color-name traps (orange/ginger vs cream; blue vs gray)
Noting how lighting and fur length can hide or soften markings

How difficulty is balanced

Mixed difficulty means you’ll see straightforward identification questions alongside trickier ones about terminology and genetics basics (like why torties are usually female). If you want a lighter run, choose fewer questions or an easier setting; for a deeper challenge, increase the question count and bump up the difficulty.