Why are solid cat colours called 'selfs'?

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You will see some wonderful self-coloured Maine Coons:

Why are solid cat colours called 'self-coloured' or 'selfs'?
Chocolate Maine Coon. Chocolate is one of the basic self colours (solid colours) according to Robinson's Genetics. Picture in the public domain on Pinterest.

None of the world's experts tell us why solid cat colours are called 'the selfs'. I'll have to decide myself (excuse the pun). 'Self' means self-coloured and the term 'self-coloured' is not only used in the cat world - specifically in the cat fancy. It is used, for instance, in the textile business where it means 'having a single and uniform colour'. The same meaning as in the cat world.

It means 'having the natural or original colour'. This, I believe, is the reason for the terminology. It is a reference to the original colour coming from the 'self' i.e. the individual cat before potential modification through selective breeding such as making the coat bicolour (a self or solid colour plus white due to the presence of the piebald gene) or making it washed out (diluted due to the dilution gene) which typically turns black into blue.

There are four basic self (or solid) colours of cats: black, chocolate, cinnamon and red according to Sarah Hartwell (messybeast.com). Robinson's Genetics says that there are six basic colours: black, blue chocolate, lilac, cinnamon and fawn.

Diluted self colour - blue
Diluted self colour - blue on a great Maine Coon. Robinsons calls blue one of the basic self colours. Pic in public domain.

That is my own interpretation of the word 'self' to describe solid coat colours in cats. It is cat breeders who use the word. The general public don't. I would genuinely welcome input from cat breeders in a comment especially if you disagree with me! I need to get to the bottom of this. Not even the definitive book on cat genetics Robinson's Genetics provides the information.

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