What colours do Cavapoos come in, and do they fade?
Short answer
Cavapoos come in the Cavalier's colours (Blenheim, ruby, tricolour) and the Poodle's (apricot, red, cream, black, white), plus parti and abstract patterns. Reds and apricots often lighten a shade or two as the adult coat comes in between about 6 and 18 months. The best guide to a puppy's adult colour is its parents' adult coats.
Updated · By the PetBuddyHub breeding team
Cavapoo colours and patterns
| Colour | Where it comes from | Puppy to adult |
|---|---|---|
| Red and deep red | Poodle | Usually lightens a shade; deep reds hold best |
| Ruby | Cavalier (solid red) | Can soften, like other reds |
| Apricot | Poodle | Often softens toward cream |
| Blenheim | Cavalier (chestnut on white) | Pattern stays; chestnut can lighten |
| Tri-colour | Cavalier (black, white and tan) | Stays, tan may lighten |
| Parti | Mostly white with patches of colour | Pattern stays |
| Abstract | Solid colour with small white markings | Markings stay |
| Cream, white | Poodle | Holds; shows tear staining |
| Black | Either parent | Usually holds; some Poodle lines fade toward grey |
Do red and apricot Cavapoos fade?
Often, yes, a little. A Cavapoo's puppy coat is replaced by the adult coat between roughly 6 and 18 months, and red and apricot coats commonly come in a shade or two lighter. How much depends on the Poodle parent's line: a parent that kept a deep red into adulthood is a better sign than any puppy photo. Ruby, the Cavalier's red, behaves the same way.
F1 vs F1B: does generation change the colour?
Generation affects the coat more than the colour. An F1 Cavapoo is half Cavalier, half Poodle, and coats vary from wavy to curly. An F1B is three-quarters Poodle, so the coat is more often curly and low-shedding. The colour range is the same; an F1B is a little more likely to carry Poodle colour-fading genes.
Every Cavapoo we have now is on our Cavapoo page, grouped by colour, size and generation.
Common questions
- What is a ruby Cavapoo?
- A Cavapoo with the Cavalier's solid rich red coat and no white markings. Like other reds, it can soften slightly as the adult coat grows in.
- What is a Blenheim Cavapoo?
- One with the Cavalier's Blenheim pattern: chestnut patches on a white coat, often with a chestnut spot on the top of the head.
- What colour Cavapoo is most popular?
- Red and apricot are the most requested. Deep, even reds are the hardest to keep into adulthood, which is why breeders show the parents' adult coats.