Cat's Paw
No. 240 · #C4AE89 · LRV 44 — warm red-orange tone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
- 1Anonymous20
- 2Dorian Gray39
- 3Cat's Paw44
- 4Agreeable Gray60
- 5Pale Oak69
What Color Is Cat's Paw, Really?
Cat's Paw reads as a warm red-orange tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how Farrow & Ball No. 240 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Cat's Paw
Cat's Paw is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Greige-leaning neutrals like this are the safe whole-home choice when you want warmth without committing to a color.
How Lighting Changes Cat's Paw
Cat's Paw sits in the mid-range at LRV 44, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its orange undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Most complaints about Cat's Paw are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Farrow & Ball No. 240 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Harmonic TanSW 6136 · Sherwin-Williams | 0.6 | 45 | Color page → |
| Behr | Palomino TanBXC-07 · Behr | 2.5 | 45 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Lenox TanHC-44 · Benjamin Moore | 1.5 | 43 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Withered Moss6007-3C · Valspar | 3.2 | 45.3 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Desert CamelPPG12-16 · PPG / Glidden | 0.5 | 43 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Desert CamelPPG12-16 · Glidden | 1.0 | 44 | Color page → |
Similar Farrow & Ball Colors
The nearest shades to Cat's Paw within Farrow & Ball's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #C4AE89 in HSL space. Pair Cat's Paw with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Have you painted with Cat's Paw?
Rate it — one tap helps the next reader decide.
Ask a Question