A coating composition comprising cationic colloidal silicas and ink jet recording sheets prepared from such coatings is described. The coating comprises binder and polydispersed cationic colloidal silica. The cationic colloidal silica preferably has an average particle size in the range of about 1 to about 300 nanometers. It has been discovered that if a cationic polydispersed colloidal silica is employed in a glossy coating formulation, the coating provides a specular gloss of at least 30 at 60° C., even at a relatively high silica solids to binder solids ratio of 1:1 or greater, but also a coating having good to excellent printability characteristics.