The unmistakably refined appearance
of the British Shorthair is a long way removed from it's street cat ancestry in victorian times, and the range of colour varieties
associated with the breed has become more sophisticated as well.
The black tipped is a particularly elegant and attractive cat,
with the crisp, dense nature of its fur helping to emphasise the dark tips of the individual hairs.
The effect is subtle, but the coat literally aparkles as it catches
the light.
A touch of black coloration on the tips
of the individual hairs has a dramatic effect on a cat's appearance. In the case of the black tipped, this black area is literally
restricted just to the very ends of the hair, rather than extending further down them, as in the case of the shaded marking.
Roughly only an eighth of the hair carries black pigment in the
case of the black tipped. These is likely to be some variation in the extent of the tipping however, even between littermates,
with some being decidedly lighter in overall colour than others
CHINCHILLA MIX
The tipped characteristic probably entered the British Shorthair
bloodline as the result of crosses involving chinchilla persians.
Longhaired cats showing this patterning have been bred since victorian
times, and up until 1978 the black tipped british shorthair was actually called the chinchilla british shorthair. Further
evidence to support this theory comes from the fact that some kittens of this variety have slightly longer coats than normal
at birth. There is also a distinct tabby influence in many bloodlines, with darker rings along the tails, 'M' marking on the
face, but no barring on the legs
FACT FILE
BREED DEVELOPED: 1880s
COUNTRY: United Kingdom
TYPE: Shorthair
BODY SHAPE: Powerful and stocky
WEIGHS UP TO: 8kg/18lb
PLUS POINTS: Affectionate, healthy cats
WATCH POINTS: Often quite territorial,
which can lead to fights.
DID YOU KNOW?
? Male British Shorthairs have broader
faces than females: as they mature they develop swellings (jowls) on the sides of their face. If they are neutered at a young
age this facial enlargement does not occur.
? The coat of the British Shorthair
is so crisp that it breaks apart at times as the cat moves, rippling like waves and enhancing the appearance of the tipping
on the individual hairs.
? Black Tipped British Shorthairs should
always have large, round green eyes edged with black, which add greatly to their appeal.
Silver Classic Tabby British
The striking appearance and distinctive
coat of the silver classic tabby british shorthair (to give it it's full name) has made it the most popular of the tabby varieties.
Tabbies are sturdy and affectionate and show the original feline patterning: they have even featured in egyptian murals. They
were brought to britain some 2000 years ago. Selective cross-breeding has produced the silver classic tabby, which was first
show as a british pedigree over 100 years ago.
The silver classic, unlike the more
familiar brown, is a relatively new variety of british tabby. As the product of selective cross-breeding, this outstanding
cat is becoming more and more popular in britain. This is mainly due to its distinctive appearance- its colouring and markings
make it a highly attractive cat to look at.
COMMON FEATURES
All tabbies have rings of black on the legs and tail, unbroken
necklace markings around the throat, stripes on the face and a clear 'm' shape on the forehead. Like all british shorthairs
they have a large chunky body, a broad but round face and short, dense fur.
SPECIAL FEATURES
There are several distinct patterns of tabby markings: the classic,
the mackerel and the spotted. It is the silver classic tabby's lush, silvery-grey coat and contrasting jet-black markings
that distinguish it from the others. The markings have distinct pattern to them. Three lines run down the cats spine. There
is a butterfly shape on the shoulders, an oyster-shaped patch on each flank, surrounding by one or more rings, and spots on
the abdomen.
Kittens with strong markings at birth become the best marked adults.
FACT FILE
BREED DEVELOPED: 1880s
COUNTRY: United Kingdom
TYPE: Shorthair
BODY SHAPE: Sturdy; short legs
WEIGHS UP TO: 8kg/18lb
PLUS POINTS: Gentke; strong and healthy; easy to groom;
can cope with being left alone; unlikely to wander
WATCH POINTS: Obesity, especially if neutered; doesn't overly
like being handled
DID YOU KNOW ?
? The tabby gene is so strong that should a
tabby and a black cat mate, there offspring will be tabby rather than black.
? Agouti describes the lighter areas in the
tabby coat. It is also a term used to describe cats with a tabby coat.
? In England, a kind of silk or taffeta with
a ridged effect woven into it was called tabbisilk. This material derived from Attabiya, a part of Baghdad, where tabbies
may have been in evidence.
Seal Point Siamese
The blue-eyed seal point is the most
well-known Siamese variety. This talkative, excitable and truly elegant breed was brought to Europe from Asis in the 1880s
Siamese cats existed long before that, however, and were know to have kept as pets at royal court of siam in the 16th century.
The siamese differs greatly from European breeds, both in temperament and appearance. It loves company and is always intensely
loyal to its owners.
The seal point siamese is
an instantly recognisable, popular
pedigree breed. It has a long, lithe and very slim body, sleek, fine fur, a narrow, wedge-shaped face and very large, pointed
ears. Its eyes are almond-shaped, slanted and brilliant blue. It looks delicate, but has a sturdy, muscular body that is heavier
than it looks.
THE 'POINTS'
Like other siamese varieties, the seal point has a white body with
darker colouring on its points- the face, ears, legs, and tail. A true pedigree must have clearly defined points, but the
body can have darker shading on the back, especially in older cats.
TEMPERAMENT
Siamese have a reputation for being exceptionally intelligent and
for having outgoing personalities. They tend to be one-person cats rather than family pets and are demanding of their owners
time. Attention-seeking though they are, they repay any consideration with equal loyalty. They are also extremely talkative,
with a distinct, insistent and very loud call. This can take some getting used to but nevertheless owners of siamese cats
often say that they would never keep any other breed. Siamese are extremely territorial and are best kept singly or with another
of their kind. The more placid breed, such as the longhairs or british shorthairs, will be easil dominated by them.
The seal ponit kitten already shows the distinct ears of its breed.
FACT FILE
BREED DEVELOPED: pre-1700s
COUNTRY: Siam (thailand)
TYPE: Shorthair
BODY SHAPE: Slender and graceful
WEIGHS UP TO: 5.5KG/12LB
PLUS POINTS: Extrovert; intelligent; extremely affectionate;
devoted to owners; easy to groom
WATCH POINTS: Demanding; active; noisy; dislikes being left
alone; can be jealous
DID YOU KNOW
? The siamese has changed its shape. The early
cats had round faces and were bulkier in build than today's breed.
? The cat's colour if affected by temperature
and climate-the warmer it is the lighter the points.
? The seal ponit was the first siamese to be
imported into britain in the 1880s.
