Cat Information index - covering cat insurance for every breed and cat breeding and showing information

LONG-HAIRED CATS

SHORT-HAIRED CATS

BREEDS
White (Blue Eyes)
White (Orange Eyes)
Blue British
Blue Russian
Cream
Silver Tabby
Red Tabby
Brown Tabby
Tortoiseshell
Tortoiseshell-and-White
Abyssinian
Red Abyssinian
Seal-Pointed Siamese
Blue-Pointed Siamese
Lilac-Pointed Siamese
Manx
Stumpiemanx
Tailed Mandx
Any Other Variety
Brown Burmese
Blue Burmese
Chocolate Burmese
Lilac Burmese
Red Burmese
Tortie Burmese
Cream Burmese
Blue-Cream Burmese
Chocolate-Tortie Burmese
Lilac-Cream Burmese
Blue Cream
Havana
Foreign Lilac
Foreign White
Spotted
Bi-Coloured
Tabby-Point Siamese
Red-Point Siamese
Tortie-Point Siamese
Cornish Rex
Devon Rex

The majority of cats in this country, both pedigree and non-pedigree, are short-haired. The pedigree are of the various breeds recognised by the Governing Council, and belong either to the ‘British’ or ‘Foreign’ varieties. The British cats conform to the general standard with regard to powerful bodies, short thick tails, and good broad heads, with slightly rounded ears, but with varying coat and eye colourings. They may be ‘self’ in colour, that is all white, blue, black, cream; or tabbies of silver, red and brown; or with two colours, such as the Blue-cream, or more, like the Tortoiseshells, and Tortoiseshell-and-white. The Manx is more British in type, but has the distinctive feature of complete absence of tail.
The Russian Blue, Siamese, Abyssinian and the Burmese are known as ‘foreign’ breeds, and differ greatly from the British in having long lithe bodies, long tapering tails and long well-proportioned heads. The coat colourings and eyes vary from the dark brown points, cream coats and vivid blue eyes of the Siamese to the lustrous blue coat and green eyes of the Russian.
The short-hairs do not require the constant grooming the long-hairs need, but they must be given grooming, and the ears inspected.

THE BRITISH SHORT-HAIRED CATS

It is quite erroneous to think that British cats are just particularly good specimens of the ‘ordinary’ house cats. They are pedigree in the sense that they have been bred from like parents and that the like ancestors of these parents were of good pedigree and sound breed for many generations.
Anyone who own a British cat and starts to breed them will have a delightful hobby, for these are some of the most intelligent and charming of creatures, true friends of the family, kindly disposed to other animal inmates of the home and most attached to the owners. They make good show cats, seemingly quite unperturbed by the hustle and bustle of the shows and the change from their daily routine. They are graceful and active and take a great interest in everything about the house and garden, and are not so destructive tot eh furniture as are so many other breeds and often have a favourite tree for this purpose. The British cat believes in much exercise to keep him healthy and his coat in lovely condition.
These cats have been known in Britain for generations. From far back in our history they have been the companions of man. They have bred together and interbred, but as they are of strong constitution this does not seem to have impaired their stamina, as in some varieties of the cat tribe.
The short coat is more easily kept in order than that of the longhaired breeds, although this does not mean that they can do without daily attention. A good hand grooming each day tones up the muscles and takes out the loose old hair, thus allowing the new growth to come in evenly. There should not be too much use of the comb, as this opens and softens the coat. The well-groomed shorthaired cats are less liable to fur balls, that is, hair which accumulates in the stomach with the cats’ continual washing and grooming of itself.
When buying a British cat it is desirable to get one with a pedigree of three generations of like-to-like-that is British to British bred without the introduction of any foreign breeding, which would give an elongated body, too long a head, and ears upright and inclined to points, instead of the round broad head with width between the ears, full well-developed cheeks, a short broad nose and good muzzle, with neat small ears rounded at the top and not broad at the base.
There are eleven varieties of the British short-haired cat, if one includes the Manx, which is British in type rather than foreign. The most admired seems to be the Blue British, with the Silver Tabby coming a close second. The markings of these Silvers have improved wonderfully during the last few years.
It is very unwise to breed the British to a long-hared cat, as the length of coat si very difficult to breed out, and may occur in future generations. The coat must be short and close, not woolly and open. It must feel firm to the touch, and of good texture. The word ‘hard’ is sometimes used, and this does not mean it should be harsh, but fine, close and truly short.
The type required for the British cat is the same for all varieties, a sturdy body of medium length, with full chest, on strong well-proportioned legs, with neat, well-rounded feet. The head should be round, wide between the ears, with well-developed cheeks and a short nose. The general standard is the same, with 50 points given for type, coat and condition, the other 50 being given for colours and eyes in the various breeds. The apportionment of these 50 marks for the colour of coat and eyes varies according to the breed.