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LONG-HAIRED CATS

LONG-HAIRED SILVER TABBY

A Silver Tabby with dense black markings showing up well against the true silver ground is a creature of beauty. Fifty years ago, at a National Cat Club Show, there was an entry of twenty-eight, whereas at any shows today, usually only two or three are shown. It is thought by some that the decline is a consequence of more people taking up the Chinchilla breed, but if this is so, it is a great pity, as the Silver Tabby has many admirers, and its popularity would rapidly increase if more fanciers bred them. It is said the Chinchilla originated through the Silvers, but this cannot be definitely proved, as unfortunately there do not appear to be any records of the results achieved by the experiments of the early breeders.
The biggest fault in the long-haired Silvers today is the ground colour which is not always the true silver it should be, but is often brindled and grey, and the markings are not distinct or dark enough. The true tabby markings should be plainly seen and should not run into each other as they often do, and several breeders are trying hard to improve them. The type is not always good and the ears are inclined to be too tall.
It was the opinion of one early breeder of Silvers that the breed started to deteriorate when the green eye became the standard, and it was thought that if the old hazel eye colour were to return, it would be a great incentive to breeders. Today’s standards say ‘green or hazel.’ Judicial cross-breeding may bring about an improvement in this breed, possibly with Blues, as this would also help to get the type needed; a broad round head, with width between the ears, short broad nose and strong muzzle. A pure silver ground is required with dense black markings on a long soft silky coat. Any brown or yellow tinge at the lips or on the face is a decided fault, and there must be no brindling of the undercoat. It must be acknowledged that this is one of the most difficult of the long-haired cats to breed to perfection.

Standard Points

Colour Ground colour pure pale silver, with decided jet black
markings; any brown tinge a drawback. 40

Head Broad and round, with breadth between ears and wide
at muzzle; short nose, small well-tufted ears. 20

Shape Cobby body, short thick legs. 15

Eyes Green or hazel .

Coat and
Condition Silky in texture, long and dense, extra long on frill. 15

Tail Short and bushy. 10