A cat with a striped tail is a tiger in your home

Where does the British marbled cat come from?

Since the beginning of the 20th century.
British cats included not only plain blue animals, but also tabby cats with different shades on their fur coats. Thus, in 1901, American felinologists registered a Belle cat with a red tabby color. British marbled cats appeared as a result of crossing with other breeds

The consequence of two world wars was the almost complete extermination of the British breed, so breeders began to crossbreed pets with representatives of other varieties - Burmese, Russian Blues, Persians and Scottish. The result was the appearance of many varieties of British color while simultaneously preserving the breed characteristics (wide paws, protruding cheekbones, “plush” coat).

At the same time, among all the variations of the striped coat of the British fur coat, it is the marble color that is considered classic, occurring naturally. Zoologists are inclined to believe that the symmetrical darkening on the fur of catfish from Foggy Albion is an inheritance from wild Asian or African ancestors.

BRITISH STRIPED COLOR (BRINCH, MACKERL)

The striped color of the British (British brindle tabby) must comply with all the same standards as the spotted one, only the pattern on the back and sides must have clear and uninterrupted stripes. In the color of a British Tabby Shorthair cat, the stripes should start at the spine and extend all the way to the paws. The stripes of a British brindle cat are narrow and frequent (and it is believed that the more often the better). Mackerel stripes (mackerel) should not intersect each other, be strictly vertical and always contrasting.

A brindle (striped) British kitten, even with very clear stripes, can “stretch” its color by adulthood and, if the stripes begin to be interrupted anywhere, the color is reviewed by experts and assigned - spotted. The full color of a British brindle kitten will be formed only by the age of one year (other tabby colors are not subject to such changes and most often do not change the appearance of the tabby pattern in adulthood).

British tabby cats are not as common as spotted cats, but more common than marbled cats.

The eye color of British tabby cats can be copper (golden, orange) or green (gold, occasionally silver).

Chocolate tabby British kitten: photo of California

How much do British cats weigh?

Due to their body structure, British people look compact at any age. The final weight is gained by 2-3 years. It is interesting that purrs of a single color are usually larger than their relatives with a pattern on their fur coat. That is, a lilac cat will weigh more than a tortoiseshell cat.

Males weigh about 5-8 kg. Neutered – 10-12 kg. Females are traditionally smaller than males. Their weight is 3-4 kg, and if sterilized, the weight can reach 7 kg.

To determine normal weight, you need to palpate the cat's subcutaneous fat layer. Normally, it is practically unnoticeable, and the ribs are not clearly felt. The intercostal spaces should not be closed. When stroking, the spine should be clearly palpable and not lost under the fat layer. British with a natural pattern on the back

Today there are about 200 colors of British cats. Some have remained since the appearance of the species, and some appeared thanks to the work of breeders.

Most representatives of the breed have a solid color. Exceptions include tortoiseshell kittens. This is nothing more than a mix of colors, which gives the animal an unusual appearance.

Tortoiseshell color

The color spots make up a mosaic pattern. It comes in two types. Dark when the color of an intense shade (brown, chocolate, black) is combined with cream. Dark when a delicate color (lilac or blue) is in harmony with cream.

There are special requirements for the tortoiseshell color. Colors should be presented in equal proportions. Areas with a cream tint should be plain, without patterns. Ideally, cream spots appear on the cat’s face. It is noteworthy that tortoiseshell coloring is found exclusively in cats. It is extremely rare for cats to be tortoiseshells, but such animals cannot have offspring (they are sterile).

Brindle color

Keeping a tiger cub at home is the dream of many animal lovers. However, this is not realistic. Therefore, British brindle cats are perfect for the role of a tabby friend. Dark stripes are clearly drawn against the background of light fur, running from the center of the back in a vertical direction to the tummy. The “little tiger cubs” have a crescent-shaped pattern on their chest, and their paws and tail are decorated with dark rings.

British brindle cats have many famous tabby ancestors, including the tiger, manul and jungle cat.

Types of drawings

Tabby is not one specific pattern, as many people believe. There are several varieties of it, and all are considered standard. The pattern appears due to the A gene (agutti). A British female with the color formula “AA” gives birth to only patterned kittens, and with “Aa” the ratio of patterned kittens to plain ones is 50%. Cats with the formula “aa” will be monochromatic.

There are four main types of tabby patterns: ticked, striped, marbled, spotted.

Ticked (Abyssinian)

At first glance, it may seem that the British ticked coat is a solid color, but this is not the case. The color of their coat is not at all uniform: the whole body has barely noticeable stripes, spots or specks (there are “freckles”), slightly darker than the main tone of the British. The tip of the tail is usually dark. Eyes are golden or green.

Striped, brindle (mackerel)

The British tabby cat is the most popular cat available. The second name appeared due to the similarity with the color of the mackerel fish. The pattern is characterized by frequent narrow, clear stripes throughout the body, especially along the ridge. British tabbys are characterized by necklace-like lines on the chest and a broken stripe on the forehead, reminiscent of the Russian letter “M”. The British cat's full brindle coloration develops by the age of one year.

Classic (marble)

One of the most favorite colors among breeders of this breed is the marbled tabby. It is visible already from the birth of the kitten, it may merge slightly, but by two months it has a clear pattern. The body is covered with wide ornate patterns with clear outlines on the back, sides and vague ones on the abdomen and paws. The color of the pattern contrasts with the main shade of the Briton’s body – a kind of marble on silver.

Spotted (leopard)

A cat of the British breed with this coloring is similar to a representative of the wild - a leopard, but in miniature. Wide stripes are intermittent and represent spots of various sizes. Eye color: copper, green.

• British Shorthair cat colors

4. Standards

British Shorthairs are strong cats with good health. This trait was established thanks to the large amount of genetic material that was used in the formation of this breed, its natural origin, as well as careful selection work.

Thus, when such a serious illness as hemophilia was discovered in one of the litters in 1970, all breeding animals that could be carriers of this disease were checked. They were excluded from further breeding programs.

As a result of the research, it was found that the British Shorthair lines contain two types of blood - A and B. Knowledge of this fact helps breeders to avoid the occurrence of blood diseases in cats.

British kittens are born quite large. As they grow up, they become very energetic. A litter on average consists of 4–5 kittens. Childbirth generally proceeds without problems. Mothers show touching care for their babies and literally do not leave them a single step. Kittens open their eyes at about 1 week of age.

They begin to feed them liquid food at three weeks of age.

When looking at a smoky cat, you may get the impression that its color is absolutely uniform. But as soon as the cat begins to move, the light silver undercoat becomes noticeable. So the first impression, as they say, is deceiving.

Kittens become dense very quickly, but not fat. The formation of British Shorthair cats occurs in several stages. They reach their best show form in adulthood. The British grow up very slowly: they grow up to 4 years old, and reach full bloom at the age of about 5 years. British Shorthair cats look great almost their entire lives, and they live up to 18–20 years.

All Britons, regardless of color, must meet a certain standard in size and body structure. There is considerable variation in the size of individual animals.

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At maturity, a typical British Shorthair cat weighs 5–8 kg. Cats are usually somewhat underweight. They are much less massive in all respects compared to cats, and have a much shorter jaw. They reach maturity at the age of 2–3 years.

The British Shorthair cat is a harmonious, squat, muscular animal with soft, rounded shapes. The chest is wide, the shoulders and back are massive and dense. The back of the body is wide. The legs are relatively short, strong, broad-boned, with large, strong, rounded paws.

The forelimbs are straight and the same length as the hind limbs. They have 5 toes, and the hind ones have 4. The tail is thick at the base, relatively short, slightly cone-shaped, with a rounded tip. The limbs and tail are proportional to the body.

The head is rounded on all sides (full face and in profile), massive. The short and strong neck is well developed. The skull is wide. The outline of the muzzle is also rounded, which enhances the feeling of power and strength of the British Shorthair cat.

The chin is pronounced, massive, without folds or sagging, located on the same level as the nose and upper lip. The cheeks are round and dense. The forehead is also round in shape, with a small flat area at the top. Forehead tilt is unacceptable.

THE SHOW CAT MUST MEET THE BREED STANDARD

The nose is short, wide and straight. In profile, a small depression is noticeable at the border with the forehead. The ears are medium in size, wide at the base, set wide apart, tips slightly rounded. The outer surface of the ears is evenly covered with hair. Ears should not distort the shape of the head.

Cats' eyes are large, round, and widely spaced. Their color in most color variations of the British color should be copper. The exception is cats of silver colors (tabby, chinchillas), whose eyes are emerald green or hazel (golden), but at the same time, the smoky ones found among them must have copper eyes.

All British Goldens (tabbies and chinchillas) have green eyes. White cats may have blue, gold, or different colored eyes. For color points, the standard defines blue eye color.

In the Middle Ages, black cats were considered the devil's spawn. In ancient drawings and engravings they were depicted with a strongly arched back and eerily sparkling green eyes. Nowadays, the attitude towards these animals has changed to the diametrically opposite: many are convinced that black cats bring happiness and good luck.

The coat of the British Shorthair is amazingly delicate, short, dense, fine in texture, with a thick, slightly fluffed undercoat. The coat and undercoat should be the same length, not exceeding 2.4 cm, which is why the Briton looks like he is wearing a fur coat.

Delicate velvety fur shimmers in the rays of the sun, which gives the animal’s appearance additional volume and softness of outline. A characteristic feature of the British cat is the “double” coat that does not adhere to the body - a legacy of crossings with Persian cats.

In animals of solid colors, all hairs from roots to tips should be dyed evenly. Shading, smokiness, shimmer in monochromatic colors, bicolor are not considered faults.

The British Shorthair is characterized by a variety of colors. Their total number is close to 60. Among them, the most common are single-color colors - black, white, blue, cream, red, as well as two-color colors - silver-blue, tabby, etc.

British Shorthair cats may be disqualified if they have the following characteristics:

• “medallions” and “buttons” in color;

• long body;

• weak chin;

• incorrect eye color or green rim in the eyes of adult cats;

• tail defects;

• long or fluffy coat, too long or light undercoat;

• incorrect number of fingers;

• incorrect color of the nose or paw pads;

• curvature of the jaw, sparse or missing teeth.

In addition, animals showing any signs of illness or surgery are disqualified.

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British Shorthair cat colors

The numerous colors of cats of this breed can be divided into several groups:

• flat, which include black, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, cream and white;

• tortoiseshells;

• smoky, or smoky;

• shaded and chinchilla;

• gold;

• patterned, or tabby (mackerel, or striped, spotted and marbled);

• color-point;

• bicolor (van, harlequin and bicolor).

It should be noted that smoky, shaded and chinchilla are combined into one general group of silver colors. The most popular among cat lovers are blue British cats, second place is occupied by lilac cats, third by silver tabbies and, finally, fourth by spotted varieties. In some countries, the brown-spotted color (chocolate spots on a light background) has become equally popular.

What follows is a more detailed description of the most common colors. The encodings of each of them will be indicated in parentheses.

Black color (BRI n) is very complex. The fact is that until about 6–7 months, kittens’ fur remains brown. At the same time, it is impossible to say unequivocally that animals will turn black when they grow up. The coat of the Black British is short, thick, and has a glossy sheen. The covering hair is more rigid than that of individuals of other colors, so these cats do not have the plushness inherent in representatives of the breed.

All hairs from the roots to the very tips are colored thick black. Significant color faults include a rusty tint and the presence of white hairs. Nose is black. The paw pads are black or brown. The eyes are gold or copper, without green rims. Green eye color, characteristic of outbred black cats, is not allowed in the British.

Blue color (BRI a) can vary from light to medium blue. The range of colors from medium to lilac-blue is the most popular among experts, since light wool appears mottled with small spots and looks less attractive.

COLOR MUST ACCORD TO STANDARD

The color should be uniform, without spots, shades or white hairs. The presence of any drawing is also not allowed. The nose and paw pads should be blue and the eyes yellow, orange or copper. The coat of British Blues is thick, short and soft to the touch (plush).

The modern standard does not allow the British Blue's undercoat to have any other shade. In addition, cats of this color should not have “silver”.

This question is relevant for Russian breeders, since at one time the British valued a silvery tint, and the effect was achieved by lightening the tips of the hairs. It looks, of course, beautiful, but does not meet the requirements of the standard.

The chocolate color (BRI b) is relatively new for British cats. It was obtained by accident during the breeding of the color point type. Breeders often use British chocolate cats for crossing with color-point cats, since they are carriers of the gene for the corresponding color.

The coat of the Chocolate British is short and soft, dark brown in color. The color should be evenly distributed, saturated, without marks or specks. The eyes are yellow, orange or copper.

The lilac color (BRI c), like the chocolate color, was obtained by breeders in the process of breeding the color point type. Animals with this color have a short, thick and soft coat. Its color should be even, lilac-gray with a pinkish tint. The eyes are yellow, orange or copper. Cats with obvious patterns will be disqualified.

Since there is no word that would be translated into Russian as “red” in English, ginger cats are usually called red.

Red color (BRI d) is a deep brilliant red color evenly distributed throughout the coat. The presence of white hairs is unacceptable. The nose and paw pads should be brick red, and the eyes should be gold or copper.

Mackerel requires the mandatory presence of three continuous stripes running along the entire back. In kittens of spotted colors, of these three continuous stripes, the two outer ones break into spots as they grow older. In addition, the entire body of the animal should be covered with spots.

At the beginning of the 20th century. Cream Britons were considered mutants. At that time, the color of their coat was yellow-brown, and it became pale cream only at the end of the 1950s, when breeders began the systematic breeding of British Shorthair cats.

Nowadays, breeders achieve the desired pale cream color, as well as good quality wool, by using not only cream individuals, but also genetically equal British Blues when breeding cats of this color.

You should also be aware that cream color looks best in constant, moderate temperatures. In addition, the color of the coat may deteriorate if the care products are chosen incorrectly.

Along with black, cream color (BRI e) is considered one of the most difficult. In addition, purely cream British are a very rare phenomenon. The fur of most animals with this color usually comes in all sorts of shades and patterns, the presence of which, according to the standard, is excluded.

The coat of cream British cats is short, thick, soft, and evenly colored. White hairs are not allowed. Experts prefer a pale cream color, if possible without markings. The nose and paw pads should be pink and the eyes should be gold or copper.

The British Shorthair white cat (BRI w), like the Persian, is represented by three varieties: with sapphire blue, gold or copper and with multi-colored eyes.

Eye color is coded using the numbers “61”, “62” and “63” respectively. In animals with different eyes, one eye must be sapphire blue, and the other golden, with equal color saturation. The nose and paw pads are pink.

White Britons are extremely attractive: their short, thick and soft coat is snow-white, without a hint of yellow. Any shades and stains are excluded. It is no coincidence that the popularity of these animals has recently begun to increase. However, when breeding them, breeders face considerable difficulties.

At a felinological symposium held in 1997, it was even decided to prohibit the breeding of white cats due to the high likelihood of the offspring developing such physical defects as lack of hearing, sense of smell, etc. In addition, it is not always possible to obtain offspring with with impeccable white fur and blue eyes.

Newborn white kittens may have subtle markings on their heads. If the animals were bred from blue Britons, the markings are pale blue; in the descendants of black cats, they are black. That's why it's often said that white Britons have their "ancestry written on their foreheads." Since in adult animals the marks disappear without a trace, their presence in kittens is quite acceptable.

The tortoiseshell color can combine a variety of colors, which gives cats a special charm. In addition, it is unlikely that you will find two absolutely identical tortoiseshell cats. Precisely cats, because genetics practically excludes the presence of tortoiseshell color in cats.

The main colors are black tortoiseshell (BRI f), tortoiseshell bluish-cream (BRI g), tortoiseshell chocolate-and-cream (BRI h) and tortoiseshell lilac-cream (BRI j) colors.

If it is necessary to choose one of two equivalent bicolor animals, preference should be given to a cat without spots of the second color on the white part of the muzzle, although they are not considered a major drawback. If the same spots are present on the limbs, proceed in the same way.

The coat of “turtles” is short, thick and soft. The colors in the coat should be evenly mixed. Short stripes are allowed, in particular on the nose, as well as cream “slippers” on the paws. According to the American standard, the stains must be painted in different colors. The nose and paw pads of these cats are pink and/or black, and the eyes are gold or copper.

Among cat lovers, there is a far from unambiguous attitude towards tortoiseshell colors. Some do not recognize such animals at all, others consider them funny, but nothing more. At the same time, you should know that “turtles” are excellent material for breeding.

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The offspring obtained from them is distinguished by a great variety and elegance of colors. At exhibitions, judges, taking this fact into account, are quite loyal to tortoiseshells.

Smoke-colored cats, as noted above, are genetically descended from silver cats. Their peculiarity lies in the fact that each hair is painted in the main color for a third of its length, while its lower part, as well as the undercoat, is pure silver, almost white.

The coat is short, thick and hard. The nose and paw pads are the same color as the coat. Smokey British eyes should be golden or coppery.

The most common color is black smoke (ns, the "s" stands for silver). In addition, blue smoky (as), chocolate smoky (bs), lilac smoky (cs), red smoky (ds), cream smoky (es), black tortoiseshell smoky (fs), bluish-cream smoky (as) are more common than others. , chocolate-cream smoky (hs), lilac-cream smoky (js).

The second group of silver colors includes shaded and chinchilla colors.

In Western Europe, the most popular cat breeds are still Persians, Exotics and, of course, British. As for the growing popularity of the British in Russia, many explain this fact by their resemblance to Vasnetsov’s cat, who ate sour cream from his grandmother. In addition, the Briton has a purely Russian appearance - a kind of well-fed hulk.

If smoky colors look light, then shaded and chinchilla colors look almost white, with a characteristic “spraying” at the very tips of the hairs.

In cats with a shaded color, this “spraying” occupies only a sixth of the hair, and in individuals with a chinchilla color it takes up even less – an eighth. Of course, in order to distinguish these cats, no one tries to measure what part of their fur is “sprayed”, so usually both of them are classified as chinchillas.

Both colors in question are coded in the same way as smoky, but with the addition of the corresponding numbers: “11” – shaded, “12” – chinchilla. For example, the encoding for a black shaded cat is BRI ns11. Outwardly, she looks white, with a black “spray”, and her paw pads, the rim of her nose and the rim of her eyes should be completely black.

Animals of both shaded and chinchilla colors are not allowed to have closed stripes on their limbs, chest and tail. Shaded cats should have shaded fur on the back, sides, head, ears and tail.

Uniformity of color is more important than contrast. The chin, belly and underside of the tail should be as pale as possible. “Spraying” comes in any of the main colors, as well as tortoiseshell or creamy blue.

The nose and paw pads are usually colored to match the coat. In tortoiseshell and cream-blue cats they are two-colored - pink and red. The eyes of such cats are golden or copper, without a green rim. The presence of a rim is allowed only for silver shaded ones.

Chinchilla cats look amazingly rich and elegant. Their fur is similar to a fox fur coat. The chinchilla was developed in the early 1970s. English breeder Norman Winder, who crossed the Persian chinchilla with the British shorthair. The breeder was attracted by the luxurious silver coat of the chinchilla and the power of the British.

The experiment was a success: in 1973, Winder demonstrated a new breed at an exhibition, which was called the British black with tipping (“spraying”). This color was recognized in 1980 in England by the board of the cat fanciers' club.

A mandatory requirement for chinchillas is that they have bright green eyes. Yellow eyes are considered a defect.

Of no less interest are golden colors (coded with the letter “y” by analogy with the letter “s” in the designation of silver color).

This is very rare for the British Shorthair breed.

The golden shade is a non-silver variety of the shade. The undercoat of such cats is not white, but a rich, warm cream color. The fur usually has a black or dark brown “spray” on the tips.

The chin, belly and lower part of the tail should be painted a pale apricot color, the nose – brick, while a transition to black or dark brown is considered quite acceptable. The paw pads of animals of the color in question are black or dark brown, and their eyes are green.

Perhaps the most varied color of British Shorthair cats is the tabby, or patterned color. This variety of British was one of the first to be bred.

It is not so easy to classify animals with patterned colors, but this is explained by the fact that the 3 types of tabby established by the standard are marbled (pattern coding is indicated by the number “22”), mackerel (striped, or brindle, pattern, 23) and spotted (24) - can be on the main color, as well as on a silver, gold, tortoiseshell background.

The classic tabby is characterized by a dense, clear pattern with wide lines. The paws of cats of this color are evenly striped with rings that smoothly transform into a pattern on the body at the top. The tail is evenly ringed with stripes. There are several closed rings (“necklaces”) on the neck, which should be as large as possible.

There is a mark in the shape of the letter “m” on the forehead. Continuous stripes emerge from the corners of the eyes. There are spirals on the cheeks. Vertical lines running along the back of the head expand on the shoulders and sides in the shape of a butterfly, in which the upper and lower wings covered with dots are drawn separately.

The pattern on the back of a classic tabby consists of two vertical lines, similar to the body of a butterfly, which are clearly separated by three lines of the main color. On each side there is a large solid spot surrounded by one or more rings.

When assessing the exterior, coat color is not in the first place. The highest scores are given to the British cat's head (30), coat color (25), and body type (20 points). A separate line in the standard marks the description of the eyes. Their color is assessed especially strictly when they are blue. It should be very intense, a bright copper or orange color.

A Show-class kitten in Europe costs $500–600. If a kitten has already been exhibited and has been awarded titles, its price increases accordingly. In Russia, the average price of a British cat is $300–400. A breeding animal from elite producers costs about $500.

The patterns on the sides should be symmetrical. A double row of “buttons” runs along the lower part of the body. The presence of white spots in the color is unacceptable. The eyes of a classic tabby should be dark orange or copper in color.

The brindle tabby is a dense, clear pattern with narrow lines.

The paws of such cats are covered with evenly distributed stripes with thin rings, which at the top turn into a pattern on the body. The tail is also striped. The “necklaces” around the neck look like chains.

Just like a classic tabby, a brindle has a mark on its forehead that is shaped like the letter “m.” Continuous stripes emerge from the corners of the eyes. Lines descend from the head to the shoulders, which take the shape of a saddle on the back.

Narrow lines run around the entire body. A color fault is considered to be the presence of white spots on the fur. Tiger cats have copper or dark orange eyes.

The spotted tabby is characterized by frequent and dark spots, which should be clearly visible against a lighter background. In their shape they can be round, oblong or rosette-like. The head of a spotted tabby is colored in the same way as a classic tabby. The limbs are also spotted. There may not be spots on the tail, but their presence is still desirable. In addition, the tail is sometimes decorated with open rings.

The most common are silver and black, brown and black, and red and brick spotted tabbies. The standard also allows the presence of spotting in cats with even colors: black, blue, brown, red. Their eyes are dark orange or copper in color.

Disadvantages of color are considered to be a stripe on the back, fuzzy or merging spots.

Cats with white spots on their fur are disqualified.

The silver patterned tabby has a pale base coat color with a distinct silver tint. The pattern is clear, black, with individual areas painted red or its soft shades, located on the body and limbs. It can be classic, brindle or spotted. Cats of this color have a brick nose, black and/or brick paw pads, and diamond green or hazel eyes.

The main color of a red tabby is, of course, red. The drawing is clear, rich red. The nose and paw pads are brick. Eyes are golden or copper.

The main color of the patterned brown tabby (varieties: classic, brindle, spotted) is a shiny copper-brown. A special feature of the black pattern are spots or stains of red or soft shades of this color, which can be located on the body and limbs. Such animals have a brick-colored nose, black and/or brick-colored paw pads, and golden or copper eyes.

The blue tabby has a pale blue or ivory base color, including the jaws; a pattern of rich blue color, contrasting with the main one. The nose and paw pads are dark pink. Eyes are golden or copper.

Blue tabby with a pattern (classic, brindle, spotted) differs from the previous type by the presence of cream spots or streaks on the body and limbs. The nose and paw pads of cats of this color are pink. Eyes are golden or copper.

The cream tabby has a very pale cream color throughout its base, including its jaws. The pattern is beige or cream, much darker than the main color, contrasting. The nose and paw pads are pink. Eyes are golden or copper.

Tabbie with white base colors are red, cream, blue, silver or brown. According to the requirements of the standard, the cat must have a pure white muzzle, “slippers” on its paws, hips and lower body, without any admixture of other colors. Particular importance is also attached to the symmetry of the design. The nose, paw pads and eyes are the main tabby color.

The brown tabby has a shiny copper-brown base color. Drawing in black.

The back of the paws is black along the entire length, without a pattern. The nose should be brick-colored, the paw pads black or brown, and the eyes gold or copper.

Bicolor colors are a combination of white with some other even color - blue, chocolate, lilac, red, black, cream or any of the tortoiseshells.

Depending on the amount of white, the following groups are distinguished among bicolor colors: van, harlequin, bicolor. They are coded with the numbers “01”, “02” and “03” respectively, and the rule is observed: the more white, the lower the color coding number.

A color that combines white and black with all other colors is called “black van”, “harlequin” or “bicolor”, etc. The standard allows for the presence of one or two colored spots on the body of vans.

Bicolor cats should have white muzzle, chest, lower torso, hips and “slippers.” Ideally, the muzzle should be colored symmetrically, as if in a scarf. At the same time, slight asymmetry not only does not spoil the appearance of two-color animals, but, on the contrary, gives them some piquancy. For Harlequins and Vans, a white collar is a mandatory requirement. Bicolor may not have it.

All three varieties of bi-colors can be white, not only in combination with the main and tortoiseshell colors, but also with tabbed, shaded, etc. The eyes of bicolors are golden or copper.

Van Tabby with White is a white coat with colored areas on the head, tail and legs. The color of the colored spots can be classic, marbled, spotted or patterned. One or two small spots on the body are not considered a major flaw. The nose, paw pads and eyes are colored according to the main tabby color. Disadvantages of color include unbalanced colors and monochromatic paws.

The chintz color is characterized by evenly distributed black and red spots on a white background. The standard requires tricolor spots to be located on the top of the animal's head, ears, cheeks, tail, back, and portions of the sides.

Colors should be clear and brilliant, and spots should be clearly distinguishable. A light tabby pattern is allowed on red spots. The nose and paw pads of cats of this color are pink and/or black, and the eyes are golden or copper. Disadvantages include unbalanced colors and monochromatic paws.

Van Calico is white with black and red areas on the cat's head, tail and paws. One or two small spots are allowed on the body.

The eyes should be golden or copper.

Van Diluted Calico is a white color with blue and cream areas on the head, tail and paws of the animal. One or two small spots are allowed on the body. Eyes are golden or copper.

Diluted chintz combines evenly spaced flecks of cream and black on a white background. Tricolor spots should cover the top of the cat's head, ears, cheeks, tail, back and part of the sides. Colors should be clear and brilliant, and spots should be clearly visible.

A light tabby pattern is allowed on cream spots. The nose and paw pads are blue and/or pink.

Eyes are golden or copper. Disadvantages of color are considered to be unbalanced colors and monochromatic paws.

Cream-blue cats were bred relatively recently - about two decades ago. Their fur is light blue with creamy patches, their nose and paw pads are blue and/or pink, and their eyes are golden or copper.

Disadvantages include monochromatic paws, tabby patterns and monochromatic spots. Only females can have a bluish-cream color, so offspring with the necessary characteristics can only be obtained through targeted crossing.

Table of contents

Where did this color come from and why is it called that?

The question of where cats of such bizarre colors and different breeds come from will certainly arise if a British kitten appears in the house. The tabby color was most likely inherited by domestic cats from their wild ancestors, the Nubian Dun. It is from this species of cat that all our short-haired pets originated.

As for the term “tabby” itself, there are several versions about its origin. The most beautiful sounds like this. Somewhere at the beginning of the 17th century, silk fabrics, which were worth their weight in gold, were first brought to England. Their pattern was very similar to a cat's color and was called "tabbis". And when they later began to breed cats with a similar color, they were called tabby. In addition, cats of this color, like silk, were very expensive, since breeding them is extremely difficult - it is difficult to obtain the necessary pattern, shade and eye color that matches them.

Health

The British Shorthair cat is not susceptible to hereditary diseases. She is in excellent health. However, this does not mean that vaccination and preventive examinations by a veterinarian can be neglected.

It must be taken into account that sexual and physical maturation in general occurs late in the British - around the age of four. It is at this age that kittens turn into adult cats: they show all the solidity and massiveness provided for by the standards. There is no point in sounding the alarm or suspecting dystrophy until this moment.

In comfortable conditions, a Briton lives on average 15 years. However, there are record holders in the breed whose age has exceeded 20. The reasons are simple: lack of stress, active cat life, balanced food and, of course, unconditional love. The well-being of the British largely depends on feeling like a member of the family.

Marbled Tabby

The marble tabby color in cats is the most beautiful, bright and complex. In addition, it is also the rarest due to difficulties in crossing - two marbled individuals can produce a tabby or spotted kitten. Such British cats wear three parallel stripes on the back, and large closed circles on the sides, inside of which there are brightly colored spots. Such a pattern should not intersect or be interrupted. In addition, a Marbled Briton must have the following markings:

• A pattern on the back of the head and shoulders resembling a butterfly.
• Patterns on the cheeks that start from the very corners of the eyes.
• "M" pattern on the forehead.
• The neck and chest are decorated with necklaces - the more, the better.
• There are spots on the tummy.
• The paws and tail must be ringed.
• The circles on the hips must be closed.

The color is rejected if the pattern is not contrasting enough, or if it shows residual faded stripes.

In a British cat, the merle color can be identified from birth. However, final alignment and clear drawing occur by two months. Therefore, if you want to get a real British harlequin, wait until this time, and do not adopt a kitten earlier.

Required elements

The tabby color, despite many variations, has a number of unchanged elements:

• Ticking is actually the presence of the pattern itself. In this case, the hairs of the coat should be uniform in color down to the base.
• On the forehead of such cats there is always a pattern resembling the letter “M”, the so-called scarab sign.
• There should be a fingerprint-shaped spot on the back of the ear.
• The nose and eyes should be outlined. In this case, the color of the outline should be the same as the main color.
• The pattern, if there is one, must include the following elements: “necklace” - three closed stripes on the chest; “curls” on the cheeks; There are two rows of double spots on the tummy. All drawings should be clear and rich, and the coloring should be deep.
• There are also typical eye colors for tabbies - golden, orange and copper. If the color is silver, then the cat's eyes should be green.

If a Briton's color is blurred, and the patterns are cloudy and merge with the main color, then this is a defect. Most likely, one parent was a tabby and the other was a solid.

Types of colors

Selection work on representatives of the British breed, involving various bloods, has led to a variety of both colors and breed types. If initially the British had short hair with a thick undercoat, then crossing with the Persian cat made it possible to obtain semi-long-haired animals. The colors of British longhair cats correspond to the colors of shorthair cats.

Many people only think of Britons as smoky, blue or tabby cats and don't even realize how many colors the breed has. Even a pair of quite ordinary parents can produce a kitten of a rare color.

To organize the variety of colors of British cats, they are divided into types and groups according to color, pattern and method of pigmentation.

Types of colors of British cats:

• solid (or plain);
• typed: smoky, veiled, shaded;
• gold;
• silver;
• tortoiseshells;
• color point;
• particolors: harlequin, bicolor, van, mitted;
• tabbies: spotted, striped, marbled, ticked.

A table of the colors of British cats will help you imagine all the diversity.

Breed characteristics

The characteristics of the breed must correspond to the standard description.

The British cat is a creature with a large head, a strong build, and excellent plush short hair. The British man’s facial expression is good-natured and benevolent, reminiscent of the well-known “Cheshire Cat”.

Characteristics and features of the British Shorthair cat breed:

• Round, large and wide head, with a powerful chin;
• The nose is wide, short, slightly curved, there is no “stop”;
• Full cheeks, have large whisker pads;
• The ears are small, rounded at the ends;
• The eyes are widely spaced, large, round;
• The hair is short, dense, with a thick undercoat;
• The body is large in size. The back is straight, the chest is wide;
• Paws are short and powerful;
• The tail is approximately two-thirds the length of the body, gradually tapering to a rounded tip.

Large cat species
There are now several species of British cats living in the United Kingdom. Do not confuse the British straight-eared cat and the Scottish fold; these are different breeds of pets. The British Shorthair always has straight ears. The conclusion of local experts is this: there are many “Scottish” people, but there is only one Briton.

Colors of British cats

Felinologists know more than 100 colors of British shorthair cats. Some colors are natural, ancient, from the time the breed was bred, others were obtained by breeders relatively recently.

Solid colors

Cats have short, dense fur. If you stroke such a pet, you will feel the fur soft and plush.

Main colors: black British cat, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, cream, white.

White animals have blue eyes; cats of solid colors have bright orange eyes.

Fawn color

The color of faun cats is the color of a young fawn. The animal's hair is a pleasant light beige color. The nose and paw pads have a pinkish tint.

The “faun”’s eyes are golden in color.

Tortoiseshell colors

The combination of two colors in a pet's coloring gives a tortoiseshell color. The color spots are distributed equally over the animal’s body and look harmonious. For genetic reasons, only cats can be tortoiseshells.

Color point colors

The main feature of the color point group is the light coloring of the body and areas with dark coloring. The paws, tail, ears, and muzzle are dark in color.

The color is characterized by the name of the dark spots on the cat's body.

Color point color

The main ones are: red, blue, chocolate, cream.

In addition, color-point colors can be solid or tortoiseshell.

Color-point pets are blue-eyed or blue-eyed.

Tabby color

Tabby coloring - patterns and drawings are located against the background of the main color.

There are many tabby colors:

• British marbled cat - on a light body, patterns are formed by wide dark lines. The stripes run along the back along the spine, form curls on the sides, and the neck and tail are decorated with rings. The most common colors are marbled on gold and silver.
• Tiger (“mackerel”) - a colored stripe runs down the center of the back, with thinner stripes extending from it on the sides. The cat's tail is striped, and the neck has stripes like a necklace.
• Blue Tabby - The main coat color is blue with a dark blue pattern. There are cream-colored spots and stains on the animal's body.

British cat kittens

After the babies are born, any breeder must decide what will happen to them next. The kitten's class is determined based on the breed standard.

What British kittens look like with proper selection and care:

• Small, strong paws support a strong body with a wide chest;
• The head is round, plump cheeks, wide forehead, straight nose with a small “stop”;
• The ears are short and set wide apart;
• The eyes are round. Until three months old, the eye color of British kittens cannot be determined - they are all bluish. The final coloration of the eyes in kittens appears at one year of age;
• The neck is short and rounded;
• The tail has not yet grown, but is already dense, with a round end;
• The coat is thick and short. The kitten resembles a teddy bear;

British Shorthair kitten
Kittens of the British breed are divided into three classes:

1. Show class - kittens that best meet the breed standard. In the future, pets will become participants and winners of exhibitions.
2. Breed class are cats that have minor deviations from the breed. They are used for breeding because they have a proven pedigree, good health and good heredity. Cats, if this is not a show class, are taken to the pet class and do not participate in future matings.
3. Pet class – kittens that have breed defects. At the same time, the animals do not lose their charm and beauty, and some shortcomings will not be noticeable to a non-breeder.

Possible tabby colors

Among tabby cats, gray and silver cats predominate with markings of a wide variety of colors: lilac, chocolate, blue, smoky black, reddish. But this does not mean that other tabby colors are rare. In the table below we look at the main variations of tabby color.

Table 2. Possible flower combinations for tabby color

It is worth noting that colors may vary depending on the design. Thus, spotted patterns are often presented in warm colors: golden, chocolate, wheat, brown, reddish, red. The classic type combines contrasting patterns of dark stripes on a light background: cream, yellowish, gray. The basis for dark striped patterns is silver and gray. The ticked type offers almost all possible colors. You can read about the mechanisms of genetic inheritance of pigments from cat to cat below.

Pigments and options for their transmission

In addition, the pattern may vary depending on the breed.

Table 3. Tabby color options for different breeds

Tabby cats with a rarer color are valued higher - because of this, they can cost more than their counterparts.

Solid colors of the British

Some of the solid (with an emphasis on the "o"), or solid colors - such as blue - are the ancestors of the British colors, and some - new colors - were obtained through the labor-intensive work of breeders. The rarest solid colors are cinnamon and fawn.

White

Snow-white without yellowness. Kittens may have black or gray spots on their heads from birth, which disappear with age. The eyes can be blue, and heterochromia (difference of eyes) also occurs. Breeding experiments with this color have ended because too many kittens are being born with health problems. For example, deafness in white cats with blue eyes is common.

Black

The coal-black, raven-wing colors of British cats give the animal a witchy, magical look. But, unfortunately, it is difficult to guess that a black kitten will become a blue-black cat. Very often, kittens change color around six months, changing the color of their coat to chocolate.

Chocolate

The richer and darker the better. Kittens that have faded from black are usually not the most successful (brown) color. Noble dark chocolate is desirable.

Blue

It can be a little lighter and a little darker. The bluer the shade, the more valuable it is. The undercoat is sometimes lighter than the main hairs, but the difference should be minimal.

Lilac

A complex color that is a cross between blue and pink. The result of selection work. Kittens are born dull pink; With age, the animal acquires a light coffee-with-milk shade, with a pinkish tint.

Cream

Beige or peach shades. Kittens can be born with a variegated coat, but then the variegation goes away.

Faun

"Deer" color, even lighter than cinnamon cinnamon. In infancy, such a kitten can be confused with a cream kitten, but the older the pet, the more clearly the gray tone appears (in cream cats, red predominates).

Cinnamon (cinnamon)

A rare color, cinnamon color, similar to light chocolate with the addition of an orange tint.

The main thing is love and affection

Cats of this breed are very sensitive and vulnerable. They definitely need to be petted, otherwise they get offended and worried. Simply feeding is clearly not enough. You need to take her in your arms and say kind words. They feel everything. Sometimes, even too much.

However, these cats will never impose themselves and get in the way

The owner himself must take the initiative and show attention to the pet.

Tabbies are very friendly and trusting. This breed is an excellent choice for families with small children. Cats will patiently endure any treatment from their little owners and will never show even a shadow of aggression towards them, not to mention extending their claws.

Representatives of this breed get along well with other pets. They can make excellent friends even with a pet rat, hamster or parrot, if there are any in the house.

Toyger - striped little tiger

The breed was bred quite recently - in 2007 and very successfully. In the cat world, this breed is considered prestigious. Distinctive features: rich black stripes on a reddish background, striped tail, which makes the color of their skin very similar to that of a tiger. They are friendly and sociable in nature, like all cats.

Tabby (tabby) color of a British cat

The group of tabby (tabby) colors unites all cats that have a pattern in their color.

Presumably, the name “tabby” itself comes from the type of design (“tabbis”) on precious silk fabrics brought to England in the 17th century from the countries of East India.

Genetically, all cats (and male cats) are carriers of some kind of pattern - all are “tabbiks”, however, in the genetic makeup of cats there is a so-called “agouti” factor, which either allows the pattern to open - then it becomes visible, or does not allow it, then we see the animal has a solid color. A visual confirmation of this is the shadow pattern in small kittens of a solid color. Kittens “moiret”, stripes and spots are visible, which disappear with age. But, if the “agouti” factor allows the drawing to open up, the result is a “tabbik” - a patterned cat.

Features of character and behavior

The British cat, massive and clumsy, is actually very, very active. It’s just that he prefers sleep to any active activity. The British sleep 20 hours a day, sometimes without stopping to eat.

Up to 3-4 years The British are not yet fully formed, both physically and psychologically. At this age, they are, in essence, still kittens with appropriate behavior - active and mischievous. Then the kitten becomes much calmer.

The breed is characterized by absolute self-sufficiency. The British Shorthair cat itself determines the rhythm of life, the time for affection and, especially, for games. Shows independence from early childhood. Even a small kitten has sacred knowledge of its rights. The most important thing is not to waste time. Kittens up to one year old are amenable to suggestion and education. After - no.

Soft and independent Britons have their own opinion about everyone. The kitten will choose a place to sleep himself. The owner’s task is to equip it. When dealing with a Briton, you must remember: he has remarkable intelligence and memory. Reviews indicate that from childhood the kitten demands respect for its person and really does not like noise.

You will have to forget about closed doors in the apartment: this will cause shock in an absolutely calm cat, even to the point of depression. Ideally, of course, the British should be able to roam freely. Then neither the cat nor the owner will experience any shocks.

The British Shorthair cat is non-aggressive, but will not allow itself to be offended. She is unobtrusive and rarely talks out loud about her feelings. If a Briton wants to eat, this will be expressed in a silent picket next to the cup.

Kittens get used to the family and are sincerely attached to the owner, but they can do quite well without his company.

Reviews of British cats

Kristino4ka

There is a universal favorite in our family - a blue British shorthair cat - Vikusya. We bought her at a Moscow nursery. We followed her by train. She has an excellent pedigree and excellent breed characteristics. She is only two years old.

The first advantage that pleasantly surprised me was extreme cleanliness. She always goes to the toilet in a specially designated place. There are no problems with this at all!

Vikusya is very smart and loves to talk to us. When you tell her something, she looks into your eyes and responds with intermittent meows. From the outside it looks very funny!

The cat is calm, affectionate, and loves to sleep. Therefore, it is ideal for those people who are at work from morning to evening. The cat will not be bored; it will definitely keep itself busy with something. In the summer he likes to sleep on his back, with his legs spread wide in different directions.

If Vikusya wants to eat, she will never scream and ask for a tasty morsel. He sits next to him and watches. Unpretentious in food. He eats dry food, about which I previously wrote a detailed review. Loves beef, veal and shrimp.

Loves to play with a toy mouse and skeins of yarn.

Sometimes it accelerates and jumps on the wall, pushing off from it with its hind legs. In some ways it reminds me of The Matrix.