Superman's Patriotic Imagery

by Armand Vaquer


Superman's association with the U.S. flag and patriotism dates back to his beginnings in the late 1930s and 1940s.

In the 1940s, Superman was depicted in comic book covers as a morale booster for U.S. troops fighting in the European and Pacific theaters of World War II.


This association continued in the 1950s with the opening of the Adventures of Superman television show. The show's opening depicts a resolute Superman (George Reeves) standing in front of the American flag.

In 1953, Adventures of Superman's producers made a special episode, "Stamp Day For Superman" that was donated to the Department of The Treasury. In this episode, not shown on television, Superman tells elementary school children of the virtues of buying Savings Stamps to help their country.

The photo below from "Stamp Day For Superman" shows Superman with the U.S. flag and the word "citizenship" in the background. Would this Superman renounce his U.S. citizenship? Not likely!





Christopher Reeve's Superman also continued with this association. In Superman 2, the Man of Steel returns the White House's flag and pole to the Executive Mansion's roof after defeating three Kryptonian Phantom Zone criminals.



The comic books of the Modern Age also depicted Superman as an American patriot. The comic book cover at right of Superman unabashedly patriotic was produced after DC Comics re-booted the Superman character (along with other super-heroes in their stable) in the late 1980s. And the one below left is a more recent cover.












These images only scratch the surface. There are many more such depictions of Superman's patriotism. With all this ingrained imagery over the years, it is small wonder why the reports of Superman renouncing his U.S. citizenship in Action Comics #900 has some people upset. That's why it is tricky business to tamper with an iconic character.



One final point.

One of Superman's abilities is a super-intellect. Granted, even one with a superior intellect could get frustrated over some government policies. Rather than get angry and renounce his citizenship, he would shrug it off and logically figure that administrations come and go and policies change with each administrative change. He would also use his influence to get the ones he disagrees with changed. A person with his super-intellect would not act rashly and renounce his citizenship. It comes off as some politically correct internationalist bullplop. I wonder if DC's writers even considered this.

The storyline just rings hollow.

Superman: Tampering With An AMERICAN Icon

by Armand Vaquer


When Jerome Siegel and Joseph Shuster created Superman, they created a quintessential American icon.

The term "Truth, Justice and The American Way" is synonymous with the character.

Rocketed to Earth as an infant by his parents, Jor-El and Lara, to escape the planet Krypton's destruction, the child's rocket landed in middle America and was raised by Jonathan and Martha Kent. The baby, Kal-El, was raised as Clark Kent with wholesome middle American values and became the champion of justice and the defender of the weak and oppressed.

When Clark Kent reached manhood, he moved to the city of Metropolis to begin his career as a Daily Planet news reporter and as Superman. Thus began an American icon, recognized throughout the world.

DC Comics, co-owner of the Superman character with the heirs of Siegel and Shuster, is publishing Action Comics #900. In this anniversary issue, the story has Superman fed up after a clash with the federal government.

Says Superman, “I am tired of having my actions construed as instruments of US policy.” He plans to make his announcement before the United Nations: "I intend to speak before the United Nations tomorrow and inform them that I am renouncing my U.S. citizenship."

Messing with an icon is tricky business. And this has become a controversy already. It is like having George Reeves standing in front of the United Nations flag, not the American flag, to many people.


According to Fox News:

"Besides being riddled with a blatant lack of patriotism, and respect for our country, Superman's current creators are belittling the United States as a whole. By denouncing his citizenship, Superman becomes an eerie metaphor for the current economic and power status the country holds worldwide," Hollywood publicist and GOP activist Angie Meyer told FOX411's Pop Tarts column.

In the same article, Superman's publishers defended the storyline:

"Superman is a visitor from a distant planet who has long embraced American values. As a character and an icon, he embodies the best of the American Way," DC's co-publishers, Jim Lee and Dan DiDio said in a statement to FOX411.com. "In a short story in ACTION COMICS 900, Superman announces his intention to put a global focus on his never ending battle, but he remains, as always, committed to his adopted home and his roots as a Kansas farm boy from Smallville."

Still, would Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster approve of this?

Before people get upset over this, one thing to remember: in comics, nothing is ever permanent. A character may get killed off, but quite often is brought back to life in another storyline. Sooner or later, Superman will reclaim his American citizenship.

Also, while everyone is aghast over this tampering with Superman's iconic American image, keep in mind that Clark Kent is still an American citizen.

UPDATE: A friend emailed this message (don't know if he read this blog post yet):

George Reeves never would have renounced his citizenship!

Sgt. George Reeves
U.S. Army Air Corps.1943

The email was titled, "George Reeves...Patriot!"

Kieron Porter

He is a very hot model in New York! ;)

Arneilious Dane

He is a pretty hot model in Minnesota!

Loathing "King Kong vs. Godzilla"?

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Godzilla and King Kong go after each other while demolishing Atami Castle in the process.

Over at the Classic Horror Film Board (CHFB), there is currently a topic in the Japanese Giants section titled, "Was KING KONG VS GODZILLA especially loathed in monster fandom?"

One thing about G-fans (or fanatics of any genre), there's always disagreements (some heatedly) amongst them. The subject of King Kong vs. Godzilla is one of those that brings up the passion level.

King Kong vs. Godzilla was released in the U.S. by Universal Pictures in June 1963. It as a heavily-edited version that inserted American actors to "help" with the narrative. Unfortunately, those edited-in scenes actually marred the movie. The original Japanese version plays out better as the satire it was intended to be.



I first saw King Kong vs. Godzilla at the Balboa Theater in Los Angeles in the Manchester-Vermont shopping area with my parents and friends. We sat in the balcony (photo left). I was nine-years-old at the time. It was paired with John Wayne's Donovan's Reef. (This was the subject of my first G-FAN article, by the way.)

While my parents and us kids laughed at the mangy King Kong suit, we were still greatly entertained by the movie. It was my first Godzilla movie to be seen on the big screen.

The premise of the thread, "Was KING KONG VS GODZILLA especially loathed in monster fandom?" really doesn't have any legs as there was no "fandom" back in 1963. Maybe a few monster elites didn't much care for it (Forrest J. Ackerman was one, so maybe that's why he came up with the phony "two-endings" tale), but to younger teens and pre-teens (and some adults), King Kong vs. Godzilla was good, mindless entertainment. If anyone "loathes" the movie, it is mainly by revisionist fans of today. King Kong vs. Godzilla still remains the boxoffice champ (by number of tickets sold) of all the Toho-produced Godzilla movies.

As an adult, I still find it fun and entertaining, but I now prefer the Japanese version.

A few side notes:

Back in 1972, I was perusing the now-defunct Los Angeles Herald-Examiner's sports section and on page two, there was a doctored photo of King Kong and Godzilla in a boxing ring wearing boxing gloves. It was to hype KABC-TV Channel 7's airing of the movie. That got me wanting to see it again.

Some of the locations in King Kong vs. Godzilla are covered in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan. They include Atami Castle, Diet Building, Mt. Fuji and Ginza (interestingly, the overhead tracking shots of Ginza are only in the American version).

The Balboa Theater still stands, but it had been converted into a mosque and is now up for sale. The theater opened in April 1926. It was once part of the Fox-West Coast Theater chain.

Grooming And Care Chinchilla Cat

For one chinchilla Cat the minimum size cage would be about 2 foot wide x 2 foot high x 18 inches deep, but ideally they should have a larger cage as they are quite active in the night, e.g. 3 foot wide x 2 foot high x 18 inches deep. A standard chinchilla cage is constructed of strong wire mesh, this mesh should not be coated in plastic which could be chewed and swallowed. Wooden shelving should be provided inside the cage to give them a place to rest off the wire; they will also appreciate a wooden house or box to retreat to.

The cage is best sited where other animals will not bother your chinchilla; away from draughts; not directly in front of a radiator; and not in direct sunlight where they may be at risk from heat exhaustion. A good spot is against the wall, or in the corner of the room where the chinchilla will feel less exposed. When your chinchilla arrives home place them in their new cage and leave them alone for the rest of the day. Before they start to interact with you they need time to settle in, investigate their home, and become accustomed to all the new smells and sounds around them.

Chinchilla

Chinchillas enjoy chewing, and need to chew in order to prevent their teeth becoming overgrown, chewable toys are therefore ideal for chinchillas. Avoid toys that have small or sharp, metal parts, or have plastic parts. If (or when) your chinchilla chews these they will end up swallowing the plastic and could end up with a blockage in their intestine. Items which are suitable to leave in your chinchillas cage are:
• hanging parrot toys
• sisal ropes (again designed for parrots, but chins love them)
• pieces of pumice stone
• some rabbit or large hamster toys
• wood or branches, e.g. kiln dried pine (not fresh pine), apple, pear, or willow.

All a chinchilla Cat needs is good quality hay and pellets; and fresh water a very basic diet is without doubt the best diet for them. Hay needs to be available at all times as it is essential in helping wear down their teeth and keep them in trim. If your chinchilla is not eating its hay then reduce the amount of pellets you feed to encourage eating of hay. It is also a good idea to provide a cuttlefish bone to chew on as this provides calcium which is essential for healthy teeth.
You will see mix foods which say they provide a good balanced diet however problems which become apparent when feeding a mix food are:
• Most mix foods contain treat foods.
• Given the choice most chinchillas will pick out their favourite food and choose not to eat the rest. Chinchillas can become picky - they will tend to eat more treat foods and less of the other ingredients.
• A diet rich in treats is not considered a good diet for a chinchilla.
• A mix food is formulated to provide a good balanced diet based on the assumption that all ingredients are eaten.

  Chinchilla

When changing your chinchillas diet do it slowly in order to decrease the risk of digestive problems. Start by mixing in a little of the new food into the existing food, then over the course of a one or two weeks (approx.) gradually increase the quantity of new food, and decrease that of the old food.

Although pellets and hay are all that a chinchilla needs they can be given some treats. All treats offered should be low in salt, sugar, fats and oils, therefore commercial foods, e.g. biscuits, crisps, crackers etc. should be avoided. Nuts and seeds should also be avoided or given only occasionally as they are high in fats and oils, for example pecan nuts contain approx. 70g of fat per 100g. All treats should be given in small quantities, and only one or two each day as too much fresh fruit, veg, and grains can cause digestive problems. Peanuts and corn should not be given.

Chinchilla Treats which can be given are:
• fruit, try fruits with seeds, not stones or pits, e.g. raisins, dried cranberries, dried strawberries, dried blueberries, dried rose hips, a banana chip, or a piece of apple, pear, grape, or kiwi.
• veg, e.g. piece of carrot, flaked peas, parsley, chard, romaine, a dandelion leaf (small and washed). Avoid anything gas forming, e.g. broccoli, cabbage.
• dried herbs, if available you can pick herbs, then after washing them, hang them upside down (in bunches) in a warm area until they have completely dried out. Herbs suitable for chinchillas include: oregano, comfrey, mint, nettle, dandelion, and raspberry leaves.
• grain, e.g. rolled oats, oat grouts, healthy cereals low in sugar like Shredded Wheat or Cornflakes.
• nuts and seeds, very sparingly - e.g. almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds.
• commercially prepared, e.g. chinchilla crackers (produced for chinchillas and available in the UK), a small piece of dry toast, or an alfalfa-based animal treat. 

When introducing a new treat, do it slowly introduce one treat at a time, and when first feeding it to your chinchilla only give a small piece. If you have just bought a chinchilla and are not sure if they have been given fruit before then start by only give one small piece at first.

 Chinchilla

Chinchilla Taming and Handling
A chinchilla can live up to 20 years so you have plenty of time - take your time getting to know your chinchilla, a weeks progress can suffer a severe setback if you inadvertently scare your pet.
Remember that chinchillas are timid and can easily become frightened; each chinchilla is different and the time it takes to develop trust between you and your new chinchilla will vary with each animal - some animals can take six months or more to trust their owner completely. It is worth remembering that in the wild a chinchilla is a prey animal - and they have evolved to be alert to dangers, and to run and hide if there is something they are not sure of.

Approach the cage slowly and speak quietly and gently to your chinchilla, offer them a raisin or some other small treat. Chinchillas are naturally curious so after a while s/he should come to the side of the cage and accept the treat. When your chinchilla is happy with this try reaching into the cage and offering a treat, do not pursue your pet - be patient and let them come to you, and allow them to explore your hand and arm. As your chinchillas trust in you increases you can try stroking their back, and in time you may be able to pick them up. It has to be said here that some chinchillas will never like being picked up.

Chinchilla Accessories you will need include:
• a hay rack (unless one is built into the cage),
• a water bottle,
• a food dish which cannot be knocked over,
• a dust bath,
• food and hay,
• chinchilla dust or chinchilla sand. Do not use ordinary sand as this is too coarse.
• litter - wood based cat litter is ok. Alternatively you may line the litter tray with newspaper provided the chins can not reach the paper. Do not use sawdust as this is too fine, and do not use cedar wood shavings (cedar is harmful to chins).

Chausie Historical Jungle Cat and Hunter Cats

The Chausie Cat first historical record of the Jungle Cat was found in ancient Egypt, where both the Jungle Cat and the African Wild Cat were used for hunting wild waterfowl. Mummified Jungle Cats have been found in Egyptian tombs, attesting to the high regard in which they were held. Some say that the statues of the goddess Bastet were modeled after Jungle Cats and we can certainly see the resemblance in her long, slender body and large ears! The name, Chausie, is derived from the Latin name for the Jungle Cat, Felis chaus, which occurs widely from the Nile Valley north to Turkey and the Caspian Sea, and eastward through South Asia as far as Vietnam.

Chausie Cat is a generic sounding term, and people sometimes assume it refers to any wild cat whose
habitat is jungle or forest. However, the Jungle Cat is a distinct species, with 9 subspecies, and is one of the largest of the small cats (genus Felis). In the wild, specimens have been reported weighing up to 40 lb. The chief habitats of the Jungle Cat are wetlands and river valleys. It preys on rodents and other small animals, but occasionally will eat the young of larger.

Chausie

This Chausie cat also flourishes in proximity to humanity, attracted by the rodents, which congregate in irrigated fields. In India, Felis chaus has been found nesting in abandoned granaries and houses. Probably because of this flexibility, Felis chaus populations are stable and the species is not considered endangered. Felis chaus is closely related to Felis sylvestris, which is widely considered to be the ancestor of modern domestic cats, and for this reason it is able to interbreed with domestic cats.

When people get their first glimpse of a Chausie, especially one striding along in slinky, liquid motion,
they tend to be immediately struck with its elegant grace and agility. This breed is built for hunting,
running and jumping, and exudes the essence of "catness" which makes felines such intriguing
companions. The Chausie, pronounced "Chow-see" is a fully domestic breed derived from the Jungle
Cat. It is a statuesque cat: tall, upright, medium to largeframed, and regal in stance with the musculature of an agile hunter. Males are proportionately larger than females.

The Chausies breed retains a strong resemblance to its wild ancestor, but is good-natured, loyal, intelligent and affectionate, as you would expect in a domestic cat. It is a highly active breed, and loves to play with toys or other cats. It retains this quality into adulthood.  Chausies come in three colors: brown ticked tabby, solid black and silver-tip, which are a color unique to this breed. The coat is short to medium, dense and relatively coarse. The tail is 3/4 to full length, and the ears are large, mobile, and can be lynx-tipped. The body is long and slender, and the legs are long, with small feet.

Chausie Cat

The Chausie is a statuesque cat, tall, upright, medium to large frame with legs more moderate in boning giving the cat a tall, slender legged look. Its musculature is that of an agile hunter with great jumping ability. They have large upright, tufted ears. Males will be proportionately larger than the females. The over-all appearance should bring to mind the Middle Eastern/Asian Jungle Cat as the breed retains a strong resemblance to it’s ancestor. This cat is good-natured, loyal and intelligent and should be amenable to handling showing no signs of challenge.

CHAUSIE BREED AND BREEDERS

CHAUSIE HEAD:
Shape: Modified wedge, medium in size with a long, sloping forehead and high ,angular, long cheekbones that meet a strong, full muzzle and chin. A change in direction at the sides of the muzzle gives the appearance of rounded whisker pads. Eyes: Medium, slightly flattened oval and set on bias to just below the outside edge of the ear. Gold or yellow eye color preferred, hazel to light green allowed. Profile: Long sloping forehead flows into the rise between the eyes, continuing down with good length, to meet the nose bump, which is rounded where it meets the convex nose leather.

Ears: Tall, large ears should be placed fairly close together on top of head with a wide base cornering the head and the ear set at a slight outward angle. The ear itself should be fairly wide all the way up with rounded ear tips. Ear tufts preferred, lack of tufts not a penalty. Neck: The muscular neck is of
medium length and thickness. Muzzle: Proportionate to the cheekbones and length of nose, with full
whisker pads. Chin: Strong, full, both in profile and frontal view with depth resulting from good bone structure. Nose: Medium-wide slightly broader between the eyes. Nose leather is convex and full.

CHAUSIE BODY:
Torso: Long, lean and muscular, firm to the touch; the large rectangular body is strong and athletic, with a balanced chest and good depth of body without any roundness of the ribcage. Legs: The legs are moderately long, well muscled with medium boning. The hind legs are slightly longer than the
front, as the cat is built for running and leaping. Feet: The feet are round and small in comparison to the overall size of the cat. Tail: Three-quarter or full length tail acceptable; the 3/4 tail has fewer
vertebrae and is preferred. Both tail lengths should be of medium thickness and fully articulated. Musculature: The musculature of the Chausie is long and lean rather than bulky. Boning: The Chausie has medium leg boning with long, lithe legs, while the torso is substantial with good depth.

Chausie Cat

CHAUSIE COAT/COLOR/PATTERN:
Length: Short to medium, with enough length to accommodate at least two bands of ticking. Not open. Texture: A dense, softer undercoat with a coarser resilient texture to outer coat.

CHAUSIE COLORS:
Black: Solid black. Brown ticked tabby: A Mouse-gray color next to skin with sandy-gray to reddish gold base coat. There will be two or three bands of dark ticking following the mouse coat with tabby markings on the face, legs and tail. Bold barring on the upper inside of the front leg is preferred with lighter to no barring on the outside of the front leg. There may be faint barring on the back leg. Neck may or may not have neck-laces. Faint tabby markings on the body may be present but not preferred. A white or off white color should outline the eyes and muzzle. A Lighter underside is preferred
the stomach may appear flecked, speckled or spotted. The backs of ears will have “thumbprint” markings of a lighter color.

CHAUSIE Black Grizzled Ticked Tabby: A pattern effect caused by a mutation at the agouti locus or extension locus. It is a dominant trait. The hair shaft is banded with lighter coloration at the skin (akin to mouse coat) alternating dark and lighter bands of ticking and ending with a dark tip. The grizzled effect is the result of the use of the Jungle Cat (Felis Chaus) in the development of the Chausie breed. The Jungle Cat ancestor (black) exhibiting the grizzled effect has solid black nose leather and pink paw pads.

ALLOWANCES: Variation in tail length starting from just below the hock (3/4) to full length. Slight ghost body markings on kittens. Black paw pads with rosy or pink overtones allowed.
PENALIZE: Vivid green eyes. A cat that is too refined or too heavily boned. A cat void of tabby markings on the legs or tail.
WITHHOLD ALL AWARDS (WW): True classic pattern. Any colors other than the three allowable colors. White lockets.
DISQUALIFY (DQ): Tail too short, resulting from a mutated gene (MX/PB/BB). Tail kinked or lacking flexibility.

Tonkinese History Bedeers High Quality

Wrapped in a mink coat with sparkling aqua eyes, the gregarious Tonkinese is purring solid package of pure love who knows that your whole purpose for being is to give all your love and attention to him. They are a medium-sized muscular cat with a sense of humor and will entertain you for hours with their antics. While often considered a new man-made breed, they are actually an old breed that appears in 'The Tonkinese Cat Article Poems of Siam' from the Ayudha Period (1358-1767). These affectionate, social cats are outgoing and lively but also like nothing better to curl up in your lap and bask in your undivided attention. It blends the best of both worlds from its Siamese and Burmese ancestry to create a delightful cat that adds joy to the lives of everyone lucky enough to own one.

Tonkinese

Tonkinese History

The Tonkinese developed from a cross between the Siamese and the Burmese. Often considered the
first Burmese, we know recognize that Wong Mau was actually the first Tonkinese and she came to the US in 1930. Burmese breeders worked with Wong Mau to isolate the brown sepia color we now see in the Burmese breed. Wong Mau herself was actually a mink Tonkinese although the breed had yet to be defined. By the 1960s the Burmese type was well established and very different to the Siamese. Jane Barletta decided she wanted to create a cat that was in between the two extremes and set about developing such a breed that would actually recreate the Tonkinese from an earlier period. At about the same time, Margaret Conroy in Canada also bred a Burmese to a Siamese-in her
case she had a shy Burmese female from England that she was reluctant to ship to a stud and a judge suggested she breed the Burmese female to a Siamese.

The Tonkinese resulting kittens with their tan coats and aqua eyes fascinated Margaret and she started working with the color. Jane and Margaret started to work together to develop the moderate breed that blended the unique traits of two different breeds into a third unique confirmation that we know today as the Tonkinese.

Tonkinese

Tonkinese Personality and Traits

The warm and loving Tonkinese likes nothing better than to be with you-on your shoulder, on your lap, or overseeing everything you do. They are intelligent cats with a long memory and a strong will so persistence pays off when training them. They love to invent and play games from playing fetch with a favorite toy to engaging in a game of tag with other cats. Tonkinese greet and entertain all your visitors, sure that the guests have come to visit the Tonkinese in the household. While playing
games and chasing through the house is a favorite pastime, the Tonkinese also loves to cuddle and is best for anyone wanting a loving lap cat as a companion. These gregarious cats also enjoy the company of children, dogs and other pets. While they are not as vocal as a Siamese, Tonkinese will hold chatty conversations with you and expect your full attention while they talk with you.

Tonkinese come in a variety of colors with patterns of differing intensity: Seal, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Red, Blue, Lilac, Fawn, Cream and the tortoiseshell counterparts of these colors; patterns strike the medium between the pointed Siamese and the solid sepia Burmese with varying intensity resulting in Pointed (high contrast and closer to the Siamese pattern), Mink (medium contrast and the pattern most closely associated with the breed), and Solid (low contrast and closest to the sepia Burmese). No matter what color the Tonkinese is painted, the coat is short and close to the body with a very silky feel reminding one of a cat all wrapped up in a luxurious mink coat.

Tonkinese

While sparkling aqua eye color is often considered the defining characteristic of the Tonkinese, it is not the only eye color that a Tonkinese can have. Just as the mink pattern is halfway between the Siamese and the Burmese, so the aqua eye color halfway between the sapphire blue of the Siamese and the deep gold of the Burmese and Mink-patterned cats have aqua eyes. The Pointed Tonkinese, though, have more of the Siamese characteristics along with brilliant blue eyes ranging from glittering sky blue through violet. The Solid pattern cats have a shimmering charteuse eye color (green-gold to yellow-green) that is closer to the spectrum of the Burmese eye color.

Tonkinese

The solid muscular Tonkinese is a medium sized cat that is neither cobby nor svelte and is surprisingly heavy. Males weigh from 8 to 12 pounds and females range from 6 to 8 pounds. They appear alert and active and everything about them is moderate. Their sparkling eyes, shaped like a peach pit with an almond top and rounded bottom, are set into a pleasant modified wedge with a blunt muzzle. The medium-sized ears are pricked slightly forward emphasizing the cat's alertness.
Keeping the Tonkinese's coat sleek and soft is easy as the short thick coat does not need a lot of maintenance. A rubber brush used once a week removes any loose dead hair and an occasional bath keeps the mink-like coat at its very best.

Traditional Persian Cat Clinical Evolution

Entropion is defined as the inward rolling of the eyelid margin in which the eyelashes and eyelid hair (frequently the lower lateral lid) rub the cornea. Etiologies may be congenital, spastic, or cicatricial. This condition usually causes epiphora, blepharospasm, photophobia, conjunctivitis, purulent discharge, corneal vascularization, pigmentation and ulceration, if not surgically treated. Congenital entropion commonly affects dogs and is frequently hereditary in some breeds, whereas cats are uncommonly affected. A predilection for the Traditional Persian Cat breed to present primary entropion has been suggested. The authors report two cases of entropion in Traditional Persian Cat referred to the Ophthalmology Section of Veterinary College of São Paulo State University UNESP, Jaboticabal SP / Brazil. First case: a male Traditional Persian Cat, 2 years old, with a history of bilateral ocular irritation and purulent discharge for 8 months. Ophthalmic examination revealed epiphora, blepharospasm, photophobia, bilateral entropion affecting the whole length of the lower eyelids, conjunctivitis and purulent discharge.

Traditional Persian Cat

Male Traditional Persian Cat, one year old, with the history of bilateral ocular irritation and purulent discharge for 3 weeks. At the ophthalmic examination the animal presented epiphora, blepharospasm, photophobia, severe bilateral entropion affecting the whole length of the lower eyelids, conjunctivitis, purulent discharge, corneal vascularization, superficial ulceration, and edema. Clinical signs were more evident due to ocular pain caused by corneal ulceration. After topical anaesthesia the eyelid defect also persisted. Modified Holtz-Celsus and grid keratotomy  procedures were performed. The length and width of the lower eyelid skin-muscle resection were similar to the first case. Postoperative treatment consisted of topical application of 0,5 to 1cm of ophthalmic ointment placed over the surgical wounds and into the conjunctival sac of each eye at intervals of 8 hours during 10 days and use of an Elizabethan collar.

Traditional Persian Cat

Second case: a male Traditional Persian Cat, 1 year old, with a history of bilateral ocular irritation and purulent discharge for 3 weeks. At ophthalmic examination the animal was presenting epiphora, blepharospasm, photophobia, bilateral entropion affecting the whole length of the lower lids, conjunctivitis, purulent discharge, corneal vascularization, superficial ulceration and edema. The entropion persisted after topical anaestesia in both cats. Surgical treatment was similar in both cases, based on the modified Holtz-Celsus procedure. Grid keratotomy procedure was also performed in the
second case. Both cats had a satisfactory clinic evolution which was confirmed few days after surgery.

Traditional Persian Cat Clinical evolution of both cases were observed at 1, 15, 30, 45 and 60 days following surgery. Both cats had satisfactory clinical evolution confirmed 15 days after surgery. The eyelid margins restored normal relationship to the globe and normal palpebral fissure with no sign of ocular irritation There are information that suggest the predilection for Traditional Persian Cat breed to present primary entropion. Considering our casuistry, these two cases make this predilection evident. STADES et al observed in breeds frequently affected, such as the Bouvier des Flandres, Labrador and Golden Retriever, and Traditional Persian Cat, a longer mean of palpebral fissure lenght. This observation agreed with the great amount of inrolled eyelids showed at the ophthalmic
examination of the cases here presented.

Traditional Persian Cat

 The modified Holtz Celsus technique was easily performed and effective for correting feline entropion, which was verified 15 days after surgery. Both cases may be considered primary feline entropion, although this type of structural defect rarely occurs in Traditional Persian. The chronic blepharospasm and ocular irritation was induced by the entropion, considering that both Traditional Persian in this study had no history of trauma or overt abnormalities to account for the abnormal eyelids. In addiction, the entropion persisted after topical anaesthesia and relief of the blepharospastic component of entropion. The painful ocular disease increased spastic blepharospasm and ocular irritation. The resulting corneal ulceration in the second case accentuated severity of blepharospasm.

Somali Cat Strong and Robust with Good Body and Muscle Breders

Handsome and substantial Blue Somali Cat lad with a wonderful temperament. He has a wonderfully generous head and lovely balanced type. Mature lad of almost 6 years of age. Super strength to his head with a moderate wedge and lovely generously contoured and rounded muzzle giving his that trademark Somali Cat smile. Lovely profile with slight break. Firm chin and slightly messy bite. Large almond shaped eyes, set obliquely. Very good facial marking and eye makeup. Lovely large ears, well cupped and well set on his head nicely wide apart. With good ear furnishings. Lovely full coat, ruff and breeches, very soft and silky with an excellent Somali coat quality. Very well prepared. Very solid spine line but with good ticking evident on his shoulders and flanks, lovely warm blue coat colouring. Long and substantial body with excellent body weight and substance. Long limbs and oval paws.  Complete blue heel and paws. Good tapering tail to balance with his body. Lovely lad with a super temperament.

Somali Cat

Another lovely mature Usual Somali Cat lad who was unlucky to meet my winner today. Excellent size and substance to this lad. With very strong boning and excellent body weight. Super strength to head with a lovely moderate wedge to head with nicely gentle curves to his cheeks and muzzle. Lovely shallow indentations to define his head. Very gentle and expressive eyes, almond in shape and set obliquely. Very good eye markings with well defined pencil lines. Very well set ears, medium large and very well furnished. Nicely cupped and set wide apart. Lovely profile with slight break. Firm chin and level bite.

Somali Cat Coat lacking a little in length but of a lovely texture and still with very slight grey roots in places. Soft and quite fine coat and still with a medium ruff to frame his face. Excellent ticking evident over his whole coat, especially strong spine line. Long legs and oval tufted paws with complete black paws and heels. Medium tapered tail. Super lad who handled like a dream.

Lovely mature Chocolate Somali Cat female with exceptional type. She is 11 years old and is in amazing condition and coat for her age. Excellent balance to her head with super width and lovely generous curves to her cheeks and muzzle. Lovely shallow indentations to her muzzle to add extra definition. Reasonable firm chin but slightly messy bite. Slight break to profile. Lovely almost eyes, very expressive and set obliquely. Large ears, nicely cupped and set well apart on her head, very well placed, when she wasn’t cross with us. Rich and warm coat colouring with very good ticking evident and lovely warmth to her undercoat. Lovely soft and fine coat with a super glossy top coat.

Somali Cat is Good spine line and complete heels and paws. Good long and robust body with good boning and substance. Long legs and nicely oval paws. Very short tail. It’s a shame she wasn’t happy today as when she relaxed she really looked lovely. Mature Blue Somali girl of 7 years of age and with a sweet temperament. I was sorry to withhold the reserve certificate today but I felt that
she lacked the generosity of type required for this high honour.

Somali Cat

Moderate wedge to head with nice definition to her head with lovely shallow indentations but lacking some fullness to her muzzle for that real Somali smile. Large ears, set wide on her head but a high and little narrow in opening, nicely furnished. Slight break to her profile, but with a slight bump. Firm chin and level bite. Large almond eyes, looking a little bold today, but set obliquely. Well defined eye make-up. Pale blue coat colouring with quite a cold undercoat in places. Good ticking across her whole coat and complete heels and paws. Strong and robust body with good body weight and substance. Long limbs and oval tufted paws. Soft and silky coat with a medium ruff and full breeches, well prepared. Broken necklace. Long tapering tail. Somali Cat Good temperament.

Young Chocolate Somali Cat lad of substance who still needs time to develop. Currently at a difficult stage of his development and lacking the balance and generosity to his head type. Currently longer rather than moderate wedge to head, however he does have lovely definition to his muzzle although it needs more softness. He also tends to puff out his whisker pads making him look quite square! Lovely eye makeup, nice large almond eyes set obliquely. Very large ears which are set wide apart on his head and just slightly flared in position, but well furnished, he just needs a bit more time to grown into them!. Nice slight break to profile.

Somali Cat

Somali Cat Firm chin and level bite. Lovely complete heels and paws. Lovely warmth to his chocolate coat which is very fine at present and needing more time for the length to develop. Ticking developing nicely, well defined spine line. Somali Cat Lovely long body, strong and robust with long legs and strong oval paws. Long tapering tail. Sweet lad who was quite nervous today. Young Blue Somali female, who was a bit of a cross patch today. Lovely moderate wedge to head with lovely definition to her muzzle but still needing a bit more generosity to the curves of her muzzle for perfection. Lovely almond eyes, very expressive and set obliquely. Good pencil lines to outline the eyes. Good slight break in profile.

Somali Cat Firm chin and level bite. Lovely ears, large, well set apart and very well set on her head, well furnished. Good blue heels and paws. Warm blue top coat with very good ticking evident across the whole coat, but undercoat a little cold. Quite full coat and breeches but with overall length and ruff still to develop. Nice soft and fine texture to her coat. Well prepared. Long body, quite lean at the moment but with strong boning. Long limbs and strong oval paws. Medium tapering tail.

Snowshoe Cat Originally Cross Breed Siamese and American Shorthairs

The Snowshoe Cat is another breed of cat that came late on the scene, originally cross-bred between a Siamese and American Shorthairs during the 1960s in the United States. While they come in all of the familiar colors of the Siamese, chocolate, blue, seal and lilac, they can also be mitted and bicolor. However, unlike Siamese, these cats, which look so much like their Siamese ancestors, have very distinctive white mitted paws, something you've never seen in a true Siamese. The first kittens of this breed came about when two Siamese cats owned by Dorothy Hinds Daugherty of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, gave birth to three kittens that had absolutely striking white feet. It was this trait that gave the cats their name Snowshoes. They have become increasingly popular in the United States as well as the world over.

Snowshoe cat

These adorable animals have been labeled with a plethora of adjectives, all of them good, and make wonderfully delightful, social companions. Because they haven't been bred to meet any extreme demands, nor been plagued with inbreeding, which is often done to produce certain traits in
animals, they remain healthy with no inherent health problems that can spring up later, aside from the typical diseases that you would normally guard your cat against. Vigorous, intelligent cats, should you decide to adopt a Snowshoe cat, if there isn't someone home most of the time with them, you should probably adopt two, or have another pet with them, so that they have someone to play with throughout the day.

Snowshoes don't like being left alone for long periods of time. But don't mistake being highly active and alert for being high strung, because Snowshoes are not. They get along wonderfully well with other animals so you wouldn't have to worry about bringing them into your home if you already have a pet or two. One of the things that make a Snowshoe cat even more different from your ordinary feline is that they love running water. Turn on a faucet when most other cats are standing nearby and you are likely to see them scampering off in a big hurry to get away from the water.

Snowshoe Cat

They have a soft, melodic voice and can be talkers. They just love to be around people and are perfect people companions. Like most cats, you should keep your Snowshoe Cat indoors to keep it safe from urban dangers and to help keep it free of parasites such as fleas, ticks and other pests that can literally sap the life out of your beloved pet. It only makes sense that as pet owners, we should take the utmost care to keep our cats and other pets safe from unnecessary dangers.

Snowshoes Cat not only have distinctive white paws, but also have white markings on their stomach, chest, and face, and bright blue eyes that set off their adorable Lone Ranger mask that will steal your heart away. Well here we are in December, and another year has flown by. The breed continues to
grow and win more converts. We are seeing more Snowshoes on the show benches, on one occasion
there were six in competition. This is good news as it means that the general public are able to
see them.

We have have just come back from the Supreme show which is the highlight of the year for those of
us who enjoy showing our cats. The Snowshoe breed was well represented with many of them achieving their merit awards. It was great to be able to see 10 Snowshoes at one time, there were some beautifully decorated pens on display. Two of these were awarded with offical Supreme rosettes. No mean feat when you realise that there were over 1200 cats present. Well done.

Snowshoe Cat

Several of the Snowshoe cats were already quad merit winners (4 merits from 4 different judges). One kitten notched up her sixth merit award and one female adult qualified for her quad merit status at the Suprme, having taken time off in the summer to attend to maternal duties. Congratulations to all the successful cats and their owners. In 2009 we hope to be able to progress to the next level of recognition with these wonderful cats, so we will need all your support please.

Sokoke Highly Intelligent Cat and African Tabby Pattern

The Sokoke Cat is a recently discovered breed, found in and near the threatened Arabuko Sokoke Forest on the coast of Kenya. The first Sokoke Cats were discovered in the 1970’s, and exported to Europe where a breeding program was started. The Kenyan Sokokes are a naturally occurring breed, free roaming and self-sufficient, yet living in close proximity to human settlements. The Sokoke is a sleek, slender, naturally athletic, muscular cat, with a medium frame dressed in a tight, short, ticked modified classic tabby coat. The local Girama natives describe them as "looking like tree bark".

Even when relaxed, their slightly longer rear legs give the appearance of being "at the ready". Their graceful athleticism, alert intelligence, and peaceful personality combine to make the Sokoke a true companion animal who thrives on affection. They can exhibit a vocal possessiveness towards their feline families and human companions with whom they deeply bond.

Sokoke

The Sokoke Cat is a long legged moderate-sized cat with a short dense coat without any undercoat.
It looks a little like a ocelot having an "African tabby pattern" with ticked hairs in the dark part of
the pattern. It's movement pattern can be compared with a cheetahs. They mature very slowly,
and only reach sexual maturity at the age 1,5-2 years.

Even if the Sokoke looks like one of the wild cats and has retained all the characteristics of the wild cats, does it bond very strongly to its human independent and loving, but never clinging. It is totally bereft of aggression and only marks with teeth or claws if strongly threatened. All muscles tense if in danger, ready to flee quickly. The Sokoke is a very sensitive cat and swings with the mood of its human. It is active and quite talkative, having a strong voice, it is an independent cat but it much enjoys the company of its' humans. It is a proud and highly intelligent cat and you can communicate at a high level using voice and and body language.

Because they are totally domestic by nature, Sokokes can be kept without permits and licenses normally required in the keeping of wild or endangered species. These little "cheetahs" are totally dependable in personality, they require no elaborate housing facilities, and they are a practical size for a family pet. Qualities that persevere from the wild are: super efficient ears, eyes and whiskers. Camouflaged coats, agile and athletic bodies, a unique self confidence, and a high level of intelligence. Additionally, the Sokoke breed strives to preserve genes unknown among the traditional domestic breeds. FIFe's breed council is taking special interest in preserving these rare genes, and have made strict breeding plans for the few breeding cats. They have not been mixed with domestic cats and are therefore totally unique and is by some though to be a completely independent genera.

Sokoke

SOKOKE CAT BREEDS

SOKOKE HEAD:
Shape: Modified wedge, appearing small in relation to body, top of the skull almost flat, and length
should be slightly longer than width at temples. Cheek bones high and well defined. Ears: Medium large; broad at the base, upright with tips slightly rounded. Tufts on the tips desirable, but not required. Set medium high, with a distance of one ear's breadth in between preferred. Eyes: Moderately large, set wide apart, slightly slanted towards the base of ears. Slightly almond in
shape. Brilliant and expressive.

SOkoke Color:
Amber to light green, outlined with black. Chin: Strong and broad, in line with the tip of the nose. Not fleshy. Muzzle: Whisker pad well defined. There may be more bulk, or definition to the rear of the whisker pad than to the forefront, giving the frontal view a smooth look, with gently rounded contours. Nose: Broad, with a relatively abrupt end of the tip. Profile: Nose of medium length, straight; with a short, softly convex curved bridge. Neck: Slender, medium to slightly long in length yet strong, muscular.

SOKOKE BODY:
Torso: Medium long, slender, lithe and graceful, with well- developed chest, level back, and rounded rib cage. Size: Males tend to be from 10 to 40% larger than females. Legs: Long, slender with medium or fine boning. Hind legs well angled and muscular and longer than the front legs. The position of the hind legs gives a "tip toe" gait that is very characteristic of this breed, yet even
when standing at ease the back remains level.

Boning:
A fine to medium boning giving a slender, yet sturdy look. Musculature: Well developed
musculature especially pronounced in neck and shoulders. These cats look fine and delicate; but, when lifted should be surprisingly solid and give the feel of strength. Feet: Oval and medium small.
Should be in balance with overall size. Tail: Medium to long, and has a firm, tight, muscular feel from base to tip; tapers, whip like, to a narrow pointed tip.

Sokoke

SOKOKE COAT:
Texture: Very short, close lying with an almost hard not silky feel and little or preferably no undercoat. Pattern: Modified classic tabby. The pattern should be muted by ticking. This ticking, along with the modifications of the pattern are hallmarks of the Sokoke breed. The Sokoke pattern differs from the standard classic pattern in the following manner: at least one chin strap (broken allowable); the shoulder butterfly may be broken, just a blotch or not obvious; the bullseye should be broken, and the forehead "M" may be broken, but must be vestigially present.

SOKOKE COLOR:
Any shade of brown tabby. It should be noted that the Sokoke is not a highly rufoused cat and the shades of brown can range from cool to warm. Black tail tip may also be ticked.

Being a cat of the rainforest, the Sokoke has a special relation to water and will just swim across any stream that crosses their path, they don't seem to enjoy it but take is as a part of life. Another special characteristic is their hard muscular bodies, rendered even more athletic by their extremely short coat through which every muscle can be seen.

Selkirk Rex The History Montana Cat and Breeders

The Selkirk Rex is produced by a dominant gene affecting the guard, down and awn hairs. The curl is most prominent around the neck and tail in both coat lengths. Guard hairs tend to have a coarse texture, but the coat is very dense and overall soft and plush. The whiskers are curly as are the eyebrows. The Selkirk Rex is a medium to large cat with good balance between legs and body. Heavy boning gives the cat surprising weight. Females are less massive than males, but both sexes have definite jowls. Coat continues to develop until about 2 years of age, so kittens should be judged mainly on head and body type. Kittens are curly at birth and may lose their coat and begin to develop an adult curly coat at 8-10 months of age.

Selkirk Rex

The Selkirk Rex is an easy-going relaxed cat that resembles a soft, stuffed toy that you just want to pick up and hug. One of the rexed breeds, they have a tousled disarray to their dense coats that leads makes them look as though they are having a bad hair day! Sometimes called the cat in sheep's clothing, these gentle cats bring a smile to your face and a warmth to your heart just like that favorite toy did when you were young. These plush-coated, medium-sized cats with solid boning and bodies fill your arms when you pick them up for a quick hug and cuddle.

History Selkirk Rex

In 1987 a feral blue tortie & white cat in Montana had a strange looking kitten in a litter of 5. At 9 weeks she came to the attention of Persian breeder Jeri Newman who took the kitten and named her Miss DePesto because she was always pestering for attention. Jeri was able to find out that her mother had hair that was not completely normal either-it had a slight kink right at the end. Miss DePesto had curly whiskers, brillo hair in her ears and the coat on her body looked like a body wave. She had a narrow muzzle with a strong whisker break, prominent cheekbones, slanted eyes and a wide flat spot between her large ears. Like a Cornish Rex, her body was heavy but her boning was fine and her legs were long.

Jeri established that Miss Depesto's littermates all had normal coats and that there were no other curly cats in the area leading her to believe that Miss DePesto might be the source of a new mutant rex gene. At 14 months of age, Jeri bred Miss DePesto to her black Persian male Ch. Photo Finish of Deekay and eagerly awaited the kittens. On July 14 Miss DePesto had a litter of 6 kittens of which 3 were definitely curly. These results proved hat the gene was a dominant unlike that of the CR and DR
and that Miss DePesto carried longhair. TICA accepted the Selkirk Rex into the New Breed program in 1990 and recognized it for championship competition in February 1994.

Selkirk Rex

Selkirk Rex Personality

These are loving, patient cats reflecting the temperaments of the breeds used to develop the
Selkirk Rex. The British Shorthair contributed the laid-back personality, the Persian added the cuddly nature while the Exotic Shorthair brought an impish playfulness to package. Visitors are always intrigued by the cats and want to touch their coats while owners have incredible urges to pick and hug their chargesfortunately the Selkirk Rex is a patient cat that accepts these human foibles with great tolerance.

Selkirk Rex Traits
Selkirk Rex come in both long and shorthair coats. The shorthairs have a dense, plush curl to the coat that emphasizes the density of the coat and a similarity to a teddy-bear; longhairs have an even more tousled look that emphasizes the similarity to a woolly sheep. And both hair lengths come in a rainbow of colors. Lucky pet owners will always have the best coats on their cats as coats are seen in their prime on mature altered males and spayed females. The curls are most prominent on the flanks, undersides and neck. The thick, plush coat is very soft and falls in loose curls.

They are a medium to large cat with strong, heavy boning giving them a substantial feel but take time to develop to their full maturity. The head is rounded with large round eyes and a sweet expression. The body is slightly rectangular and very muscular resulting in a firm feel under the soft coat.

Selkirk Rex

Selkirk Rex Breed Srandard

Selkirk Rex HEAD:
Shape: Round, full-cheeked. Forehead round and broad. Ears: Medium-sized, rounded with pointed tip, set well apart.  Eyes: Large and round, set well apart. Chin: Firm. Muzzle: Short, square, visible beyond the cheeks. curly whiskers. Profile: Rounded forehead, nose stop and firm chin. Neck: Short and thick. Curly fur prominent on neck.

BODY:
Torso: Chest full, muscular, semi-cobby. Rectangular with a slight rise toward the hindquarters.
Legs: Medium length, substantail boning. Feet: Large and round. Tail: Medium length, thick, tapering to rounded tip. Boning: Substantial. Musculature: Substantial.

COAT:
Length: In both coat lengths, the curls are most prominent on the neck and tail. The curliness of the coat on the saddle area of the back is variable due to climate, seasons and hormones, especially in females. (SR): Medium. (SL): Semi-long. Texture: Soft and plush. (SR): Double coat, with thick
undercoat and deep waves with curled ends. (SL) Loose individual curls. Pattern: All patterns acceptable. Color: Clear, intense colors preferred. Eye color independent of coat color.

OTHER:
Balance: Good proportions. Condition: Good muscle tone. Excellent health. Temperament: Sweet and
loving.

Peterbald Strong and Muscle Cats

The overall impression of an ideal Peterbald is an elegant and intelligent cat. The Peterbald has a sturdy, long, lean body that contributes to its graceful movement. The first Peterbalds were born in Russia in January, 1994, the result of breeding an Oriental Shorthair (Radma vom Jagerhof) to a light-boned Oriental-looking Donskoy (Afinoguen Myth). The original litter d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t t h e Peterbald/Donskoy gene is a dominant gene, unlike the (Canadian) Sphynx gene. Typical of the breed are various unusual coat textures ranging from hairless to full brush coat to normal coat.

The Peterbald is to be medium-sized, long, and gracefulShoulders and hips equal in widthLong legs, medium-fine boning. Straightvertical forelegs. Hind legs slightly longer than front legs Musculature should be firm and well-developedLong, strong, whippy tail Medium sized, oval feet withagile prominent toes and non-prominent foot pads.

Peterbald

The Peterbald coat is the single most important feature of the breed. A Peterbald may have a single coat type or it may have a combination of coat types. Generally, if there is more than one coat type, the body has one type and the extremities or points have another. A Peterbald is most often born with one coat type and changes to a different type over time. The experienced breeder can generally determine the adult coat by the time a kitten is three months old. Peterbald coats can be divided into 2 categories: the bald coats and the hair coats.

PETERBALD HEAD:
Shape: Long, inverted triangle, measuring from ear tip to ear tip to blunted muzzle, forming a wedge. Flat forehead and flat high cheekbones. Ears: Extra large, pointed, and broad at the base, slightly flared. Set to extend just below the line of the wedge. Eyes: Medium in size, almost almond in shape. Obliquely set, flush with the skull, neither protruding nor recessed. Distance between eyes not less than width of one eye. Eye color independent of coat color. Profile: Straight nose and flat forehead forming two distinct flat planes meeting midway over the eyes in a convex angle. Two planed. Muzzle: Strong, slightly blunt and not narrow. Smooth wedge with no whisker pinch, although whisker pads will be evident. Whiskers, if present, should be crinkly and kinky and may be or
appear to be broken. Chin: Strong, straight line from tip of nose to tip of chin. Not protruding.
Neck: Long and slender.

Peterbald

PATERBALD BODY:
Torso: Medium-sized, long and graceful. Shoulders and hips equal in width. Legs: Long, medium-fine boned. Firm muscles. Straight vertical forelegs. Hind legs slightly longer than front legs. Feet: Oval, medium in size with long, agile prominent toes and non-prominent foot pads. Tail: Long, strong and whippy. Musculature: Firm and welldeveloped. Boning: Medium-fine.

Peterbald COAT:
The Peterbald coat is the single most important feature of the breed. A Peterbald may have a single coat type or it may have a combination of coat types. Generally, if there is more than one coat
type, the body has one type and the extremities or points have another. A Peterbald may be born with one coat type which changes to a different type over time. Peterbalds may be born with or without coat. Those born bald may be 100% hairless or may have barely discernible fine residual hair at the base of the ears, on the muzzle, feet, lower legs and tail that feels like velvet.

Except in those Peterbalds that are born completely hairless with no whiskers or eyebrows, the Peterbald coat changes or evolves with age. For those born with coat, that become hairless, loss of coat begins at the top of the head or nape of the neck and continues down the body to the tail. Short fine down may be retained on the extremities. There are two basic Peterbald coat textures: hairless and brush.

Peterbald

The hairless Peterbald has soft, warm, elastic skin that may range from ”sticky” to having a texture akin to suede or peach skin or feeling like silk. The hairlessness can range from being 100% hairless to having almost imperceptible fine hairs, to having short fine, down which appears truly hairless when viewed from a distance.

When inspected closely there are clearly visible hairs. Coat that is retained on the extremities is short, close-lying and downy. Brush coat ranges from a sparse wiry coat of irregular texture in which the
skin is seen through the coat, to a dense, wiry, short, wavy or kinky brush coat. Brush coat ranges from 5mm or longer in length and should in no way feel or look like a normal coat when closely
inspected. A cat with heavy dense brush coat will not lose its coat.

Ocicat Best Beautiful Color and Proportion Body

The Ocicat is a large, well-spotted cat of moderate type. It displays the look of an athletic animal, well muscled and solid, graceful and lithe, yet with a fullness of body and chest. It is alert to its surroundings and shows great vitality. The Ocicat is bred in many colors. Each hair, except on the tip
of the tail, has several bands of color. Where these bands fall together a thumb print spot is formed, darker spots on a lighter background. Within the markings, hairs are tipped with a darker color, while hairs in the ground color are tipped with a lighter color. All colors should be clear.

Ocicat

The Ocicat color is usually lighter around the eyes, on the chin and lower jaw; with the darkest color on the tip of the tail. Contrast is scored separately. Distinctive markings should be clearly seen from any angle. Those  on the face, legs and tail may be darker than those on the torso. Ground color may be darker on the saddle and lighter on the underside, chin, and lower jaw. This powerful, athletic-yet-graceful spotted cat is particularly noted for its wild appearance. Preference is to be given to the athletic, powerful and lithe.

The Ocicat is a large, well-spotted cat; it is definitively muscled and solid, but graceful and lithe.  Ocicat Body Solid, rather long, with fullness, but never coarse. Good bone and muscle development, but athletic in appearance. The back would be slightly higher toward the rear, with the flank level. There should be a full chest with the rib cage slightly sprung. Although females are generally smaller than males, these are large cats. They also have a surprising weight for their size.

The head should show a modified wedge with a slight curve from muzzle to cheek. A definite but gentle rise from the bridge of the nose to the brow should be apparent. The muzzle should exhibit a squareness, with good length and a strong chin. The head should be carried on an arching neck, with no break. Jowls should be allowed for in the mature male.

Ocicat

Ocicat Ears Large, alert, and set to form corners with the upper, outside dimension of the face. Tufts of hair, extending from the tips of the ears, are a plus, when present. The Tail Broad base, fairly long, with slight taper toward medium slim. The tip should be dark with no ticking.

Eyes Large, almond-shaped, and slanting (slightly) toward the ears. The distance between them should be greater than the length of one eye. Eye Color All colors are permitted except blue. There is no correspondence between coat color and eye color. Depth of color is preferred. Legs should be heavily muscled, medium-long, powerful, and in good proportion to the body. Feet should be oval in shape, have five toes in front and four in rear, and be of a size proportionate to the legs.

Ocicat Colors should be deep, clear, and pleasing to the eye, with the lighter colors around the
eyes, on the chin and lower jaw, and on the underside areas. Contrast is of the utmost importance in that distinctive markings should be seen from any orientation. Those markings on the face, legs, and tail may be darker than those on the torso. Ground color is usually darker on the saddle than on the underside, chin, and lower jaw.

20 All hairs are banded with the exception of those on the tip of the tail. Within the markings, we have darker band color; within the ground color, we have lighter banding. A tabby "M" on the forehead extends up, over the head between the ears, and it breaks into small spots on the lower neck and shoulders. Mascara lines extend onto the cheeks from the corners of the eyes and from under the eyes. There are lines (two to four) running the length of the spine; these break up into round spots as the cat matures. The tail has horizontal brush strokes, ideally alternating with spots, and a dark tip. Spots are scattered across the shoulders and hind quarters, down onto the legs, the farther the better.

Ocicat

There are broken bracelets around the legs and a broken necklace around the neck, the more broken the better. Large, thumb print spots cover the flanks of the torso, with a suggestion of the tabby pattern (a bull’s eye, formed by a spot surrounded by other spots). The eyes are rimmed by the darkest coat color, and surrounded by the lightest coat color.

Ultra soft, with a high sheen. Close lying and sleek, but long enough to accommodate Texture the color bands. No suggestion of woolliness or excessive length. Faint or blurred spotting. Coarse or lengthy hair. Bulky or coarse body. White locket or spotting, or white anywhere, except around the eyes, the nostrils, chin and upper throat, except white agouti grounds in the silver colors. Blue eyes; incorrect number of toes; kinked or otherwise deformed tail, and because of the torbie cats, resulting from the sex-lined O gene, no reds, creams, or torbies are permitted.

THE OCICAT COLOR DESCRIPTIONS

TAWNY Black or dark brown spotting on a bronze agouti ground. Nose leather: brick red rimmed in black. Paw pads: black or seal.
CHOCOLATE Chocolate spotting on a warm ivory agouti ground. Nose leather: pink, rimmed in chocolate. Paw pads: chocolate pink.
CINNAMON Cinnamon spotting on a warm, ivory agouti ground. Nose leather: pink, rimmed in
cinnamon. Paw pads: pink or rose.

BLUE Blue spotting on a pale eggshell or ivory agouti ground. Nose leather: blue rimmed in
dark blue. Paw pads: blue.
LAVENDER Lavender spotting on a pale eggshell or ivory agouti ground. Nose leather: pink,
rimmed in lavender. Paw pads: lavender pink.
FAWN Fawn spotting on a pale ivory agouti ground. Nose leather: pink rimmed in fawn.
Paw pads: pink.

SILVER Black spotting on a pale, silver/white agouti ground. Nose leather: brick red, rimmed
in black. Paw pads: black.
CHOCOLATE Chocolate spotting on a white, agouti ground.
SILVER Nose leather: pink, rimmed in chocolate. Paw pads: chocolate pink.
CINNAMON Cinnamon spotting on a white agouti ground.

SILVER Nose leather: pink, rimmed in cinnamon. Paw pads: pink or rose.
BLUE SILVER Blue spotting on a white agouti ground. Nose leather: blue rimmed in dark blue. Paw pads: blue.
LAVENDER Lavender spotting on a white agouti ground.
SILVER Nose leather: pink, rimmed in dark lavender. Paw pads: lavender pink.
FAWN SILVER Fawn spotting on a white agouti ground. Nose leather: pink, rimmed in fawn. Paw
pads: pink.