LAPERM The Classic and Unique Shorthair

The LAPERM Cat is distinctive cat that charms everyone it meets with its soft coat of shaggy curls and ringlets sometimes called a gypsy shag. These are intelligent, active cats who carefully think through just how to get that toy placed just out of reach. The name reflects their Native American connection with the Chinook tribe who traditionally used the French definite article when creating new words. Breed founder Linda Koehl thought the cats' coat looked like a loose perm and thus named the new breed LaPerm. It is a lean muscular cat with no exaggerated features as is befitting its farm background as a working cat. In addition to the distinctive curly coat with its mohair texture, the LaPerm has enchanting large, expressive almond shaped eyes.

LAPERM Cat

LAPERM Cat History On March 1st, 1982 Linda Koehl watched a brown tabby cat named Speedy have a litter of 6 kittens in a barn in her cherry orchard and witnessed the birth of a new rex mutation: a long, skinny, hairless kitten with large wide-spaced ears, and a tabby pattern apparent in the skin like a tattoo. At 6 weeks the kitten developed a sparse curly shorthaired coat with a brown classic tabby pattern and Linda named her Curly. As she matured, Curly developed a soft wavy coat. Over time, more curly coated cats appeared and fascinated visitors to the farm who told Linda she had something special. She entered six cats in a cat show to see what people thought. The judges echoed the visitors to the farm-Linda had something unique that needed conserving. She decided to start a breeding program to establish her unique cats as the LaPerm breed.

Early on, about 90% of the kittens were born bald and then developed a curly coat in 3-4 months. Kittens that were born with straight hair stayed straight. Then came a straight-coated red point male kitten named Snow Fire who changed the rules. As his bald littermates grew curly coats, Snow Fire shed his straight coat until it became very sparse. This had never happened to any straight-coated kitten before. When Snow Fire's coat started to re-grow, it came in curly like his littermates-even his whiskers curled. Since then, some straight-coated LaPerms bred to domestics have occasionally produced curly coated offspring. TICA granted the LaPerm NBC status in 1995 and Championship status in February 2003.

LAPERM Cat

Personality The LaPerm is a clever inquisitive cat that thinks about how to get what it wants and now how use their paws to reach out and get exactly what they want whether it is a favorite toy or your attention. These mischievous clown-like cats with their curls and ringlets and innocent eyes make you laugh at their engaging antics. These active, outgoing cats like to be with you and to join in everything you are doing. They want to be close to you and will follow you around like a dog, ride on your shoulders, play games with you, or sprawl out next to you on the couch as you watch television. They are gentle affectionate cats who want human contact and will reach a paw out to pat your face. Their affectionate, loving nature means they get on well with children and other family pets, making them an ideal family companion.

LAPERM Cat

Traits The LaPerm coat consists of loose, light, airy curls and bouncy ringlets. It has a textured feel to it with a slight drag and feels like mohair. All three hair types (guard, awn, and down) are present and the texture comes from the shape of the curls and the mixture of the hair types. It is an invitingly soft coat standing away from the body and feels springy when patted. The longest curls are found in the ruff and on the neck where they are like ringlets. They also have curly hair inside the ears, tufts on the ear tips and longer fur on the backs of the ears referred to as ear muffs. Curly plumed tails adorn the longhair while the shorthairs have tails more like a bottlebrush. Both coat lengths have long curled whiskers and kinked eyebrows. The length and fullness of the coat for both coat lengths varies with the season and maturity of the cat. They come in a wide array colors, coat patterns and eye colors.

The LaPerm has a medium to long, or semi-foreign, body with medium boning and long legs. It is an active well-muscled cat that weighs in at 8 to 10 pounds for males and 6 to 8 pounds for females. They are a cat without extremes and their modified wedge-shaped head has gently rounded contours. Their eyes and ears stand out. The large cupped ears have curly furnishings and ringlets around the base while their large, almond-shaped eyes look at you adoringly with an innocent look no matter what mischief they might have been up to.

Their curly coats are low shedding which makes maintenance a breeze-just like their airy coats! The coat does not mat easily as there is little undercoat and the curl holds much of the loose coat to the body rather than dropping to the floor and furniture. Light combing using a metal comb with rolling teeth removes any dead coat and keeps the coat in excellent condition in a matter of minutes. Bathing and towel drying will also keep the coat pristine-blowdrying is unnecessary as it will make the coat frizz. Once the coat is totally dry, emphasize the curl by spritzing the coat with a fine mist of plain water.

Havana Brown Breed and Breeders

The overall impression of the ideal Havana Brown is a cat of medium size with a rich, solid color coat and good muscle tone. Due to its distinctive muzzle shape, coat color, brilliant and expressive eyes and large forward tilted ears, it is comparable to no other breed. The Havana Brown BODY AND NECK a torso medium in length, firm and muscular. Adult males tend to be larger than their female counterparts. Overall balance and proportion rather than size to be determining factor. The neck is medium in length and in proportion to the body. The general conformation is mid-range between the shortcoupled, thick set and svelte breeds.

Havana Brown

Havana Brown HEAD: when viewed from above, the head is longer than it is wide, narrowing to a rounded muzzle with a pronounced break on both sides behind the whisker pads. The somewhat narrow muzzle and the whisker break are distinctive characteristics of the breed and must be evident in the typical specimen. When viewed in profile, there is a distinct stop at the eyes; the end of the muzzle appears almost square; this illusion is heightened by a welldeveloped chin, the profile outline of which is more square than round. Ideally, the tip of the nose and the chin form an almost perpendicular line. Allowance to be made for somewhat broader heads and stud jowls in the adult male. Allow for sparse hair on chin, directly below lower lip.

Havana Brown LEGS AND FEET: the ideal specimen stands relatively high on its legs for a cat of medium proportions in trunk and tail. Legs are straight. The legs of females are slim and dainty; slenderness and length of leg will be less evident in the more powerfully muscled, mature males. Hind legs slightly longer than front. Paws are oval and compact. Toes: five in front and four behind.

Havana Brown

Havana Brown TAIL: medium in length and in proportion to the body; slender, neither whip-like nor blunt; tapering at the end. Not too broad at the base.
Havana Brown COAT: short to medium in length, smooth and lustrous.
Havana Brown DISQUALIFY: kinked tail, locket or button, incorrect number of toes, any eye color other than green, incorrect color of whiskers, nose leather or paw pads.


Havana Brown COLOR: a rich and even shade of warm brown throughout; color tends toward red-brown (mahogany) rather than black-brown. Nose leather: brown with a rosy flush. Paw pads: rosy toned. Whiskers: brown, complementing the coat color. ALLOW FOR GHOST TABBY MARKINGS IN KITTENS AND YOUNG ADULTS.
Havana Brown In Breeders

When we first started with Havana Browns in 2011, we knew their gene pool was limited, but when
it took us almost two years to acquire unrelated breeders, we knew the breed had a severe problem.
The result of the Winn Foundation study was a total confirmation. We had acquired our first female
from Rich Bilello. Rich, who was our Havana Brown mentor, was outcrossing with a black cat, but
outcrossing was not sanctioned at the time.

We were interested in outcrossing, but with a CFA registered Chestnut Oriental cat, so we waited until outcrossing was permitted. Finding an Oriental breeder who was willing to allow an outcross took a while. Fortunately, we had become friends with Terri Zettler of Kuroneko Cattery and Anne Brocklebank of Psyche Cattery. At the Classy Cats Show in St. Petersburg, Fl. in Dec. of 2010, Anne brought us Psyche Rockbiter who was perfect. He was a Chestnut Oriental who looked like a Havana Brown. He had a square muzzle, green eyes and a super personality.

Havana Brown

Anne said cats like him occasionally turned up in her breeding program and she hoped he would be right for ours. She gave him to us with no strings attached. Thank you Anne! Norma was a judge at this show and got to briefly see him. We took him home and waited and waited for him to mature. Fortunately, the penny finally dropped and we had our first outcross litter of three boys on 1/31/2002. They were all brown and looked like Havana Browns except for a slight narrowness of the head. Eye color was great in two of them. We kept the best boy and Ed named him Ratso, because he was an outcross, outcast as was Ratso in the movie Midnight Cowboy.

We easily sold the other two boys to people on our waiting list who felt if it looked like a Havana
Brown that was fine with them. Unfortunately we thought Ratso had bred with one of our Havana
Brown females, so we placed him with another Havana Breeder. To our dismay the pregnancy did
not take, so we have had to wait for another F-1 to mature. We now have a very nice F-1 female who is almost old enough to breed. We plan to breed her with our GC Thunderball and are looking
forward to the results.

We have been pleased with the results of our outcross program and are more than willing to help other breeders who are interested. We feel the more Havana Browns who are visible, whether as pet or show (Kitten, Championship or Premiership) the better the outlook will be for this charismatic cat. It is our hope that more Havana Breeder will participate in the outcross program.

Europen Burmese Cat Originaly Burmese Cat

The Europen Burmese Cat is an elegant cat of medium foreign type, which is positive and quite individual to the breed. Any suggestion of either Siamese type or cobbiness of the British cat must be regarded as a fault.  The body should be of medium length and size (allowance to be made for larger size in males), feeling hard and muscular, and heavier than its appearance indicates. The chest should be strong and rounded in profile, the back straight from shoulders to rump.

The Europen Burmese head should be slightly rounded on top, with good breadth between the ears, having wide cheek bones and tapering to a short blunt wedge. The jaw should be wide at the hinge and the chin firm; a muzzle pinch is a fault, the outer line of the ears continuing the shape of the upper part of the face. The head and ears give the impression of an equal-sided triangle. This may not be so apparent in mature males who can develop a fullness of cheek. In profile the head to show good depth between the top of the skull and the lower jaw. The brow to be slightly rounded. There should be a distinct nose break followed by a straight nose ending with the tip of the nose in the same vertical plane as the chin. The lower jaw to show a good depth of chin.

Europen Burmese Cat

Europen Burmese Cat Ears should be medium in size, set well apart on the skull, broad at the base, with slightly rounded tips. In profile, the ears should be seen to with a slight forward tilt. Allowance to be made for correctly shaped but over-large ears in a kitten, when the head size and shape are still developing.

The eyes, which must be set well apart, should be large and lustrous, the top line of the eyes showing a straight oriental slant towards the nose, the lower line being round. Either round or slit eyes are a fault. Eyes should be any shade from yellow to amber, with golden yellow preferred. Eyes should have more yellow than green colour. Eye colour is sensitive to light intensity, should be assessed under identical light conditions moderately diffuse daylight for preference. Allowance made for developing colour in kittens and colour dilution in an older cat.

Europen Burmese Cat Neck and legs should be slender and in proportion to the body. Hind legs slightly longer than front; paws neat and oval in shape.  The tail should be straight and of medium length, not heavy at base, and tapering only slightly to a rounded tip without bone defect. A whip tail or kink is not permissible.

The Europen Burmese Cat coat should be short, fine, and satin-like in texture, lying close to the body. The glossy coat is a distinctive feature of Burmese and is indicative of good health. Should be well muscled, with good weight for size, carrying no fat, lively and alert, with a firm feel when handled.

In all colours the under-parts will be slightly lighter than the back. A coat free from barring, or spotting, should be aimed for in all colours. Top awards should be withheld from mature cats (over 2 years of age) showing decided contrast between coat colour and points. The individual colour descriptions are for mature adults. Allowance should be made in kittens and adolescents for a lighter coat colour than the adult standard specifies.

The presence of a few white hairs may be overlooked in an otherwise excellent cat, but a noticeable number of white hairs, or a white patch, is a serious fault. A light sprinkling of white hairs is allowed over the shoulder, where damage may result from injections, or from other cats, as for breeding queens.

Europen Burmese Cat

Europen Burmese Cat Coat Colour

- Seal: Solid warm dark seal brown, shading almost imperceptibly to a slightly lighter shade on the under-parts; apart from this and slightly darker ears and mask, there should be no body shading or markings of any kind.

- Blue: Solid silver grey only very slightly darker on the back and tail. There should be a distinct silver sheen on rounded areas such as ears, face and feet.

- Chocolate: Warm milk chocolate. Ears and mask may be slightly darker, but legs, tail and lower jaw should be the same colour as the back. Evenness of colour overall very desirable.

- Lilac: Pale delicate dove-grey, with a slightly pinkish cast giving a rather faded effect. Ears and mask may be slightly deeper in colour.

- Red: Light tangerine. Slight tabby markings may be found on the face, and small indeterminate markings elsewhere (except on sides and belly) are permissible in an otherwise excellent cat. Ears should be distinctly darker than the back.

- Soft cream: with a distinct bloom which gives a powdery effect. Slight tabby markings may be found on the face, and small indeterminate markings elsewhere (except on the sides and belly) are permissible in an otherwise excellent cat. Ears should be only slightly darker than the back coat colour.

- Cinnamon: Warm light coppery cinnamon, with allowance for darker mask and ears.

-Fawn: Very pale pearly fawn with pinkish and creamy undertones.

The smoke effect is produced by a silvery undercoat combined with overhair that is tipped in colour with a silvery root. In repose these cats will appear as solid coated cats, in motion or on parting the hair of the coat, the white undercoat will show. There is great variation in the degree of ‘smoking’ in cats, and breeders should select for those with the greatest degree of silvery roots and undercoat. The undercoat of all smokes is slightly lighter than the roots of the shaded hairs. Trace markings on the tail, limbs and forehead are allowable but should be considered undesirable, and should not occur elsewhere. Scattered white hairs and rusty or other shadings should not be severely penalised in an otherwise good kitten.

The degree of silvering in these cats shows great variety. Some look the same as normal tabbies, while others show extreme contrast between the colour and the ground. The ideal is the silver with the extreme contrast. The Silver Tabbies must display only the Ticked Tabby Pattern.

DILUTE CALICO CAT HIGH QUALITY COLOR

Dilute Calico Cat differ from simple tortoiseshell cats in that tortoiseshell cats have black and orange coats with possible patches of white, whereas calico cats have white-based coats with black and orange patches. Some calico coats have a swirl on either side of the stomach. Dilute Calico cats are domestic cats with a spotted or parti-colored coat, usually predominantly white with orange and black patches. Outside of North America the pattern is more usually called tortoiseshell-and-white. Other names include tricolor cat, mike (Japanese for 'triple fur') and lapjeskat ; calicoes with diluted coloration have been called calimanco or clouded tiger. Dilute Calico cat are almost always female because the  chromosome determines the color of the cat and a female cat has two chromosomes. A common male cat has one  and one Y chromosome. Since the  chromosome does not have any color genes, there is no chance he could have both orange and non-orange together. One main exception to this is when, in rare cases, a male has  chromosomes, in which case the male could have tortoiseshell or calico markings. Most male calico or tortoiseshell cats are sterile due to the abnormality of carrying two  chromosomes.
 

DILUTE CALICO CAT

DILUTE CALICO SHADED PATTERN (SILVER): undercoat white with a mantle of specified marking colour tipping shaded down from sides, face and tail from dark on the ridge to white on the chin, stomach and under the tail. Legs to be the same tone as the face. Rims of eyes, lips and nose outlined with marking colour. Nose leather and paw pads as defined below.

DILUTE CALICO SMOKE PATTERN: white undercoat more deeply tipped with specified marking color. Cat in repose appears to be of marking color. In motion, the white undercoat is apparent. Points and mask of marking color with narrow band of white at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when fur is parted. Nose leather and paw pads: appropriate to pattern and marking color (see below).

BLACK SMOKE, BLUE SMOKE, RED SMOKE, CHOCOLATE SMOKE, CINNAMON SMOKE, FAWN SMOKE, LILAC SMOKE, CREAM SMOKE, TORTIE SMOKE, BLUE-CREAM SMOKE, CHOCOLATE TORTIE SMOKE, LILAC TORTIE SMOKE.

DILUTE CALICO CLASSIC TABBY PATTERN: markings dense, clearly defined and broad. Legs evenly barred with bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail evenly ringed. Several unbroken necklaces on neck and upper chest, the more the better. Frown marks on the forehead form intricate letter “M”. Unbroken line runs back from outer corner of eye. Swirls on cheeks. Vertical lines over back of head extend to shoulder markings which are in the shape of a butterfly with both upper and lower wings distinctly outlined and marked with dots inside outline. Back markings consist of a vertical line down the spine from butterfly to tail with a vertical stripe paralleling it on each side, the three stripes well separated by stripes of ground color. Large solid blotch on each side to be encircled by one or more unbroken rings. Side markings should be the same on both sides. Double vertical row of buttons on chest and stomach.

DILUTE CALICO MACKEREL TABBY PATTERN: markings dense, clearly defined and all narrow pencillings. Legs evenly barred with narrow bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail barred. Necklaces on neck and chest distinct; like so many chains. Head barred with an “M” on the forehead. Unbroken lines running back from the eyes. Lines running sown the head to meet the shoulders. Spine lines run together to form a narrow saddle. Narrow pencillings run around body.

DILUTE CALICO CAT

DILUTE CALICO SPOTTED TABBY PATTERN: markings on the body to be spotted. Spots can be round, oblong or rosette-shaped. Any of these are of equal merit but the spots, however shaped or placed, should be distinct. Spots should not run together in a broken mackerel pattern. A dorsal stripe runs the length of the body to the tip of the tail. The stripe is ideally composed of spots. The markings of the face and forehead shall be typically tabby markings. Underside of the body to have “vest buttons”. Legs and tail are barred.

DILUTE CALICO TICKED TABBY PATTERN: body hairs to be ticked with various shades of marking color and ground color. Body when viewed from top to be free from noticeable spots, stripes, or blotches, except for darker dorsal shading. Lighter underside may show tabby markings. Face, legs, and tail may show tabby striping.

DILUTE CALICO TORTIE TABBY PATTERN: a tortie tabby (torbie) is an established Classic, Mackerel, Spotted or Ticked Tabby in silver, brown, blue, chocolate, lavender, cinnamon, or fawn with patches of red and/or cream clearly defined on both the body and extremities; a blaze on the face is desirable. Nose leather and paw pads: same as non-patched tabbies, may be mottled with pink.

DILUTE CALICO SILVER TABBY: ground color, including lips and chin, pale clear silver. Markings dense black. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black.

DILUTE CALICO BROWN TABBY: ground color brilliant coppery brown. Markings dense black. Lips and chin the same shade as around the eyes. Back of legs black from paw to heel. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black or brown.

DILUTE CALICO BLUE TABBY: ground color, including lips and chin, pale bluish ivory. Markings a very deep blue affording a good contrast with ground color. Warm fawn overtones or patina over the whole. Nose leather: old rose. Paw pads: rose.

DILUTE CALICO RED TABBY: ground color red. Markings deep, rich red. Lips and chin red. Nose leather and paw pads: brick red.

DILUTE CALICO BI-COLOUR: solid color and white, tabby and white, smoke and white, shaded and white, colorpoint and white.

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.