Loadstar 222/222.d81/t.othcat

Text File | 2022-08-26 | 18KB | 599 lines

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          Other Cat Breeds 4

      by Jane M. Voskamp - Jones

    Just in case you couldn't remember
them all, you have already experienced
different Cats on these previous
Loadstar issues - Other Cat Breeds 1
#172, Other Cat Breeds 2 #175, Other
Cat Breeds 3 #198, along with Burmese
Cats #133, Siamese Cats 1&2 #163, and
Cats At Play 1&2 #191.

    Right now, we are continuing the
saga of Other Cat Breeds, with some
more interesting Cat types. Like I
have said before, there really, really
are quite a large number of different
breeds out there, and many that I have
not even covered (no pictures), so I
mean no offense to any cat fanciers if
I have left out your particular
favorite.


[Turkish Van]

    There are many kinds of cat in
turkey, all of different colors and
with all lengths of fur. The first
longhairs seen in Europe were the
Angoras, all white cats ; a very
similar variety to this, known as the
Turkish Angora, is now bred in the
Untired States and is just beginning
to be bred in Britain.

    Another variety, which has come
direct from Turkey into Britain, is
simply called the Turkish Van. It was
introduced in 1956 by two British
breeders who first encountered the
variety in the area of Lake Van in
Turkey, and were struck by its unusual
appearance. An unrelated pair were
imported into England, and they proved
to breed true. It was not until 1969
that the standard was approved and
championship status granted.

    The Turkish cats have long
chalk-white fur and auburn (orange)
markings on the faces, with full
auburn tails. The head is
wedge-shaped, but shorter and not so
extreme as that of the Siamese ; the
light amber colored eyes are pink
rimmed. Some cats do have auburn
markings on other parts of the body
but this does not mean
disqualification.

    Although it is commonly supposed
that cats dislike water, these cats
and even young kittens are said to
enjoy swimming in fast-running streams
and still water in Turkey, and they
love to play with water. Probably
because of the extreme climate in the
country of origin, the Turkish cats
lost most of their coats in summer,
looking almost short coated, but the
fur grows again very quickly as winter
approaches.

    The litters average four ; the
newly-born kittens show auburn
markings clearly in the white fur.
Highly intelligent, they make
delightful pets.

    The color and coat must be chalk
white with no trace of yellow. Auburn
markings on the face with white blaze.
The ears should be white with nose
tip, pads and inside ears a delicate
shell pink. Fur should be long, soft
and silky to the roots, with no woolly
undercoat.

    The head should have a short
wedge, well feathered large ears, that
are upright and set fairly close
together. The nose should be long.
The eyes should be round, of a light
amber color, eyes rims pink skinned.
Some odd-eyed cats have been known -
with one amber, one blue eye.

    The body should be long and
sturdy, legs medium in length, with
neat round feet with well tufted toes.
Males should be particularly muscular
on neck and shoulders.

    The coat color described is the
ideal, some cats may have small auburn
markings, irregularly placed, but this
should not disqualify and otherwise
good specimen. The Turkish Van can be
bred with cream replacing the auburn
markings, known as the Cream-and-white
Turkish Van.


[Somali]

    Somalis are cats with Abyssinian
type and colorings, but with medium
length soft silky fur having the
typical banded ticking. Very gentle
friendly cats, with beautiful large
almond-shaped eyes, they are proving
very popular. The colors are as for
the Abyssinians, that is golden brown
ticked with black, with the underside
of the body a rich apricot tone, and
the Sorrel with a warm glowing copper
ticked with chocolate, with base hair
deep apricot, and the ears and tail
tipped with chocolate. The eyes may be
amber, hazel or green.

    The overall impression of the
Somali is that of a well-proportioned,
medium sized cat of foreign type, with
coat of medium length, and firm
muscular development. Lithe showing
and alert lively interest in all
surroundings, with and even
disposition and easy to handle. the
cat is to give the appearance of
activity, sound health and general
vigor, with a good weight for size.


[Birman]

    This attractive variety has been
exhibited since 1931 in France, where
it is known as the Sacred Cat of
Burma. There is a legend that the cats
were originally white, and centuries
ago were kept in the temples of Burma.

    This is the legend: One cat named
Sinh was kept as an oracle by the high
priest in a temple. At that time the
country was seriously threatened by
enemies, and the high priest died
suddenly in the temple. In a miracle
Sinh changed from white to a golden
color, his eyes from yellow to
sapphire blue, and his feet, tail and
ears became dark brown like the earth.
The tips of his paws, having touched
the head of his master, remained
white. On seeing this miracle the
other priests found the courage to
repel the invaders.

    Sinh stayed by the body for seven
days, refusing all food until he died,
carrying his masters soul to paradise.
When the priests assembled to choose a
new leader the hundred temple cats
came in and they were no longer white
but had taken on the same coloring as
the dead Sinh. they surrounded the
youngest of the priests, and so he was
chosen. Ever since then the Birmans
have had the same colorings as the
temple cats and Sinh. End of legend.

    They are an unusual variety, with
the Siamese coat pattern and long,
slightly golden fur on the body; they
have contrasting points, and the added
and distinctive attraction of four
white gloved paws.

    Unknown in Britain until 1964-65
when two breeders imported the first
pair, they were at first exhibited in
the Any Other Variety classes. Then,
as they proved to breed true they were
granted recognition in 1966. the
Birmans differ from most longhairs in
being longer in the body, rather than
cobby, with heads not so broad (but
not at all like that of the Siamese)
and longish bushy tails.

    The eyes are bright blue. The
front paws should have the pure white
gloves ending in an even line across
the paw, and the back paws' pure white
gloves, usually referred to as
gauntlets, should cover the entire paw
and taper up the back of the leg
finishing in a pint. It is essential
that the front paws should match, as
also should the back gauntlets.

    In the Seal-point Birmans the body
fur is a near pale beige, slightly
golden, with dark brown points, and in
the Blue-point Birmans the body fur is
bluish white, rather cold in tone,
with blue-grey points. There are also
Chocolate-point and Lilac-point
birmans. Faults are brown toes,
irregular gloves, Siamese type heads,
and kinks in the tails.

    Said to have charming
personalities, they are very popular
both for showing and as pets, and the
numbers in Britain are increasing
rapidly. The body is long and massive,
legs of medium length and thickset,
paws short and strong. The head is
strong and rounded. Ears medium in
size and spaced well apart. Nose
medium in length (no 'stop'). Cheeks
round. chin full and well developed,
slightly tapered but not receding. The
eyes almost round but not bold, and
deep blue in color.

    The tail should be bushy and
medium in length, in proportion to the
body. The fur should be long and
silken in texture with a full ruff
around the neck and slightly curly on
the stomach.

    The distinguishing colors are
those of the Seal-point and Blue-point
Siamese. Seal-point body color a clear
pale beige with a slightly golden hue.
The Blue-point a bluish white, cold in
tone. The mask, tail and paws dark
brown in the Seals and blue-grey in
the Blues. Birmans are recently being
bred in different colors. Front paws
always have pure white symmetrical
gloves ending in an even line across
the paw and not passing beyond the
angle formed by the paw and leg. Back
paws have pure white gloves
(gauntlets) covering the entire paw
and tapering up the back of the leg.

    The cat should be well grown, the
frame (skeleton) should be strong,
well covered and muscular. Eyes should
be bright