black-spotted tabby, the gray or the blue-spotted tabby, the eyes are
best yellow or orange tinted, with the less of the green the better. The
nose should be of a dark red, edged with black or dark brown, in the
dark colours, or somewhat lighter colour in the gray or blue tabbies.
The pads of the feet in all instances must be black. In the yellow and
the red tabby the nose and the pads of the feet are to be pink. As
regards the tail, that should have large spots on the upper and lower
sides instead of being annulated, but this is difficult to obtain. It
has always occurred to me that the spotted tabby is a much nearer
approach to the wild English cat and some other wild cats in the way of
colour than the ordinary broad-banded tabby. Those specimens of the
crosses, said to be between the wild and domestic cat, that I have seen,
have had a tendency to be spotted tabbies. And these crosses were not
infrequent in bygone times when the wild cats were more numerous than
at present, as is stated to be the case by that reliable authority,
Thomas Bewick. In the year 1873, there was a specimen shown at the
Crystal Palace Cat Show, and also the last year or two there has been
exhibited at the same place a most beautiful hybrid between the East
Indian wild cat and the domestic cat. It was shown in the spotted tabby
class, and won the first prize. The ground colour was a deep
blackish-brown, with well-defined black spots, black pads to the feet,
rich in colour, and very strong and powerfully made, and not by any
means a sweet temper. It was a he-cat, and though I have made inquiry, I
have not been able to ascertain that any progeny has been reared from
it, yet I have been informed that such hybrids between the Indian wild
cat and the domestic cat breed freely.
[Illustration]
THE ABYSSINIAN.
I now come to the last variety of the tabby cat, and this can scarcely
be called a tabby proper, as it is nearly destitute of markings,
excepting sometimes on the legs and a broad black band along the back.
It is mostly of a deep brown, ticked with black, somewhat resembling the
back of a wild (only not so gray) rabbit. Along the centre of the back,
from the nape of the neck to the tip of the tail, there is a band of
black, very slightly interspersed with dark brown hairs. The inner sides
of the legs and belly are more of a rufous-orange tint than the body,
and are marked in some cases with a few dark patches; but they are best
without these marks, and in the exhibition pens it is a point lost. The
eyes are deep yellow, tinted with green; nose dark red, black-edged;
ears rather small, dark brown, with black edges and tips; the pads of
the feet are black. Altogether, it is a pretty and interesting variety.
It has been shown under a variety of names, such as Russian, Spanish,
Abyssinian, Hare cat, Rabbit cat, and some have gone so far as to
maintain that it is a cross between the latter and a cat, proving very
unmistakably there is nothing, however absurd or impossible, in animal
or everyday life, that some people are not ready to credit and believe.
A hybrid between the English wild cat and the domestic much resembles
it; and I do not consider it different in any way, with the exception of
its colour, from the ordinary tabby cat, from which I have seen kittens
and adults bearing almost the same appearance. Some years ago when out
rabbit-shooting on the South Downs, not far from Eastbourne, one of our
party shot a cat of this colour in a copse not far from the village of
Eastdean. He mistook it at first for a rabbit as it dashed into the
underwood. It proved not to be wild, but belonged to one of the
villagers, and was bred in the village. When the ground colour is light
gray or blue, it is generally called chinchilla, to the fur of which
animal the coat has a general resemblance. I have but little inclination
to place it as a distinct, though often it is of foreign breed; such may
be, though ours is merely a variety--and a very interesting one--of the
ordinary tabby, with which its form, habits, temper, etc., seem fully to
correspond; still several have been imported from Abyssinia all of which
were precisely similar, and it is stated that this is the origin of the
Egyptian cat that was worshipped so many centuries ago. The mummies of
the cats I have seen in no case had any hair left, so that it was
impossible to determine what colour they were. The imported cats are of
stouter build than the English and less marked. These bred with an
English tabby often give a result of nearly black, the back band
extending very much down the sides, and the brown ticks almost
disappearing, producing a rich and beautiful colouring.
I find there is yet another tint or colour of the tabby proper which I
have not mentioned, that is to say, a cat marked with light wavy lines,
and an exceedingly pretty one it is. It is very rare; in fact, so much
so that it has never had a class appropriated to it, and therefore is
only admissible to or likely to win in the class "For Any Other Colour,"
in which class usually a number of very beautiful varieties are to be
found, some of which I shall have occasion to notice further on. The
colour, however, that I now refer to is often called the silver tabby,
for want of a better name. It is this. The whole of the ground colour is
of a most delicate silver-gray, clear and firm in tone, slightly blue if
anything apart from the gray, and the markings thereon are but a little
darker, with a tinge of lilac in them making the fur to look like an
evening sky, rayed with light clouds. The eyes are orange-yellow, and
when large and full make a fine contrast to the colour of the fur. The
nose is red, edged with a lilac tint, and the pads of the feet and
claws are black, or nearly so. The hair is generally very fine, short,
and soft. Altogether it is most lovely, and well worthy of attention,
forming, as it does, a beautiful contrast to the red, the yellow, or
even the brown tabby. A turquoise ribbon about its neck will show to
great advantage the delicate lilac tints of its coat, or, if a contrast
is preferred, a light orange scarlet, or what is often called geranium
colour, will perhaps give a brighter and more pleasing effect.
[Illustration: MRS. HERRING'S BLUE SMALL-BANDED TABBY.]
This is by no means so uncommon a colour in the _long-haired_ cats,
some of which are exquisite, and are certainly the acme of beauty in the
way of cat colouring; but I must here remark that there is a vast
difference in the way of disposition between these two light varieties,
that of the former being far more gentle. In fact, I am of opinion that
the short-haired cat in general is of a more genial temperament, more
"cossetty," more observant, more quick in adapting itself to its
surroundings and circumstances than its long-haired brother, and, as a
rule, it is also more cleanly in its habits. Though at the same time I
am willing to admit that some of these peculiarities being set aside,
the long-haired cat is charmingly beautiful, and at the same time has a
large degree of intelligence--in fact, much more than most animals that
I know, not even setting aside the dog, and I have come to this
conclusion after much long, careful, and mature consideration.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
THE SHORT-HAIRED WHITE CAT.
This of all, as it depends entirely on its comeliness, should be
graceful and elegant in the outline of its form and also action, the
head small, not too round nor thick, for this gives a clumsy, heavy
appearance, but broad on the forehead, and gently tapering towards the
muzzle, the nose small, tip even and pink, the ears rather small than
large, and not too pointed, the neck slender, shoulders narrow and
sloping backwards, loin full and long, legs of moderate length, tail
well set on, long, broad at the base, and gradually tapering towards the
end; the white should be the yellow-white, that is, the white of the
colours, such as tortoiseshell, red tabby or blues, not the gray-white
bred from the black, as these are coarser in the quality of the furs.
The eye should be large, round, full, and blue. I noted this peculiarity
of white when breeding white Cochins many years ago; those chickens that
were black when hatched were a colder and harder white than those which
were hatched buff. This colouring of white should be fully borne in mind
when crossing colours in breeding, as the results are widely different
from the two varieties. The whole colour yellow-white will not do to
match with blue or gray, as it will assuredly give the wrong tinge or
colour.
The eyes should be blue; green is a great defect; bright yellow is
allowable, or what in horses is called "wall eyes." Orange gives a heavy
appearance; but yellow will harmonise and look well with a gray-white.
White cats with blue eyes are hardy. Mr. Timbs, in "Things Not Generally
Known," relates that even they are not so likely to be deaf as is
supposed, and mentions one of seventeen years old which retained its
hearing faculties perfectly. Some specimens I have seen with one yellow
eye and one blue; this is a most singular freak of nature, and to the
best of my knowledge is not to be found among any of the other colours.
It is stated that one of the white horses recently presented by the Shah
of Persia to the Emperor of Russia has blue eyes. I can scarcely credit
this, but think it must be a true albino, with the gray-pink coloured
eyes they generally have, or possibly the blue eye is that peculiar to
the _albino_ cat and horse, as I have never seen an albino horse or cat
with pink eyes but a kind of opalesque colour, or what is termed "wall
eye." No doubt many of my readers have observed the differences in the
white of our horses, they mostly being the gray-white, with dark skin;
but the purer white has a pink skin, and is much softer and elegant in
appearance. It is the same with our white cats.
THE BLACK CAT.
It is often said "What's in a name?" the object, whatever it is, by any
other would be the same, and yet there is much in a name; but this is
not the question at issue, which is that of colour. Why should a _black_
cat be thought so widely different from all others by the foolish,
unthinking, and ignorant? Why, simply on account of its colour being
black, should it have ascribed to it a numberless variety of bad omens,
besides having certain necromantic power? In Germany, for instance,
black cats are kept away from children as omens of evil, and if a black
cat appeared in the room of one lying ill it was said to portend death.
To meet a black cat in the twilight was held unlucky. In the "good old
times" a black cat was generally the only colour that was favoured by
men reported to be wizards, and also were said to be the constant
companions of reputed witches, and in such horror and detestation were
they then held that when the unfortunate creatures were ill-treated,
drowned, or even burned, very frequently we are told that their cats
suffered martyrdom at the same time. It is possible that one of the
reasons for such wild, savage superstition may have arisen from the fact
of the larger amount of electricity to be found by friction in the coat
of the black cat to any other; experiments prove there is but very
little either in that of the white or the red tabby cat. Be this as it
may, still the fact remains that, for some reason or other, the black
cat is held by the prejudiced ignorant as an animal most foul and
detestable, and wonderful stories are related of their actions in the
dead of the night during thunder-storms and windy nights. Yet, as far as
I can discover, there appears little difference either of temper or
habit in the black cat distinct from that of any other colour, though it
is maintained by many even to this day that black cats are far more
vicious and spiteful and of higher courage, and this last I admit.
Still, when a black cat is enraged and its coat and tail are well "set
up," its form swollen, its round, bright, orange-yellow eye distended
and all aglow with anger, it certainly presents to even the most
impartial observer, to say the least of it, a most "uncanny" appearance.
But, for all this, their admirers are by no means few; and, to my
thinking, a jet-black cat, fine and glossy in fur and elegantly formed,
certainly has its attractions; but I will refer to the superstitions
connected with the black cat further on.
A black cat for show purposes should be of a uniform, intense black; a
brown-black is richer than a blue-black. I mean by this that when the
hair is parted it should show in the division a dark brown-black in
preference to any tint of blue whatever. The coat or fur should be
short, velvety, and very glossy. The eyes round and full, and of a deep
orange colour; nose black, and also the pads of the feet; tail long,
wide at the base, and tapering gradually towards the end. A long thin
tail is a great fault, and detracts much from the merits it may
otherwise possess. A good, deep, rich-coloured black cat is not so
common as many may at first suppose, as often those that are said to be
black show tabby markings under certain conditions of light; and, again,
others want depth and richness of colour, some being only a very dark
gray. In form it is the same as other short-haired cats, such as I have
described in the white, and this brings me to the variety called
"blue."
[Illustration: ARCHANGEL BLUE CAT.]
THE BLUE CAT.
This is shown often under a number of names. It was at first shown as
the Archangel cat, then Russian blue, Spanish blue, Chartreuse blue,
and, lastly, and I know not why, the American blue. It is not, in my
belief, a distinct breed, but merely a light-coloured form of the black
cat. In fact, I have ascertained that one shown at the Crystal Palace,
and which won many prizes on account of its beautiful blue colour
slightly tinged with purple, was the offspring of a tabby and white
she-cat and a black-and-white he-cat, and I have seen the same colour
occur when bred from the cats usually kept about a farmhouse as a
protection from rats and mice, though none of the parents had any blue
colour.
Being so beautiful, and as it is possible in some places abroad it may
be bred in numbers, I deemed it advisable, when making out the prize
schedule, to give special prizes for this colour; the fur being used for
various purposes on account of its hue. A fine specimen should be even
in colour, of a bluish-lilac tint, with no sootiness or black, and
though light be firm and rich in tone, the nose and pads dark, and the
eyes orange-yellow. If of a very light blue-gray, the nose and pads may
be of a deep chocolate colour and the eyes deep yellow, not green. If it
is a foreign variety, I can only say that I see no distinction in form,
temper, or habit; and, as I have before mentioned, it is sometimes bred
here in England from cats bearing no resemblance to the bluish-lilac
colour, nor of foreign extraction or pedigree. I feel bound, however, to
admit that those that came from Archangel were of a deeper, purer tint
than the English cross-breeds; and on reference to my notes, I find they
had larger ears and eyes, and were larger and longer in the head and
legs, also the coat or fur was excessively short, rather inclined to
woolliness, but bright and glossy, the hair inside the ears being
shorter than is usual in the English cat.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
THE BLACK-AND-WHITE CAT.
This is distinct from the _white-and-black_ cat, the ground colour being
black, marked with white; while the other is white, marked with black.
The chief points of excellence for show purposes are a dense bright
brown-black, evenly marked with white. Of this I give an illustration,
showing the most approved way in which the white should be distributed,
coming to a point between the eyes. The feet should be white, and the
chest, the nose, and the pads white. No black on the lips or nose,
whiskers white, eyes of orange yellow. Any black on the white portions
is highly detrimental to its beauty and its chance of a prize.
The same markings are applicable to the brown tabby and white, the dark
tabby and white, the red tabby and white, the yellow tabby and white,
the blue or silver tabby and white, and the blue and white. One great
point is to obtain a perfectly clear and distinct gracefully-curved
outline of colour, and this to be maintained throughout; the blaze on
the forehead to be central. It is stated that if a dog has white
anywhere, he is sure to have a white tip to his tail, and I think, on
observation, it will be found usually the case, although this is not so
in the cat, for I cannot call to mind a single instance where a
black-and-white had a white tip to its tail; but taking the various
colours of the domestic cat into consideration I think it will be found
that there is a larger number with some white about them than those of
entirely one colour, without even a few white hairs, which if they
appear at all are mostly to be found on the chest, though they often are
exceedingly few in number.
[Illustration: MRS. VYVYAN'S ROYAL CAT OF SIAM.]
[Illustration]
THE WHITE-AND-BLACK CAT.
This differs entirely from the black-and-white cat, as just explained,
and is the opposite as regards colour, the ground being white instead of
black, and the markings black on white. For exhibition purposes and
points of excellence, no particular rule exists beyond that the exhibit
shall be evenly marked, with the colour distributed so as to balance,
as, for example:--If a cat has a black patch just _under_ one eye with a
_little above_, the balance of colour would be maintained if the other
eye had a preponderance of colour _above_ instead of _below_, and so
with the nose, shoulders, or back, but it would be far better if the
patches of colour were the same size and shape, and equal in position.
It might be that a cat evenly marked on the head had a mark on the left
shoulder with more on the right, with a rather larger patch on the right
side of the loin, or a black tail would help considerably to produce
what is termed "_balance_," though a cat of this description would lose
if competing against one of entirely uniform markings.
I have seen several that have been marked in a very singular way. One
was entirely white, with black ears. Another white, with a black tail
only. This had orange eyes, and was very pretty. Another had a black
blaze up the nose, the rest of the animal being white. This had blue
eyes, and was deaf. Another had the two front feet black, all else being
white; the eyes were yellow-tinted green. All these, it will be
observed, were perfect in the way they were marked.
I give an illustration of a cat belonging to Mr. S. Lyon, of Crewe. It
is remarkable in more ways than one, and in all probability, had it been
born in "the dark ages" a vast degree of importance would have been
attached to it, not only on account of the peculiar distribution of the
colour and its form, but also as to the singular coincidence of its
birth. The head is white, with a black mark over the eyes and ears
which, when looked at from above, presents the appearance of a
_fleur-de-lis_. The body is white, with a distinct black cross on the
right side, or, rather, more on the back than side. The cross resembles
that known as Maltese in form, and is clearly defined. The tail is
black, the legs and feet white. Nor does the cat's claim to notice
entirely end here, for, marvellous to relate, it was born on Easter
Sunday, A.D. 1886. Now, what would have been said of such a coincidence
had this peculiar development of Nature occurred in bygone times? There
is just the possibility that the credulous would have "flocked" to see
the wondrous animal from far and near; and even now, in these
enlightened times, I learn from Mr. Lyon that the cat is not by any
means devoid of interest and attraction, for, as he tells me, a number
of persons have been to see it, some of whom predict that "luck" will
follow, and that he and his household will, in consequence, _doubtless_
enjoy many blessings, and that all things will prosper with him
accordingly.
Although my remarks are directed to "the white-and-black" cat, the same
will apply to the "white-and-red, white-and-yellow, white-and-tabby,
white-and-blue, or dun colour;" all these, and the foregoing, will most
probably have to be exhibited in the "Any Other Colour" class, as there
is seldom one at even the largest shows for peculiar markings with white
as the _ground_ or principal colour.
[Illustration: WHITE CAT.]
[Illustration]
SIAMESE CAT.
Among the beautiful varieties of the domestic cat brought into notice by
the cat shows, none deserve more attention than "The Royal Cat of Siam."
In form, colour, texture, and length, or rather shortness of its coat,
it is widely different from other short-haired varieties; yet there is
but little difference in its mode of life or habit. I have not had the
pleasure of owning one of this breed, though when on a visit to Lady
Dorothy Nevill, at Dangstein, near Petersfield, I had several
opportunities for observation. I noticed in particular the intense
liking of these cats for "the woods," not passing along the hedgerows
like the ordinary cat, but quickly and quietly creeping from bush to
bush, then away in the shaws; not that they displayed a wildness of
nature, in being shy or distrustful, nor did they seem to care about
getting wet like many cats do, though apparently they suffer much when
it is cold and damp weather, as would be likely on account of the
extreme shortness of their fur, which is of both a hairy and a woolly
texture, and not so glossy as our ordinary common domestic cat, nor is
the tail, which is thin. Lady Dorothy Nevill informed me that those
which belonged to her were imported from Siam and presented by Sir R.
Herbert of the Colonial Office; the late Duke of Wellington imported the
breed, also Mr. Scott of Rotherfield. Lady Dorothy Nevill thought them
exceedingly docile and domestic, but delicate in their constitution;
although her ladyship kept one for two years, another over a year, but
eventually all died of the same complaint, that of worms, which
permeated every part of their body.
Mr. Young, of Harrogate, possesses a chocolate variety of this Royal
Siamese cat; it was sent from Singapore to Mr. Brennand, from whom he
purchased it, and is described as "most loving and affectionate," which
I believe is usually the case. Although this peculiar colour is very
beautiful and scarce, I am of opinion that the light gray or fawn colour
with black and well-marked muzzle, ears, and legs is the typical
variety, the markings being the same as the Himalayan rabbits. There are
cavies so marked; and many years ago I saw a mouse similarly coloured.
Mr. Young informs me that the kittens he has bred from his dark variety
have invariably come the usual gray or light dun colour with dark
points. I therefore take that to be the correct form and colour, and the
darker colour to be an accidental deviation. In pug-dogs such a depth of
colour would be considered a blemish, however beautiful it might be;
even black pugs do not obtain prizes in competition with a true-marked
light dun; but whatever colour the body is it should be clear and firm,
rich and not clouded in any way. But I give Mr. Young's own views:
"The dun Siamese we have has won whenever shown; the body is of a dun
colour, nose, part of the face, ears, feet, and tail of a very dark
chocolate brown, nearly black, eyes of a beautiful blue by day, and of a
red colour at night! My other prize cat is of a very rich chocolate or
seal, with darker face, ears, and tail; the legs are a shade darker,
which intensifies towards the feet. The eyes small, of a rich amber
colour, the ears are bare of hair, and not so much hair between the eyes
and the ears as the English cats have. The dun, unless under special
judges, invariably beats the chocolate at the shows. The tail is shorter
and finer than our English cats.
"I may add that we lately have had four kittens from the chocolate cat
by a pure dun Siamese he-cat. All the young are dun coloured, and when
born were very light, nearly white, but are gradually getting the dark
points of the parents; in fact, I expect that one will turn chocolate.
The cats are very affectionate, and make charming ladies' pets, but are
rather more delicate than our cats, but after they have once wintered in
England they seem to get acclimatised.
"Mr. Brennand, who brought the chocolate one and another, a male, from
Singapore last year, informs me that there are two varieties, a large
and small. Ours are the small; he also tells me the chocolate is the
most rare.
"I have heard a little more regarding the Siamese cats from Miss Walker,
the daughter of General Walker, who brought over one male and three
females. It seems the only pure breed is kept at the King of Siam's
palace, and the cats are very difficult to procure, for in Siam it took
three different gentlemen of great influence three months before they
could get any.
"Their food is fish and rice boiled together until quite soft, and Miss
Walker finds the kittens bred have thriven on it.
"It is my intention to try and breed from a white English female with
blue eyes, and a Siamese male.
"The Siamese cats are very prolific breeders, having generally five at
each litter, and three litters a year.