BROWN TABBY PERSIANS.
My first prize-winning kitten was a brown tabby, exhibited many years
ago at the Crystal Palace. He became my stud cat “Rajah,” called after
an Indian prince who was visiting us at that time. “Rajah” was wholly
and devotedly attached to the lady of his choice, namely, my blue
Persian “Mater.” These two names occur in the pedigree of many a
prize-winner of the present day, and very numerous were the lovely
litters I reared from this eminently respectable pair of Persians. I
never knew either “Rajah” or “Mater” troubled with a day’s illness,
and if one of their kittens had died such an event would have caused
as much astonishment as grief. But I must return to my tabbies.
I cannot explain it, but certain it is that of all the feline race
(blues not excepted) the warmest corner in my heart has always been
kept for the brown tabbies. There is something so comfortable and
homely about these dear brownies—they seem to have more intelligent
and expressive countenances than any other cats, and I am firmly of
opinion that no Persian cats are so healthy and strong as brown
tabbies. They are a hardy race, and as such I have frequently
recommended novices in the fancy to start with a good brown queen, and
with ordinary care they may reasonably expect to rear litter after
litter without the difficulties and disasters that one hears of in
connection with the bringing up of Persian kittens in general.
I know there is a kind of idea that brown tabbies are a common sort of
cat, and this breed is often spoken of in a most disparaging way.
Then, again, the ignorant in the cat world have an extraordinary
notion that tabbies are always females! Perhaps because we sometimes
hear a meddlesome or gossiping woman called a “tabby”—and I had a dear
old friend who always bade me beware of “tabby bipeds” among catty
communities!
The word “tabby” is supposed to have had its origin in a certain
street in Bagdad called “Atab,” which was chiefly inhabited by weavers
of a particular kind of material called “Atabi.” This is what Harrison
Weir says on the subject:—“The word ‘tabby’ was derived from a kind of
taffeta, or ribbed silk, which when calendered, or what is now termed
‘watered,’ is by that process covered with wavy lines. This stuff in
bygone times was often called ‘tabby,’ hence the cat with lines or
markings on its fur was called a tabby cat. Certain it is that the
word ‘tabby’ only referred to the marking or stripes, not to the
absolute colour, for in ‘Wit and Drollery’ is the following:—
Her petticoat of satin,
Her gown of crimson tabby.
Be that as it may, I think there is little doubt that the foregoing
was the origin of the term. Yet it was also called the brindled cat,
or the tiger cat, and with some the grey cat—‘graymalkin.’” We are
told also by the same authority that tabby cats in Norfolk and Suffolk
were called cyprus cats, cyprus being a reddish-yellow colour, so that
the term may have applied to orange as well as brown tabbies. The term
“tiger cat” is, I believe, often used in America, and it well
describes the true type of a brown tabby. The ground-work should be of
a bright tawny shade, with a dash of burnt sienna, the markings a dark
seal brown—almost black. As regards the colour of eyes in brown
tabbies, I prefer the golden or orange; but some of the finest cats in
this variety have possessed the green eye, and some fanciers are
disposed to prefer this colour, which I think should be the speciality
of the silvers. Anyhow, a good brilliant green is preferable to a
washed-out undecided yellow.
[Illustration:
MISS MELLOR’S BROWN TABBY “LADY SHOLTO.”
(_Photo: N. N. Statham, Matlock Bridge._)
]
There are two distinct types of brown tabbies—the splashed or heavily
marked, and the barred or ticked. I think the former the handsomer
breed, with the well defined and evenly balanced side markings, the
dark spine line (not too wide), the clear rings round the chest
(commonly called the “Lord Mayor’s chain”), the paws ringed in
graduated bars to the foot. On the head and face the markings should
be very clear and distinct, the narrow dark head lines running
symmetrically till they join the broad spine line. The ruff should be
of the light shade, and ears of the same tone lend great distinction
to this cat. As in the other tabby breeds, the browns are terribly
addicted to white chins; in fact, I think it is certainly rarer to
find a brown tabby without this blemish than an orange, more pains
having been taken to eradicate the evil in orange tabbies. There is no
denying the fact that brown tabbies are a very neglected breed, and at
present the only one, except tortoiseshell-and-white, that is not
taken up by a specialist society. This is a crying shame, and it
remains for some ardent admirer of the dear brown tabbies to form a
club, and to try to breed really good specimens of the golden-brown
order; not the drab or grey animals that are so frequently seen at our
shows, and which are very far removed from the genuine article.
I do not think that any breed can produce such fascinating kittens.
They have such remarkably intelligent expressions, and, as a rule, the
sturdy cobby shape and broad heads of brown tabbies are very
conspicuous. This breed should distinctly be massive in build, with
plenty of bone and muscle; in fact, with brown tabbies the larger the
better, if well proportioned. With the sterner sex brown tabbies are
decided favourites, and I cannot help noticing that the very few
fanciers who have taken up this breed amongst the gentler sex are what
might be termed strong-minded.
[Illustration:
“CHAMPION CRYSTAL.”
OWNED BY C. H. JONES, PALMYRA, N.Y.
]
I have also remarked that when once fanciers start breeding brown
tabbies they continue, and this cannot be truly said of other
breeds—silvers, for instance; but I would fain see a steady increase
to the ranks of breeders of brown tabby Persians, and more
encouragement given at shows. I know that as matters now stand
fanciers complain they cannot get any market for their tabby kittens,
and that classification is poor at shows and prizes scarce. It is all
too true, but surely it is a “long lane that has no turning,” and as
every dog has its day, so perhaps in the future, whether near or
distant, this beautiful breed will gain all the admiration and
attention that it deserves. There is a distinct kind of brown tabby,
so-called, which may better be described as sable. These cats have not
the regular tabby markings, but the two colours are blended one with
another, the lighter sable tone predominating. At the Crystal Palace
Cat Show of 1902 the class was for brown tabby _or_ sable. I was
judging, and, considering the mixed entries, I felt that markings must
not be of the first importance, and so awarded first and second to
Miss Whitney’s beautiful sable females, the third going to a
well-marked though out of condition brown tabby. These sable-marked
cats are rare, but still more beautiful would be a cat entirely of the
one tawny colour—a self sable, without markings. “The most suitable
factors to obtain this colour,” so writes Mrs. Balding, “would
probably be tortoiseshell-and-sable tabby, as free from marking and as
red in ground colour as possible. A cross of orange, bright coloured
and as nearly as obtainable from unmarked ancestors, would be useful.
Some nine years ago I purchased a dimly marked bright sable coloured
cat, ‘Molly,’ shown by Mrs. Davies at the Crystal Palace, with a view
to producing a self-coloured sable cat; but ‘Molly’ unfortunately
died, and I abandoned the idea.” The nearest approach to a self sable
I have ever come across was a cat I obtained for the Viscountess
Esher, which had, alas! been neutered. He was almost unmarked, and of
the colour of Canadian sable, with golden eyes—a most uncommon
specimen.
Another species is the spotted tabby, but I have never seen a true
specimen in Persians. Some brown tabbies are ticked or spotted on the
sides, but they have the spine line and markings on neck, head, and
tail.
Very few and far between have been good brown tabbies in the history
of the fancy. Amongst the males two names may be said to stand out
conspicuously—Miss Southam’s “Birkdale Ruffle” and my own “Persimmon.”
Both these cats, of quite different types, have gone to their rest.
As regards the famous Birkdale strain, the following account, kindly
supplied to me by Miss Southam, will be of interest:—
“There is no doubt that, until quite recently, our old friend the
tabby has been deliberately placed in the background, and regarded in
the show world with an indifference which has proved an unmistakable
stumbling block to the improvement of this particular breed.
[Illustration:
A ROOM IN BRAYFORT CATTERY.
(_Photo: W. Lawrence, Dublin._)
]
“Nor is this very much to be wondered at, when we take into
consideration the hideous combination of the drab, colourless browns,
dowdy greys, and indistinct markings which had hitherto constituted
the chief charms of the typical tabby. Instead, it would appear that
the commonplace and unattractive grey was openly encouraged, rather
than otherwise; for, although the silver tabby was provided with a
classification of his own, only one class was relegated to “brown and
grey tabbies,” either colour being considered equally worthy of
carrying off premier honours!
“It was at this period, when the nondescript tabby was reigning
supreme, that Champion ‘Birkdale Ruffie’ made his _début_ in the show
world, my sister, Miss Emily Southam, being the first to bring the
sable tabby into prominence. Whether, however, it was that the public
was not sufficiently up-to-date to appreciate the sudden departure
from the usual sombre colours with which it had hitherto been
satisfied to a brilliant sable, or whether he was particularly
unfortunate in his choice of judges, it is difficult to say; at any
rate, it was not until four years after his first appearance in the
show pen that he met with the justice that his many beautiful points
so richly deserved. In fact, after exhibiting him at several shows,
where he was deliberately passed over for other and most inferior
cats, he being in the pink of condition, my sister was so annoyed at
the treatment he received that she simply burnt the schedules which
poured in upon her and kept him at home, determined he should not be
further insulted by such flagrant injustice!
“It was at the West of England Cat Show in 1894 that ‘Birkdale Ruffie’
scored his first real success—I believe under Mr. Gresham—winning two
first prizes in the open and novice classes and two specials. Here at
last his beautiful sable colouring, his dense black markings, and
wonderfully expressive face were appreciated.
“The year 1896 was the occasion of his sensational win at the Crystal
Palace show. He simply swept the board, carrying everything before
him—first prize, championship, several specials, and the special given
by the King (then Prince of Wales)—for the best rough-coated cat in
the show, the prize being a handsomely framed portrait of the King
with his autograph attached. Mrs. Vallance was judge. Again, in 1897,
he was shown with great success at the Crystal Palace, winning first
prize, championship, and special.
[Illustration:
MISS WHITNEY AND HER NEUTER BROWN TABBY.
(_Photo: W. Lawrence, Dublin._)
]
“This was the occasion of ‘Birkdale Ruffie’s’ last appearance before
the public, as it was during the following month my sister was taken
dangerously ill, and for this reason his pen at the Brighton show was
empty. After her death we determined to subject him no more to the
trials and discomforts of the show pen, so ‘Ruffie,’ who was now seven
years old and a great pet, both for his own sake and that of his
mistress, only too gladly retired into the privacy of home life,
spending the cold winters by the fireside in his own little snug
retreat, and in the long summer days lying under his bower of shady
hops, lazily watching his facsimile, his little son ‘Master Ruffie,’
growing up more beautiful each day and ready to take up the thread of
his father’s famous career in the exhibition world.
“Into the latter ‘Master Ruffie’ made his _début_ without any of the
numerous anxieties encountered by his celebrated parent. The way was
paved for him, and when he appeared at the Crystal Palace show in
1899, in all the full glory of his youth and beauty, it was difficult
for the judges to realise that it was not their old favourite who was
now confronting them through the wires!
“‘Master Ruffie’ has only been shown on two occasions—in 1897 as a
kitten, and in 1899 at the Crystal Palace, when he returned home with
his box literally filled with cards, his winnings including three
first prizes, four specials, and a championship.
“I am sorry we can manage to get no really good photo of ‘Master
Ruffie.’ Time after time we have attempted it—in studios, out of
doors, by means of professionals and amateurs—including many kind
relatives and friends with their ever-ready little Kodaks! ‘Master
Ruffie’ steadfastly refuses to face the camera. Again and again the
button is pressed in vain, and only the glimpse of a vanishing tail
upon the negative is all we have to show as ‘Ruffie’s’ portrait!
“But we have only to look at ‘Birkdale Ruffie’s’ picture, and we have
‘Master Ruffie’ too! The only difference between them is that the
latter is a very cobby little fellow, being perhaps shorter in the
legs, which makes him appear to be a somewhat smaller cat than his
father. In fact, at the Crystal Palace show he was pronounced by the
judges to be perfect in every point.
“‘Birkdale Ruffie’ was noted for the extreme beauty of his expression;
he had certainly one of the most characteristic faces ever seen in a
cat, and his son inherits the same. The former was constantly the
subject of sketches in the illustrated papers, those by Mr. Louis Wain
being especially lifelike.
“Some of ‘Master Ruffie’s’ descendants are, I believe, in the
possession of Miss Witney, and have met with great success in the show
pen.
“Our cattery is built on the principle of shepherds’ huts, each house
having a separate wire run, with shrubs planted, and a thick wall of
ivy in the background, which gives a picturesque appearance to the
whole of the little colony. In summer a mass of luxuriant hops makes a
welcome shade from the hot sun.
“The houses are warmed by gas stoves, on which the cats love to sit,
purring contentedly, and with the pretty curtained windows, carpets,
wickerwork armchairs, and cosily cushioned benches, I think ‘Master
Ruffie’ and his seven feline playmates have a pretty easy time in this
tempestuous world!
[Illustration:
“BRAYFORT FINA.”
MISS WHITNEY’S “BRAYFORT PRINCESS.”
(_Photos: W. Lawrence, Dublin._)
]
“The one bone of contention is that the cats have appropriated the
sunniest corner of the garden, their houses having the much desired
southern aspect, which our gardener looks at with longing eyes for his
beloved peaches and early peas. Happily, he bears the little occupants
no grudge, and when we go from home takes over the whole of the
cattery into his charge.”
Here let me give a few details of my dear departed puss. “Persimmon”
was a well-known character in the fancy, and had the distinction of
being a champion in the National Cat Club and the Cat Club. It was in
1899 when, judging at Brighton, I was greatly taken with a
wonderful-headed brown tabby that came under my awards. I gave him
first in his class, and when later I obtained a catalogue and saw his
price was a very reasonable one, I purchased him, and I may say I
never made a better bargain, in or out of the cat fancy. “Persimmon”
(as I afterwards called him, in memory of the Derby winner) was bred
by Mr. Heslop, of Darlington, that astute and clever cat fancier; and
his grandsire was “Brown Prince,” a noted Northern prize-winning
tabby. I have never seen such a wonderful head as that which made
“Persimmon’s” chief glory.
[Illustration:
“LONSDALE CHRYSALIS” AND “LONSDALE MOTH.”
BRED BY MRS. GREGORY.
(_Photo: W. G. Lewis, Bath._)
]
His face was very round, and his nose quite a snub, and he was blessed
with tiny ears and short tail. His shape was perfect, but the markings
on his back were rather too heavy, and alas! he had a white under-lip.
But, taking him all round, he was a grand specimen, and a most lovable
puss. He fretted himself to death when a change of residence from the
country to London obliged me to board him out.
“Persimmon” sired some splendid kittens, which whenever shown proved
themselves worthy of their sire’s long prize-winning record. At the
Crystal Palace show of 1902 Miss Whitney exhibited two of his
progeny—a superb neuter “Persimmon Laddie,” who covered himself with
glory and his cage with cards, and a beautiful kitten that had
previously won at Manchester and has since been purchased at a high
figure by a lover of the brownies. At the Specialist Show at Bath in
January, 1903, “Persimmon Laddie” was again to the fore, and won in
the open and ring classes. “Persimmon” was a great loss, for good
brown tabbies are rare. I hope, however, to purchase a fine,
well-grown son of my dear old “Simmy,” and as “Persimmon II.” I trust
it may be a case of “like father like son,” and that by-and-by we may
find quite a long list of brown tabby Persians “at stud” in the
columns of the catty papers.
I think I may with truth assert that brown tabbies are more
appreciated, and that better specimens are produced in the North than
in the South of England. I have mentioned Mr. Heslop as having owned
some splendid specimens, and at one time he used to exhibit quite a
number at our Southern shows. Miss Eggett, of Manchester, has a grand
tabby of the golden order named “Cleopatra.” Mrs. Whittaker has some
nice specimens, and Mrs. Mackenzie’s “Cleo” was much admired at the
Westminster show in 1900, when she took first in her class. Mrs.
Ricketts has always been partial to the breed, and Mrs. Stead’s
“Timber” has done some winning. Miss Gray’s “Lady Babbie” was one of
the finest brown queens that used to visit “Persimmon,” and another
was Miss Meeson’s “Jolie,” whom I used greatly to admire. Miss Derby
Hyde exhibits a wonderful copper-coloured brown tabby called
“Maraquetta,” who, if only possessed of a good head and shorter face,
would be a splendid specimen. Mrs. Davies formerly owned “Susan,” a
cat now in the possession of Mrs. G. Wilson, very good in colour and
markings, but failing in head and face. Mr. Western, of Sandy, has a
good male in “Wynstay Monarch.” In the West of England Mrs. Hellings
and Mrs. Gregory are admirers and breeders of brown tabbies.
[Illustration:
MRS. D’ARCY HILDYARD’S “SULPHURLAND.”
(_Photo: Boxell & Co., Scarboro’._)
]
Mrs. Gregory, of Bath, started breeding brown tabbies in 1899. Her
female (a black) she mated to her stud cat “Azor,” and, curiously
enough, all the litters have consisted of brown tabbies, the kittens
numbering sixteen in all. When, however, “Queen Caterpillar” was mated
to Mrs. Gregory’s blue Persian, her kittens were all black.
A picture of two pretty brown tabby kittens bred by Mrs. Gregory
appears in this chapter. I am happy to say that Mrs. Gregory intends
to continue breeding brown tabbies, and has kept a handsome specimen
from one of her recent litters to perpetuate the strain. Mrs. Drury,
of Graffham, is very faithful to the brownies, and in her lovely
old-fashioned cottage near Petworth she is always surrounded by
several of her pet pussies. She writes as follows:—
“When first I received a margarine basket, and out of it came a little
brown fluffy kitten, I knew no more about Persian cats than the man in
the moon—in fact, he probably knew more, as he is frequently the only
witness to their nocturnal gambols. I had heard of such things as
Persian cats, yet never remember having seen one. However, kind
friends soon gave me a helping hand, and as time went on and my fluffy
kitten became a fluffy cat, being passionately fond of animals, I soon
found out the very fascinating ways of dear ‘Miss Wiggs,’ so named
because the fur on her head in her kitten days would stand erect, and
it is the only name she condescended to answer to. She has been—and is
so still, in spite of all her maternal cares and five years’
experience—one of the healthiest pussies imaginable, and has never had
one day’s illness since she came into my possession, though I believe,
in her babyhood, distemper nearly carried her off; and all her
children have been equally healthy—in fact, I have never lost one of
her kittens, which is, I imagine, almost a unique experience.
“‘Miss Wiggs’ came from a blue father and a silver mother, but has,
with one exception, always had brown babies, even when mated to a
silver. The varied beauties of blues, silvers, whites, and blacks have
never taken such a hold upon me as compared with the fascination of
the browns, and it is quite a wonder to me more fanciers do not breed
them. Nothing looks handsomer, to my mind, than a rich brown, tabby
male with tawny markings, like a young lion, and judging from my
experience they amply repay any trouble taken by their loving ways and
robust health. I have a son of ‘Miss Wiggs’ and poor old ‘Persimmon’
now, who follows me like a little dog, even out in the road, and goes
for a walk running by my side.
“Perhaps what would astonish a stranger most on coming to see me is
the way my catty family lives in peace and contentment with the dogs,
and very often I find two or three kittens in the dogs’ basket very
busily occupied cleaning my little bull-terrier. It is a point of
honour amongst the happy family that they never touch each other’s
food, and very rarely is this broken, and not infrequently we see
three, and perhaps four, cats sitting round the dog while he eats his
dinner, waiting for any leavings, and the same with the dog. Persians
have the reputation of being bad mousers. ‘Miss Wiggs’ makes quite the
exception, and on one occasion caught and killed two mice at the same
time; one she held in her paws and the other in her mouth. Young rats
also she has many times brought in, to show what a useful little
person she is, and her children follow in her footsteps.
“In a great measure I attribute my brownies’ good health to the
open-air life they lead. From early morning to when darkness
approaches they have the run of a large garden, even on a wet day.
They go in and out of the houses as they like; never sleep indoors,
always in a very dry little outside cattery—in summer on benches, and
in winter in nice boxes with straw.
“Perhaps, financially, blues or silvers may be greater successes, but
brownies have been my first love and will always remain so. I am only
sorry I cannot show what a lovely head and sweet face dear ‘Miss
Wiggs’ has, but she absolutely declines to be photographed.
“In time I hope more fanciers may realise how rich in colour and
markings a good brown tabby is, and then we may hope to see this
beautiful breed brought more to the fore at all the leading shows.
“As ‘Miss Wiggs’ has been the foundress of my cattery, perhaps a short
description of her would not be amiss. She is a ticked tabby—that is
to say, she has not the broad, dark stripes with tawny splashes; her
ground colour is a beautiful golden brown, and down the back and sides
are pencilled stripes, more like the markings on a silver. Round her
face, nose, and ears she has most lovely golden brown shades; eyes are
green—they used to be amber; her head is very broad and well shaped;
and her expression is very sweet.
[Illustration:
“PIONEER BOBS.”
OWNED BY MISS M. WASHBURN, SMITH’S FALLS, ONT.
(_Photo: E. F. Briggs, Smith’s Falls, Ont._)
]
“When mated to a silver, as she has been twice, the litters have been
equally divided—two silvers and two brownies; but both silvers and
browns in that case had broad dark and light markings, in no way
resembling the ticking of the mother. But when mated to poor old
‘Persimmon’ the kittens have been equally divided, always two
resembling the maternal side exactly, and two following out
‘Persimmon’s’ beautiful splashes. When mated to a brown tabby all the
kittens were brown. She has never thrown a black; but her daughter,
whose father was ‘Abdul Zaphir,’ and who I also mated to ‘Persimmon,’
had two blacks and two very dark tabbies in her litter. ‘Wiggs’ has in
all her five litters had only two females. Her average is four or five
kittens; she looks after them entirely herself, and has never been the
worse for so doing; but I do not allow her more than one family a
year, and until the kittens can lap she is fed every two hours.”
The best-marked brown tabby I have ever seen was Lady Marcus
Beresford’s’ “Bassorah,” who was unfortunately given away and lost.
Her markings looked like oil painting, they stood out in such distinct
relief. Another specimen of a different type was imported by Lady
Marcus Beresford, namely “Kismet.” She was of the ticked order, with
small pencilled markings, very compact and cobby in shape. Mrs.
Herring has always possessed good brown tabbies. To begin with,
“Adolphe,” who used formerly to win everything till his son, “Prince
Tawny Boy,” stepped into his shoes, to be displaced later by his own
son, “Prince Adolphe,” and his exquisite daughter, “Floriana,” now in
America. Another good son of “Adolphe’s” was Mrs. Bonar’s “Lord
Salisbury.” To go back as far as I can recollect, there was Mr.
Horrel’s “Nero,” and Mrs. Pearce’s “Juliet” and “Rosebud,” also Miss
Malony’s “Lindfields Lion” and the Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison’s
“Cetewayo” and “Mazawattee,” this latter a really wonderful cat which
was imported by Mrs. Davies at the same time as the celebrated
“Nizam,” and reported to be his brother. Anyway, he resembled him
greatly in everything but colour.
For sables we, of course, go to the Birkdale strain. I remember the
incomparable “Birkdale Ruffie” in his full glory at the Crystal
Palace—a mass of red-brown fur, of the style of “Persimmon Laddie,”
but with more distinct markings and a very keen, almost fierce,
expression; in fact, he looked like a wild animal!
Then “Master Ruffie” appeared as a kitten, and later as a mild edition
of his sire. From this celebrated strain Miss Whitney’s lovely sables
are descended. This enthusiastic fancier has kindly written some notes
on her favourite breed. Her cats are all pets, and lead a life of
luxury in their town and country houses on the other side of the Irish
Channel. Miss Whitney says:—
“I am pleased to see that brown tabbies are coming to the front again,
after being such a long time in the background. It now rests with
fanciers of this charming variety of the feline species to improve
them in all points. We hear often that they should be a rich tan in
ground colour, clear and dense in markings, profuse in coat, ruff and
frill, large round head, small ears, and no white lip. I should
consider this a perfect specimen; but where is such to be had? I do
not say it will not be obtained, but up to this I have never seen it.
Now what we are to endeavour is to breed up to this high standard.
This will take time, no doubt; but, above all, do not let us give up
everything for markings, though they are very essential.
“My idea of a brown tabby is that it must be of a rich tawny ground
colour. How could a brown tabby be called a brown if it is only a
greyish drab? I should prefer to do without such perfect markings, but
to have the more desirable rich colour, and, above all, plenty of
coat, ruff, and frill; if it has not these latter qualities, it could
not be called a Persian, which must have an abundance of fine
soft-textured coat. If we only breed for marking, why not mate to a
‘short-hair,’ which is more likely to be perfect in that point? But
then, where would be our true Persian? Now, as to white lip, I have
never seen a good brown tabby without it, but I hear that there are
such, though they fail in colour. I would prefer the well-coated cat
with good colour and markings and a white lip to one that failed in
these other points and had no white lip (I do not mean when it extends
to a white throat). Now if we happen to breed a good kitten without a
white lip, and should strive to mate her to a really well-marked stud
cat, even should he fail in colour—perhaps we might get even one
kitten nearly reaching perfection as the result. It would reward the
patience, expense, and time; but we need never expect a profusely
coated cat to show as distinct markings as an inferiorly coated one
will. I breed nothing but brown tabbies, but cannot say I have yet
obtained perfection. I have, however, secured coat and colour, and
expect to attain the other desirable points in the near future, as we
must all persevere, but always let us breed up to the standard of the
true Persian.
[Illustration:
“LORNA DOONE.”
BRED BY MRS. ELLIS, TORONTO.
]
“I first became interested in cats by being given a nice brown tabby
Persian kitten, which I called ‘Ruffle,’ and got very fond of him; but
as he seemed lonely I thought of getting another kitten as a companion
for him, so I then purchased a pretty little silver tabby from Miss
Cochran; but after some time, of all the varieties I saw, none pleased
me so well as the brown tabbies. This breed I have gone in for
altogether during the past few years, and I feel sure I shall remain
faithful to them to the end of my career as a cat fancier. At present
I have not a cat of any other colour in my cattery.
“I still have ‘Ruffle,’ who is now a very large neuter, splendidly
marked, but perhaps not quite up to the standard in other points for
the English show bench. ‘Brayfort Fina’ is, I may say, a sable tabby,
being particularly rich in colour all throughout—indeed, more often of
an auburn tan than brown. She is very profuse in coat, carrying a long
body-coat and a big ruff and frill. She is a very large cat, with
plenty of bone, and well made, with a fine-shaped head. She was once
mistaken for a male by a well-known judge. ‘Fina’ was bred by Miss G.
Southam, and is by ‘Master Ruffie’ _ex_ ‘Bluette,’ her sire being a
son of the famous ‘Champion Birkdale Ruffie.’
“She was already a winner when I purchased her, and has since won many
times, including second and special at Bristol, 1899, in a mixed sex
class, being beaten by a male. At Belfast, in 1900—the following
year—she was beaten out of first by her sister, ‘Brayfort Princess.’
She then took second at Westminster, 1902; first at Reading, and first
and championship at the Crystal Palace, 1901 and 1902. Again first at
the Bath Specialist Show in the same year, where her gorgeous
colouring was called in question and an unsupported protest was made
that she was dyed! She is a most successful breeding cat, her produce
being usually winners. Her sister, ‘Brayfort Princess,’ is also a
sable tabby, and carries an immense coat, ruff, and frill; it is
denser than ‘Fina’s,’ and I fancy but for the latter ‘Princess’ would
have been more heard of as a winner, as, except on one or two
occasions, she has been usually beaten by ‘Fina.’
[Illustration:
“BIRKDALE RUFFIE.”
(_Photo: J. A. Kay, Southport._)
]
“‘Brayfort Persimmon Laddie’ is by ‘Champion Persimmon’ _ex_ ‘Brayfort
Fina.’ He made his public appearance at Bristol when he was four
months old, taking first and special in a tabby kitten class and third
in novice, against an entry of twenty-five adults; then he won first
and special in kittens, and second in open to his mother’s first at
Belfast in 1900; also he took first and special for best long-haired
neuter at Manchester in 1901; first, Liverpool; and first and two
specials at the Crystal Palace, 1902. He is too well known to comment
on. He is a wonderful sable colour, and is superb in coat. ‘Brayfort
Sable Boy’ is also by the late ‘Champion Persimmon’ _ex_ ‘Fina.’ He
won first and special at the kitten show in October, 1902, and first
and two specials at the Crystal Palace show, 1902; his wins speak to
his merit.
“I find all my cats very strong and healthy, and even in the coldest
winter they never have artificial heat. I attribute having never lost
a pet after a show to taking them away at night. Unless something very
unforeseen occurred, nothing would induce me to leave a cat of mine in
a show.
“I have found mating to a good brown tabby much the most successful. I
tried mating to an orange, but did not like the results. I always
mated to the late ‘Champion Persimmon,’ and had never fewer than six
kittens in a litter—sometimes eight—all strong and healthy. Twice only
have I lost any, and on these occasions the fault lay with the foster
mothers.
“In the spring and summer my cats get a run out in the garden every
day; the two neuters go on leads, but the females have their liberty;
indeed, unless I were present ‘Fina’ would not leave the house. Their
rooms look out on the grass terrace, so they can come in or out as
they please till their breakfast time, which is at about ten o’clock.
They are groomed every morning between 8 and 8.30 o’clock, winter and
summer, and always fed regularly. Their sleeping houses, as in photo,
are about four feet long, lined round with oilcloth, so they can be
washed when necessary. In the winter the bedding is hay, and in
summer, shavings. The houses are sufficiently long to allow for
sanitary boxes during the breeding time. I find Hall’s washable
distemper very nice for the cattery walls, and it looks so bright and
fresh. The floor-covering is linoleum.”
In America brown tabbies are beginning to find favour, and several
good specimens have been exported. “Arlington Hercules,” who took
first at Westminster in 1901, was shipped to Mrs. Sarmiento and Mrs.
Cutler, and I sent a “Persimmon” kitten out by Mrs. Robert Locke to
Mrs. Clinton Locke, the president of the Beresford Club. He was passed
on to her honorary secretary, and in _Field and Fancy_ of December,
1902, the following notice appears:—“Miss Lucy Johnstone is the
fortunate owner of ‘Persimmon Squirrel,’ a son of the noted brown
tabby ‘Persimmon,’ who lately died. Good brown tabbies are very
scarce, and she should congratulate herself on this possession, as,
according to all accounts, he is destined to make a good hit.”
Another American lady, Mrs. Gotwalts, of Pittsburg, wrote to me for a
brownie, and I sent her one bred by Mrs. Bignell, and the cat has, I
believe, had some good litters. The most famous brown tabby, however,
over the herring pond was Mr. E. N. Barker’s wonderful “King Humbert.”
This cat arrived in America in 1885, and made a considerable stir in
catty circles. Mr. Barker is said to have refused a thousand dollars
for him from a New York millionaire. I remember when Mr. Barker was
over, acting as judge at the Westminster Cat show, he sought, but did
not find anything to beat his noted brown tabby now gone to its last
home. Mr. Barker, writing of this breed, says:—
[Illustration:
“BIRKDALE RUFFIE’S” CATTERY.
]
“If I were asked suddenly why I admire brown tabby Persians, the
liking must be partly attributed to face markings and colour, and to
one who grows accustomed to these they are fascinating and add to the
general beauty of the cat, and seem natural and as though they ought
to be there, and one is not so overweighted with a sense of continual
sameness as may be apparent in a whole colour. I must confess,
personally speaking, I have become used to bars and stripes. I miss
them when I contemplate a self-coloured Persian.
“I once had a good many brown tabby Persians, and people did not fancy
them, as they said, ‘They are so like ordinary cats’—a great mistake;
but by gentle persuasion I managed to get one or two adopted. One lady
some time afterwards candidly confessed, ‘I could not now be satisfied
with any other kind, I should miss the stripes so much on the face.’
That is just it; in a tabby you have a little more than your
neighbours, who go in for self-coloured cats, and, though for the time
being they are not quite so fashionable, you can chuckle to yourself
if you own one, and feel quietly superior to fashion and the common
herd, and hold your tabby still closer to your heart, and purr softly
to yourself with satisfaction at its possession; for I think one may
say that for good all-round, everyday, reliable qualities, the brown
tabby stands pre-eminent.
“His constitution being good, he is not peevish; he stands cold and
heat, change of climate and surroundings, better on an average than
any. Brown tabbies should have the under-coat a good golden hue, the
markings black, clear, and distinct, rather too many than too few. A
good-shaped body, lots of bone, a bold head, red nose, golden eyes,
well marked on the chest, and no light colour on the lips and chin.
These cats may with advantage be a good size. With care, the under
colour may be bred to a grand copper colour; a grey hue in brown
tabbies is most undesirable.”
“As regards brown tabbies in America, “King Humbert” and his children
have always held their own. “Humbert” was bred in England, and as he
is now dead I may be allowed to say that when fit and in good
condition a better-coloured and smarter show cat never stood in a pen
or outside, and he loved to show himself off. The best kitten bred
from him was “Jasper.” He was very short in leg, and quite lost in
coat, his feet being hardly visible.”
To the readers of that very excellent American publication _The Cat
Journal_ the handsome portrait of “Crystal,” the brown tabby, is very
familiar. The editor, Mr. C. H. Jones, writes thus to me:—“I am
sending you some pictures as promised. The large photo is ‘Champion
Crystal,’ son of ‘Humbert,’ a beautiful cat as to type and
disposition. A peculiar thing about ‘Crystal’s’ kittens is that they
do not show very long-hair till they are several months old.”
And now a few remarks as regards the mating of brown tabbies. I have
tried several experiments, but if I were wishing to breed fine
specimens I should continue to mate brown tabbies with brown tabbies.
Such mating frequently results in a black or two, and these are
generally good ones. The orange cross is sometimes successful in
introducing a brighter tone, but I confess I have not had very good
results from these attempts. I have on several occasions mated blues
to my brown tabby stud, and although blue tabbies have appeared in the
litters, I have also obtained blues with very grand heads, plenty of
bone, and massive build. My famous “Beauty Boy,” a well-known winner
and sire of bygone days, was bred from “Rajah” (a brown) and “Mater”
(a blue). I have been told by silver breeders that a brown tabby cross
with chinchillas has often proved advantageous. It might be imagined
that the silvers would be tinged with brown or streaked, but I have
been assured this is by no means usual, and that the litters consist
of good brown tabbies and equally pure silvers.
A well-known breeder of silvers says:—“Although it may be incorrect to
cross silvers and browns, it is often most successful. My first tom
was a brown tabby with a white chin, and being mated with a silver
queen the kittens were good browns and exquisite silvers, and there
were lots of winners amongst them. Many of the silvers were very pure
in colour, with lovely markings. My old ‘Climax,’ whose pedigree was
pure silver (‘Topso’ and ‘Lady Pink’), was the sire of the noted brown
tabby ‘Birkdale Ruffie.’”
Before closing my article, I would remark that the brown tabby and
sable, though often classed together, must not be confounded. The
brown tabby is supposed to be the common ancestor of all our cats, and
hence the tendency to revert to that colour, as in the case of the
blue Rock pigeon. This being the case, surely we should have brown
tabby cats more nearly approaching perfection than any other colour.
They appear in very unexpected places—in a litter of chinchillas or
blacks, or among our oranges, and sometimes where no brown ancestor
can be traced. In the brown tabby there seems to be little or no
inclination to lose the markings, as in other tabbies; rather the
contrary, for they overdo themselves sometimes, and form into solid
black patches, thus causing the dark saddle, which is a serious fault
in this breed. Query: Would generations of in-breeding produce a self
brown, as with oranges and chinchillas? I rather doubt it, as I think
the common ancestor would, so to speak, “chip in” and assert himself.
As regards the sables, I may remark that they are late in maturing and
do not acquire their marvellous colouring till about the second year.
Anyway, they rarely make a sensation on their first appearance. As I
write I am thinking of “Persimmon Laddie,” who seems to have developed
his glorious copper coat in the course of a year, and when seen at the
Crystal Palace show of 1902 was as near perfection in the matter of
colouring as could be desired. I hope that in time this breed of
Persians may find more admirers, and that with patience and
perseverance a really good strain of grand-coloured, dark-chinned, and
above all splendidly marked brown tabby cats may be seen at our shows.
In America, as will be seen from the following extract from _Field and
Fancy_, the brownies are making good headway:—
[Illustration:
BROWN TABBY “GOOZIE.”
]
BROWN TABBIES IN AMERICA.
The brown tabby cat, whose fate seemed to hang in the balance for
some time, is now, in America, on the road to social prominence, and
daily we hear of the progress of the breed, so that the classes next
winter seem to promise greater results than ever. From all over we
hear of brown tabbies being bred and reared, and, what is more,
finding homes at remunerative prices. In looking at the reasons for
the popularity of the browns we do not have far to seek, for when
once well tried, these cats wheedle their way into your affections
by the strength and vitality they display, as a rule; and the
general average being level in their temper, with plenty of common
sense, as well as bold, lovable cats, are very satisfactory to deal
with. Besides these attributes, when bred properly, their colour is
most fascinating, and has a faculty of growing upon one, and weaker
colours seem tame by comparison.
So far as we can say, that as regards the brown tabbies, the whites
and orange, there have been more concentrated efforts to breed good
ones by design than in any of the colours, though the silver
breeders are now coming up.
Taking a general look at our cats of this colour, we have little to
be ashamed of, and the stock is good enough to make the nucleus of a
fine lot of show cats, for they inherit their goodness from several
generations of the colour, which is much to the point.
Our breeders will find that to breed good tabbies they will have to
keep to blood lines, select the best-marked ones, and not switch
about in search of all sorts of blood crosses; for the way to breed
tabbies is to keep to the colour and get the marks, which too many
crosses with solid-coloured cats are liable to spoil. After a time
the purely bred and carefully bred strains will stand out and
perpetuate themselves, and the chance-breds will go to the wall.
It has been surmised that the reason why the browns are so hardy is
that possibly they more nearly approach the natural colour of cats
in a wild state, and are perhaps not quite so artificial; but the
number that will be bred of superlative colouring to fill the
standard from a show point of view will never be too numerous to
command high prices, and the greater the competition the greater the
value of the variety, as we see in our dogs. For it is in the
popular breeds that the prices rule the highest, and the scarce ones
seldom realise the same figures, because there is not the same keen
competition to get the best.
When we look back we can call to mind quite a few good brown tabbies
in the last seven years, and not very many bad ones, and for uniform
quality our browns have been the equal of any colour.
Breeders should be careful to select those with the brown or red
body colour, and with the stripes as distinct as possible. In our
own experience with the colour we have found three varieties, and
these are best described as they appear at birth. No. 1 is the cat
with a narrow band down the centre of the back, and thin, narrow
lines radiating therefrom. These marks may be very distinct when the
cat is young, but are not strong enough for a long-haired cat, and
the marks are lost when the coat grows. Though these cats are not
the best of exhibition cats, they are very useful to breed to those
too heavily marked. No. 2 is the cat that is heavily marked and
carries too much black, and is often too grey in his body colour,
but these, by being carefully bred to other colours, may throw the
desired cat; or No. 3, the cat with the orange body colour and the
distinct black marks covering about a third of the surface of the
cat. This latter we hope to see in greater numbers now that an
organised effort is being made to breed the colour true.
A great many of our browns are clear of one great fault, which is
the light chin and throat, and it is to be hoped that this will be
continued.
Another fault that wants improving, and which is the prevailing
fault in one of our prominent strains, is a rather sour green eye,
and this has been the cause of some of them having to take a back
seat on occasions. Last year was fortunately a great educator for
some of our best breeders, and they are now experimenting along the
right lines, and are aware, when they lose, why it is so. As the
years roll on those who do learn will not expect to win over better
cats just because they think they ought.
[Illustration:
A TRIO OF TABBIES.
(_Photo: C. Reid, Wishaw._)
]
[Illustration:
A PICTURESQUE GROUP.
(_Photo: E. Landor, Ealing._)
]