SHORT-HAIRED CATS.
And now I will take a general glance over the other short-haired
breeds commonly called English or British cats.
As regards points, these are the same as in the long-haired varieties.
I give a list as drawn up by a sub-committee of the Cat Club for the
use of fanciers and judges:—
SHORT-HAIRED CATS.
_White._—Colour, pure white. Eyes, blue.
_Black._—Colour, pure and rich black; no white. Eyes, orange.
_Tortoiseshell._—Colour, patched yellow, orange and black; no
stripes; no white. Eyes, orange.
_Tortoiseshell-and-White._—Colour, white, patched with yellow,
orange and black; no stripes. Eyes, orange.
_Silver Tabby._—Colour, silver grey, marked with rich black stripes
or bars; no pure white. Eyes, green or orange.
_Spotted Tabby._—Colour, any shade of light colour, evenly marked
with spots of a darker shade or black; no stripes; no pure white.
Eyes, orange, yellow or green.
_Brown Tabby._—Colour, golden brown, marked with rich black stripes
or bars; no white. Eyes, orange or green.
_Orange or Red Tabby._—Colour, light orange or red, with darker
stripes or bars; no white. Eyes, hazel, or golden brown.
_Tabby and White._—Colour, any shade of tabby with white. Eyes,
orange or green.
N.B.—Where more than one colour is given for the eyes, the first one
is to be preferred to the second or third.
_The Sub-Committee_, FRANCES SIMPSON.
GAMBIER BOLTON.
It will therefore be seen that texture and length of coat are really
the distinguishing points between the two varieties. It is just as
grave a mistake for a Persian cat to have a short, close coat as it is
for one of British type to possess any of that woolliness or length of
fur which denotes a _mésalliance_. The commonest species of all
short-haired cats may be said to be represented by broken-coloured
specimens—that is, orange-and-white, tabby-and-white, and
black-and-white. These sorts of cats we most frequently see about our
public streets and in the homes of country cottagers. At our shows
this type of cat—which would be classed as “any other colour”—is fast
disappearing from our midst. In America I observe that a class is
still specially reserved for orange-and-white cats, and it would seem
that this is rather a favourite breed with our cousins over the water.
A good black, with rich glossy coat and deep amber eyes, is, to my
mind, one of the choicest of our short-haired breeds. These cats are
often marred by the white spot at the throat, and, of course, green
eyes predominate to a very great extent. As in the long-haired cats,
blue-eyed whites are coming much more to the fore, and on the show
bench, at least, we do not see many other specimens with yellow or
green eyes.
Our British tabbies—orange, brown, and silver—are always well
represented at the principal shows, and of late years competition has
been much keener in these classes. It is when we come to markings that
the long-haired breeds must take a back seat, so to speak; and the
British puss has an easy walkover. In the short, close coat, the broad
or narrow bands of the darker colour show up in grand relief on the
ground-work of a rich, though paler, shade. The rings round the neck
and tail, and the bars on the legs are seen to great perfection. It
will be easily understood, therefore, that markings in short-haired
tabbies claim the first and greatest consideration, and that these
should be sharp and distinct, great care is needed in mating and
breeding.
[Illustration:
ANOTHER VIEW OF LADY DECIES’ CATTERY.
(_Photo: Cassell & Company, Limited._)
]
A serious and rather common defect amongst silver tabbies is a tinge
of brown about the face—generally on the nose. Orange tabby females
are rarer than males. The peculiar species known as spotted tabbies is
becoming very rare, and whereas formerly some of this breed were
generally exhibited at large shows, we now seldom see them. Spotted
tabbies are usually brown or silver. I do not recollect having heard
of an orange-spotted tabby. The spots should be spread uniformly over
the body, feet, and tail, and if on the face so much the better. A
perfect specimen should not have a suspicion of a stripe or bar
anywhere. Harrison Weir considers 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.
[Illustration:
LADY DECIES’ “CHAMPION XENOPHON.”
(_Photo: E. Landor, Ealing._)
]
Amongst writers on cats—such as Harrison Weir and Mr.
Jennings—priority of place is given to the tortoiseshell cat, and this
breed heads their list of short-haired breeds. So also formerly in the
Crystal Palace catalogue, to which I have before alluded,
tortoiseshells lead the way. Here, again, the patchy nature of the
three colours is—or, at least, ought to be—the distinguishing feature,
and the long-haired cat of the same variety loses some of its
individuality by reason of the length of fur, causing a mingling or
blurring of the colours.
It is a strange fact in natural history, which no one has attempted to
explain, that the tortoiseshell tom is a most rare and uncommon
animal. A number of clever fanciers and breeders have used their best
endeavours and patiently persevered in the fruitless attempt to breed
tortoiseshell male cats. In my long experience I have never known of
anyone who has succeeded, and those specimens that have been exhibited
from time to time have been picked up quite by chance. I recollect,
many years ago, at the Crystal Palace show, seeing the pen of a
short-haired cat smothered with prize cards, and the owner of the puss
standing proudly by, informing inquirers that it was a tortoiseshell
tom that lay hidden behind his awards. This man had been paid a
shilling by a London cook to take away the troublesome beast out of
her area! He had taken it away to some purpose, and his surprise at
finding himself and his cat famous was amusing to behold.
A very beautiful cat is the English tortoiseshell-and-white when the
colours are well distributed, the red and black showing up so
splendidly on the snowy ground-work. I must say I far prefer those
cats to the tortoiseshells, which are often so dingy in appearance. In
this breed the male sex is conspicuous by its absence. The two breeds
that have made great strides of late years amongst long-haired
cats—namely, creams and smokes—are very rarely met with in the
short-haired varieties. I know, however, of a silver tabby that, when
mated to a black, throws smoke kittens. These are quaint and pretty,
with bright green eyes. The under-coat is snowy white, and gleams
through the dark outer fur, giving a very distinguished appearance. It
is a pity some fanciers do not seriously take up the breeding of cream
short-haired cats, as I think they would repay any trouble spent over
them. They should, of course, be as pale and even in colour as
possible, without any markings, and with deep amber eyes. I can only
recall one or two, and these not at all perfect specimens.
Amongst our present-day fanciers of short-haired cats I may mention
Sir Claude and Lady Alexander, who have splendid specimens of many of
the breeds. Mrs. Collingwood has recently almost discarded Persians
for the British beauties, being specially partial to silver and orange
tabbies. Lady Decies for many years owned the invincible “Champion
Xenophon”—a brown tabby of extreme beauty—who died in 1902. There are
several fine short-hairs at the spacious catteries at Birchington.
Mrs. Herring’s name has always been associated with “Champion Jimmy,”
the noted silver tabby, and she is also the owner of “King Saul,” one
of the few tortoiseshell toms that appear at our shows. Many other
specimens have been bred by this well-known fancier. Mr. Harold
Blackett has a trio of famous prize-winning silver tabbies, and Mrs.
Bonny is a noted breeder of browns and silvers. This enthusiastic
fancier writes:—“For many years past I have devoted myself to the cult
of the British tabby cat; it has been my one hobby. Really good
specimens of browns and silvers are scarce. Certainly silvers have
increased in numbers during the last few years, and the quality has
improved. They are difficult to rear, more especially the males.” Mrs.
Bonny’s celebrated brown female tabby, “Heather Belle,” died in 1903.
A silver tabby, “Dame Fortune”—her daughter by Mrs. Collingwood’s
“Champion James II.”—created quite a sensation at the Westminster and
other shows. Miss Derby Hyde has always been faithful to short-haired,
blue-eyed whites. Mr. Kuhnel is noted for his gorgeous-coloured and
finely marked orange tabbies. Many breeders of Persians keep one or
two short-haired specimens, and I cannot help believing that, as time
goes on, we shall have a larger number of fanciers taking up British
cats.
Harrison Weir, in comparing the two varieties, writes:—“I am
disappointed at the neglect of the short-haired English cat, by the
ascendancy of the foreign long-hair. Both are truly beautiful, but the
first, in my opinion, is far in advance of the latter in intelligence.
In point of fact, in animal life, in that way it has no peer; and,
again, the rich colourings are, I think, more than equal to the
softened beauty of the longer-coated. I do not think that the breeding
of short-hairs is yet properly understood.”
A correspondent writing to _Our Cats_, complaining of the
classification for short-hairs at shows, says:—“All fanciers of that
beautiful animal the British cat feel how they are handicapped when
they receive schedules of the various shows and compare the
classification of short- and long-haired cats. Far better it would be
honestly to announce a ‘foreign cat show,’ with a rider that a few
English may compete if they choose. ’Tis a pity, in many ways; for,
given a little encouragement, the standard of the poor, everyday,
homely pussy would be raised, and we would not see so much wanton
cruelty and neglect attached thereto.”
[Illustration:
AN AMERICAN BEGGING CAT.
(_Photo: A. C. Hopkins._)
]
[Illustration:
“EBONY OF WIGAN.”
OWNED BY MISS JOAN WOODCOCK.
(_Photo: S. Richardson, Standish._)
]
In America short-hairs have not “taken on,” and at the various shows
the specials offered are as small in number as the entries made. I
never hear of any exportations of British cats to American fanciers;
but perhaps some enthusiast of the breed will start a short-haired
cattery. There is certainly room for such an enterprise, and the
sturdier Britisher would more easily resist the trials of an Atlantic
trip and the terrors of a three days’ show.
I have been fortunate in obtaining the kind assistance of two of our
best authorities on short-haired cats—namely, Mr. H. E. Jung and Mr.
T. B. Mason. Some notes by these competent judges will be read with
interest.
Mr. H. E. Jung says:—
“It is a matter of regret that this variety at shows is not so fully
represented as it should be, taking into consideration the large
number of cat exhibitors. There is no doubt that the prettier
long-haired variety secures greater support from the lady exhibitors.
“In addition to the characteristic of being a native production of the
British Isles, they have certainly a great advantage in their racy,
workmanlike appearance, which is lacking in the long-haired variety.
What is handsomer than a sleek-coated black, with its grand,
golden-amber eyes; the workmanlike spotless white, with its clear blue
eye; the aristocratic silver, with its rich tabby markings, its soft
emerald or orange eye; or the pale, lavender-hued blue, with its coat
of velvet-like texture?
“Thanks to such enthusiastic breeders as Lady Alexander, Mrs. Herring,
Lady Decies, Mr. Sam Woodiwiss, Mr. R. P. Hughes, Mr. Kuhnel, Mr.
Louis Wain, and several others, we are not likely to allow the English
short-haired variety to deteriorate. I myself think there has been a
great improvement in the specimens penned the last few years. The
fault we must guard against is the loss of size and stamina, which can
only be averted by judicious mating. The increasing number of shows in
America, the Colonies, and even on the Continent, should stimulate
breeders of the short-haired variety to extend their catteries, for no
doubt in a few years there will be a strong demand for the
English-bred, short-haired cat. Up to the present only in England has
anything like a systematic rule been followed out, which is most
essential: in fact, the only course possible to obtain good specimens
is to follow out a system of breeding as near perfect as possible—for,
as in everything else where breeding is concerned, the old maxim of
‘blood will tell’ holds good.
“The stud books should be kept up to date, and stud registrations
should be followed out, just as in the dog world. I can imagine many
of my readers who do not take up cats as a hobby saying, ‘The ordinary
common garden cat suits my purpose; he is affectionate, he catches
mice, and that is all I require.’ But how much more satisfactory it is
to be able to say, ‘My cat is blue-blooded, has an aristocratic
pedigree, is handsome; he goes to shows, perhaps wins, and he is still
affectionate; he also catches the mice as well as his brother of lower
birth and less striking appearance.’ You must also bear in mind he
does not require any daintier feeding. I consider it is always
pleasanter in cat, dog, or horse to own a distinguished-looking animal
than an ill-bred, ungainly one that neither pleases nor satisfies the
eye.
“I would here remark upon the absence of men who take up breeding cats
as a hobby, and yet the short-haired variety is essentially a man’s
breed. They require very little grooming and attention compared to the
long-haired varieties.
“Several of the most prominent judges of cats are also recognised
authorities in the dog world. I may mention the late Mr. Enoch
Welburn; Mr. F. Gresham, the keen, ‘all-round’ judge; Mr. L. P. C.
Astley, also at home both in one or the other; Mr. Sam Woodiwiss, the
well-known fancier and expert; Mr. Lane, who also adjudicates on both
breeds; and Mr. Louis Wain, to whom we are indebted for those
delightful pictures depicting cat life.
“Tortoiseshells are most difficult cats to breed. Either they come too
dark or too light, or the colours are not sufficiently well blended.
One of the singularities of the breed is the nearly entire absence of
males in every litter; in fact, I remember the saying was that a
tortoiseshell tom was as scarce as the dodo. At the present time,
however, we have two good toms—viz. ‘Champion Ballochmyle Samson,’
winner of no fewer than twelve first prizes and championships, the
property of Lady Alexander, and ‘Champion King Saul,’ winner of
numerous championships and first prizes, owned by Mrs. Herring. Both
these males are very good, and whenever they have been penned together
it has always been a difficult matter for me to decide the winner. In
females, ‘Ballochmyle Bountiful Bertie’ (sire, ‘Champion Ballochmyle
Samson’), also the property of Lady Alexander, winner of several
firsts and championships; ‘Fulmer May,’ the property of Lady Decies,
winner of many firsts—they are both grand females, of the right colour
and type; the tortoiseshell-and-white ‘Champion Ballochmyle Otter,’
the best tortoiseshell-and-white I have ever seen penned, winner of
nine first prizes and championships, the property of Lady Alexander.
This cat has held her own in her class for the last seven years—a most
remarkable feat.
[Illustration:
SLEEPING AND WAKING TABBIES.
(_Photo: T. Fall, Baker Street, W._)
]
“Silver tabbies I must certainly class among the most aristocratic of
the breeds. Fanciers will tell you how difficult it is to obtain a
good one. Either the tabby markings are not clear, nor sufficiently
defined, the black is not dense enough, the butterfly markings are not
distinct, or the eyes are not of the correct colour. To get anything
like a perfect type in silvers is a great feat, and only the outcome
of judicious mating. One of the great faults of many silvers on the
bench to-day is that they are deficient in size, and unless we attend
to this I am afraid that shortly we are likely to produce a diminutive
type which, of course, is greatly to be avoided. I hardly think this
breed is sufficiently supported, taking into consideration the
richness in colour and markings of the silver tabby.
“Among the many winning males, ‘Champion Jimmy’ stands out very
prominently, having won numerous championships and first prizes; he
was the property of Mrs. Herring. Others of note were ‘James II.,’ the
property of Mrs. Collingwood; ‘Sedgemere Silver King,’ owned by Mr.
Sam Woodiwiss. Prominent in the female classes were the noted queen,
‘Champion Shelly,’ owned by Mr. H. W. Bullock, shown some years ago;
by that noted sire, ‘King of the Fancy,’ owned by Mr. Sugden. It is
notable he sired both ‘Champion Jimmy’ and ‘Champion Shelly.’ ‘Silver
Queen,’ winner of many firsts and specials, the property of the Hon.
Mrs. McLaren Morrison; ‘Sedgemere Silver Queen,’ owned by Mr. Sam
Woodiwiss; ‘Silver Queen,’ the property of Mr. Harold Blackett; and
that grand female, ‘Sweet Phillis,’ the property of Mrs. Herring.
“Very few good brown tabbies are benched, and breeders, I am afraid,
get very disheartened at the result of their efforts. I despair to
think of the litters I have seen, and not a good one amongst them. The
rich brown sable colour is very seldom met with, and now that the
world-renowned champion of champions, ‘Xenophon,’ is no more, we have
only ‘Flying Fox’ and ‘King of Lee’ anything like the type you expect
in this handsome breed. Of ‘Champion Xenophon’ I am afraid we can
truly say, ‘We shall ne’er look on his like again.’ His wonderful
colour, markings, and size approached the ideal short-haired cat. I
believe he was either bred by Mr. Heslop, or came under his keen eye,
and, like a good many others, was brought down south by that fancier
to make a name.
“He was claimed by Mr. Sam Woodiwiss, who showed him for some years,
and he secured for his owner numerous championships, first prizes, and
specials, afterwards changing hands and becoming the property of Lady
Decies, still following up his winning career after an unbroken record
of ‘second to none.’ I think I am correct in saying this cat has won
more money and specials than any short-haired cat ever exhibited.
“Red tabbies, again, are one of the difficult varieties to obtain. The
dense, dark red tabby markings against the light red ground is only
the result of judicious mating and breeding.
“Among the many notable males, ‘Ballochmyle Perfection,’ the property
of Lady Alexander, winner of some 100 first prizes, championships, and
specials, the sire of ‘Champion Ballochmyle Goldfinder’ and
‘Ballochmyle No Fool’ (the mother of ‘Ballochmyle Red Prince’), stands
out very prominently. ‘Champion Perfection,’ despite his ten years,
has still the grand dense markings and colour as of old. In
‘Ballochmyle Perfection’ we have a chip of the old block. Then a later
red tabby, Mrs. Collingwood’s ‘Clem,’ is a good-coloured red. Mr.
Kuhnel, of Bradford, for many years held his own in this handsome
breed—in fact, most of the present-day winners can be traced from that
fancier’s cattery.
[Illustration:
A BLACK-AND-WHITE BRITISHER.
(_Photo: A. Warschawski, St. Leonards-on-Sea._)
]
[Illustration:
BLUE-AND-WHITE SHORT-HAIRED CATS.
(_From a Painting by W. Luker, Jun._)
]
“Blues (self-coloured). There seems to be a great difference of
opinion as to the shape and make of head of these cats. Some judges
look for a round, full head of the English-bred cat; others, the long
head of the Eastern variety. I think that difference arises to a great
extent according to where these cats originally came from. I have
heard the opinions of some who give Archangel as the port of origin;
others, Malta. If the cat originated from Archangel, one would
naturally expect a long head of Eastern type. The specimens, however,
from Malta have certainly the round head and more of the English-bred
type. The chief points, in my opinion, apart from the shape of head,
is body colour, shape, colour of eye, and closeness of coat. They are
no doubt a very handsome breed. In colour they are a light blue, with
a delicate lavender bloom pervading the whole coat.
“Of the many good ones that come to my memory, ‘Moscow’
(Russian-bred), a big winner, owned by Mrs. Carew Cox; ‘Champion
Ballochmyle Blue King,’ winner of seven championships and first
prizes, owned by Lady Alexander; ‘Champion Brookside Iris,’ late owner
Mrs. Pownall; ‘Blue Boy,’ owned by Mr. Sam Woodiwiss; ‘Ballochmyle
Brother Bump’ and ‘Ballochmyle Sister Goose,’ the property of Lady
Alexander—a big winner.
“White English cats appear to have lost less in size than many others,
as two of the largest winners of to-day—viz. ‘Ballochmyle Snow King’
and ‘Ballochmyle Billie Blue Eyes’—will testify. The white retains the
racy, workmanlike character of the true English-bred cat. One fault is
very prevalent: they lean very much towards a broken coat (a good many
of the white cats penned to-day have this failing); it is, no doubt, a
very difficult fault to breed out. It is noticeable that the females
in this breed are so very small, and in marked contrast to the toms.
“The chief points one desires in this breed are closeness of coat,
size, and a distinct light blue eye (not washy). Among the numerous
winners are ‘Ballochmyle Snow King,’ formerly owned by Mr. Sam
Woodiwiss, and now the property of Lady Alexander; ‘Ballochmyle Billie
Blue Eyes’ and ‘Biddy Blue Eyes,’ the property of Mrs. Herring.
[Illustration:
“CHAMPION BALLOCHMYLE OTTER,” TORTOISESHELL-AND-WHITE.
OWNED BY LADY ALEXANDER.
]
“Blacks, I am sorry to say, are somewhat neglected, considering how
striking they are. The dense black coat, the contrasting grand amber
eye, should always find a weak spot in the heart of every exhibitor of
the short-haired varieties. The points we look for are chiefly
closeness of coat, the black of great density, pure amber eyes set in
a good round head topped with small ears. I can well imagine my
readers will say, ‘A pure amber eye—how is it to be got? It is such a
rarity.’ I know, however, that by careful mating it is not only
possible, but most distinctly certain, as Mr. R. J. Hughes, the late
owner of that lovely female ‘Amber Queen,’ one of the best-eyed cats I
have seen, can testify. He, in fact, has bred many of the best-eyed
winners of late years: ‘Amber Queen,’ winner of numerous firsts and
championships, the property of Miss Una Fox; ‘Ballochmyle Black Bump,’
owned by Lady Alexander, and formerly the property of Mr. Hughes;
‘Sedgemere Black King,’ winner of several championships and first
prizes, originally owned by Mr. Sam Woodiwiss.
“An explanation may be deemed due to my readers for having included
blues amongst the English types, but as the clubs have recognised this
breed, and sanctioned their being catalogued amongst the English
exhibits, I felt justified in adopting this course; more particularly
as the country of origin still remains a matter of speculation.”
[Illustration:
“CHAMPION BALLOCHMYLE PERFECTION.”
OWNED BY LADY ALEXANDER.
]
Mr. T. B. Mason’s name is a household one in the cat fancy, and this
most popular judge has been kind enough to set down some of his many
experiences, and a little of his universal knowledge, for the benefit
of my readers.
“For more than twenty-five years I have taken a very great interest in
all our minor pets, so the breeding and exhibiting of cats has had a
large share of my attention. I look at the past, and compare it with
the present, and I am more than satisfied with the progress made and
the high-water mark of excellence attained. In the ‘eighties, when
that noted North Country breeder the late Mr. Young, of Harrogate, was
hard at work laying the foundations of markings and colour in the
silver tabby, orange tabby, and the tortoiseshells, which has resulted
in making the strains of the North Country short-hairs so far ahead of
all others, he had little or no idea that in so brief a time the cat
fancy would develop into such an important one as it is at the present
time. In recent years we have seen the National Cat Club, the Cat
Club, and a great many specialist clubs formed for the special object
of breeding cats to perfection in colour and markings. Standards have
been made and issued by noted breeders, who have met together and have
exchanged ideas, so that at the present time we have standards that
are ideals of perfection. Shape, colour, markings, coat, and colour of
eyes for each separate variety are all plainly stated. All this
interest, together with the holding of many big shows in different
parts of the kingdom, have brought into prominence a great host of
fanciers, including many ladies holding high positions in the best
class of society. No wonder, then, that there should be a call for a
standard work dealing with all varieties of cats. In the few remarks I
have to make on short-haired cats I shall take the self colours first.
They are, I believe, our oldest variety; the black or the white cat is
to be found in many a household. In some parts of the North when I was
a boy it was said to be a sign of good luck to have a sound-coloured
black cat, with a coat like a raven’s wing, with not a white hair to
be found in it. If you have one like this in your home, with a good
round head, neat ears, and rich orange eyes, let me ask you to take
great care of it. If you reside in a district where shows are
held—either in connection with the local agricultural society or in
the winter time in the town hall in connection with the local
fanciers’ society—by all means enter it, and you will find you have an
exhibit of real value. We possess grand examples of first-class blacks
in Lady Alexander’s ‘Black Bump,’ Lady Decies’ ‘Charcoal’ and
‘Shamrock,’ Mrs. Nott’s ‘King of Blacks,’ and many other present-day
winners. In self whites Lady Alexander’s ‘Snow King,’ ‘Billie Blue
Eyes,’ and ‘Snow Bump’; Mrs. Western’s ‘Prickly Pearl’; and the Hon.
A. Wodehouse’s ‘White Devil’ are about the best living, and in
condition and coat hard to find fault with. The eyes of the self white
must be a rich-coloured blue. The shorter and fuller you can get both
the self black and the self white the better will be the chances of
their winning prizes; a long, coarse coat, big or badly set-on ears,
and long, thin, snipy faces are little or no good in the show pen. In
your breeding arrangements you do not need at this time of the day to
make many experiments. In breeding self whites the great aim is to
obtain shape and colour of eyes. So many good sires are to be obtained
that if you are deficient in bone, shape, or colour of eyes, you can
with careful mating obtain these—in some cases with the first cross.
My opinion is that in breeding whites no other colour should be mixed
with them. In the breeding of blacks you are altogether on another
matter. It is a well-known fact that the cross with the self blue is a
most distinct advantage. It not only gives tone and soundness to both
the blue and the black, but it also adds lustre.
“For a long time we have called the self blues Russians. No doubt
they, in the first instance, came from the East; but since they were
imported into this country they have been mixed in a great measure
with self blacks, and in some cases with long-haired blues, to get
strong, short, round heads, so that at the present time we have very
few pure-bred Russians in this country.
“My advice to those who are breeding self blues or self blacks is, by
all means put one cross of blacks in the blues, especially if the
black has orange eyes. It is in eyes that most of our self blues fail.
Let me, however, give here a word of warning. Do not mix the colours
too often, or you will get the blues too dark or nearly like black. If
you get one cross of the black and blue, use it as it should be used,
by mixing the offspring well together. I know a great many breeders
are not in favour of this in-breeding. This is, without doubt, their
loss. In all branches in-breeding is the sure road to success.
“To go outside at every cross, or too often, brings with it a lot of
trouble and disappointment. To all my advice is, having got the
strains of noted sires in your youngsters, so mix them that all the
good and little of the bad points will come out as the result of your
breeding. That you will not get all winners is a sure conclusion, but
my experience is—and it is formed after thirty years’ breeding of
fancy pet stock—that in this way you are more likely than in any other
to breed winners. Anyone who has seen Lady Alexander’s ‘Brother Bump,’
Mrs. Hughes’ ‘Alexis,’ Miss Butler Ayton’s ‘Blue Bell’ and ‘Blue
Stockings,’ Mrs. Carew Cox’s ‘Fashoda,’ and Mrs. Dewar’s ‘Firkens’
cannot but fall in love with this colour. All that is needed to make
this one of our most popular varieties is uniformity in shape. In my
opinion these cats should be judged on the same lines as our self
blacks and self whites.
[Illustration:
MRS. BARKER’S “TYNESIDE LILY.”
(_Photo: E. C. Farmer, Bedford._)
]
[Illustration:
MISS HARPER’S CATTERY, BRIARLEA, HAYWARD’S HEATH.
]
[Illustration:
ANOTHER VIEW OF BRIARLEA CATTERIES.
(_Photo: E. Harper._)
]
“I now come to the tabbies—silver, orange, and brown. What a lovely
variety they are, and what a fine picture any of the three colours
makes if they are seen in full coat and clear markings! In silvers the
old-time champion ‘The Silver King’ was without a doubt the foundation
of most of our present-day winners. Mrs. Herring’s ‘Jimmy,’ the noted
female ‘Shelly,’ and a host of others that at the moment I cannot
remember are worthy of the great deeds of the past. In the present day
champions are to be found—Mrs. Collingwood’s ‘James II.,’ Mrs.
Herring’s ‘Sweet Phyllis,’ Mrs. Bonny’s ‘Heather Belle’ and ‘Dame
Fortune,’ Mrs. Turner’s ‘Masterpiece,’ Mrs. Western’s ‘Princess,’ and
last, but not least, Mr. Blackett’s noted team, including ‘Silver’ and
‘Silver Star.’ In the orange we have a strong lot, including Lady
Alexander’s capital team—‘Perfection,’ ‘Red Prince,’ ‘Miss
Perfection,’ and ‘Mother Pop’—Mrs. Temple’s ‘Dr. Jim,’ Mrs.
Collingwood’s ‘Clem’ and ‘Belle of Bradford,’ Mr. Thompson’s ‘Red
Rufus,’ and Mr. Kuhnel’s ‘Coronation King,’ all of them getting close
on the standard both in colour and markings.
[Illustration:
A CORNER OF THE BOSSINGTON CATTERIES.
(_Photo: A. J. Anderson & Co., Luton._)
]
“In browns the old champion ‘Xenophon’ is, to my mind, the best tabby
of any colour ever seen in the show pen; his picture is before me as I
pen these lines. I well remember giving him the first and special for
best cat in the show; since that time how many times he has won the
championship I cannot say. His loss will be great, both to the fancy
and also to Lady Decies. ‘Flying Fox’ (the property of Messrs. Ainsley
and Graham), Mrs. Pratt’s ‘Tommy Jacks,’ and Mrs. Oliver’s ‘Danefield
Vera’ are all good ones; but in this colour of tabbies the competition
is not half so keen as it is in silver and orange.
“One standard governs all the three colours. The ground or body colour
must be pure, and clear from any other colour. In a great many
well-marked ones I meet in the show pen the rusty brown tinge on nose,
ears, and brindled in the body markings puts them out of the prize
list. It is a great mistake to cross the silver tabby with the brown
tabby or with one that has in its pedigree the brown tabby blood. If
the black markings need a darker shade, my advice is use for once the
self black. If you do not get the desired effect the first cross, the
youngsters mated together have been known to breed some really good
ones. By all means, if possible, get into your silvers green eyes. I
am aware that the standard says green or orange eyes; but in all cases
where the competition is very keen the orange eyes are a distinct
disadvantage.
[Illustration:
TORTOISESHELL MALE “SAMSON.”
OWNED BY LADY ALEXANDER.
(_Photo: Russell & Sons, Crystal Palace._)
]
“In the breeding of the orange tabby you need to be very careful. The
use of the tortoiseshell has been found to be very advantageous; in
fact, some of our best orange tabbies have been bred from the
tortoiseshells. The mixing of these two varieties, if done carefully,
will bring success on both sides; but care should be taken not to
bring too much of the tortoiseshell into the orange, or, on the other
hand, carry too much orange into the tortoiseshell. The pale yellow
eye in an orange is a great point against it winning in the keen
competition which we have at the present time.
“The eyes must be a very rich orange, to match the body colour, which
should be two or three shades lighter than the markings.
“In the browns we have two distinct colours—the sable colour and the
old brown colour. The old cat that I have referred to of Lady Decies’
was a sable tabby. No doubt this colour is the more taking of the two,
but both are useful, and the old brown colour must not by any means be
overlooked in our liking for the sable colour. In all the colours of
tabbies we find that the chief bad points are the white lips in the
sables mostly, the white spots in the chest in our orange, and the
rusty mousy colour in our silvers. The colour of eyes, too, in our
browns and sables is far from what it ought to be. Some eyes are a
pale green, some a pale yellow. All this proves that the breeders at
times go too far in the outcrossing, and bring in with it faults that
crop up when those crossings are nearly forgotten.
“In the breeding of browns nothing more is needed than what we
have—namely, the sable colour ones and the old coloured browns. The
blending together of these two colours will put any breeder on the
highway to success. I am more than surprised that this variety is not
stronger than it is at the present time. I am sure, of all the race
and colours of tabbies they are the easiest to breed, and yet we find
they are the fewest in number at our big shows. In looking for a real
good tabby, do not miss the chest, feet, and tail. We have a great lot
of good cats if body markings and colour were all that was needed, but
when it comes to the ringed tail, the rings around the chest, and the
markings right down to the toe ends, then they ‘come a cropper,’ as we
say in the North.
[Illustration:
BLACK MANX AND ROYAL SIAMESE CATS.
(_From a Painting by W. Luker, Jun._)
]
“One more important point before I finish. What a painful task it is
to the judge to find very good all-round exhibits that have plain head
markings. The face and cheeks are right in ground colour; and the
pencil markings on the fore-face, running into the markings behind the
ears, and those on the cheeks are of the faintest colour, and in many
cases broken. Such head markings and colour spoil many otherwise
really good cats.
[Illustration:
MRS. A. M. STEAD’S BROWN TABBY.
(_Photo: E. N. Collins, South Norwood._)
]
“I now come to the tortoiseshells—a mixture of orange and black. I
have dealt with mixing of colours in my remarks on the orange tabbies.
All I need say here is, mind that in your tortoiseshells you do not
get the orange markings. The most successful breeder in the North of
this variety—the late Mr. Young, of Harrogate—made tabby markings in a
tortoiseshell a disqualification in the show pen. The presence of any
white is also a very great drawback, and this is often found in small
patches on the chest or on the belly. You can have both too light and
too much orange colour, or you can have them too dark or too much
black. Equal colours and well mixed is about the right thing, with
good orange eyes. At the present time we have Lady Alexander’s and
Mrs. Herring’s males—‘Champion Samson’ and ‘Champion King Saul.’
Females are very strong, and well represented in Mrs. Pratt’s ‘Tib of
Rochdale’ and Messrs. Graham and Ainsley’s ‘Sunine.’
“The tortoiseshell-and-white is a most lovely and taking variety,
commonly called the ‘chintz-and-white’ in our homesteads. Very few and
far between are good specimens to be found, and yet in the show pens
these tricolour cats have a great advantage over their fellow-felines.
Lady Alexander has exhibited some splendid tortoiseshell-and-whites,
‘Ballochmyle Otter’ being one of the best (see illustration, page
289). A very common drawback in this variety is the mixture of tabby
with the orange-and-white, instead of the patches of black. I feel
sure if this variety were only taken up more we should see a
remarkable advancement both in markings and in colour. The
patches—white, orange, and black—in an ideal specimen should be, if
possible, about equal in number, and well placed on the body, head,
and feet; they look very charming when you see a really good one. I
hope a few more fanciers and breeders of short-haired cats will be
coming forward, so that the number exhibited at our shows may steadily
increase.”
[Illustration:
MRS. COLLINGWOOD’S “JAMES II.”
(_Photo: Russell & Sons, Crystal Palace._)
]
In this hope I do most heartily join, for although my name is mostly
connected with the long-haired breeds, I am such a lover of all cats
that I feel as anxious for one variety as another to obtain friends
and favour. It is specially in the South of England that the interest
in our short-haired breeds is on the wane, and it behoves all fanciers
to strive to assist in keeping alive the love of the British cat in
our midst.
In 1902 Sir Claud and Lady Alexander most generously guaranteed the
whole of these classes, and although they themselves made a very
numerous entry, yet there was a deficit to pay of several pounds, a
thing which ought not to be.
I find that the Manx, Siamese, and blues are generally able to take
care of themselves at shows, or they have clubs and secretaries who
look after their interests; but the “common or garden” puss needs a
kindly hand to assist in drawing him to the front, for, as that
well-known lover of “the domestic cat,” Harrison Weir, writes, “Why
should not the cat that sits purring in front of us before the fire be
an object of interest, and be selected for its colour, markings, and
form?”
[Illustration:
“BEN-MY-CHREE.”
OWNED BY MISS G. E. SILLAR.
(_Photo: J. W. Thomas, Colwyn Bay._)
]
[Illustration:
BURMESE CAT.
(_Photo: E. Landor, Ealing._)
]