77 Things to Know Before Getting a Cat. Susan Ewing M.

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СКАЧАТЬ stripes of a darker color on a slightly lighter background and dark bands on the legs and tail. The classic tabby has more of a bull’s-eye pattern on the sides and a dark center stripe along the spine as well as the dark bands on the legs and tail.

      A ticked tabby pattern lacks the stripes of the mackerel and classic and has hairs with distinct bands of color on them. These agouti hairs give a textured look of light and dark to the coat. The Abyssinian is an example of a ticked tabby.

       X FACTOR

      Both tortoiseshell and calico (black and red on white) cats are generally female because the X chromosome carries the calico factor.

      In the spotted tabby pattern, the stripes are broken up to look like spots. The Bengal, Ocicat, and Egyptian Mau are examples of this kind of pattern.

      Pointed, or colorpoint, cats include the Siamese, Burmese, Himalayan, and Ragdoll. True colorpoint cats always have blue eyes. According to the Cat Fanciers Association, Siamese cats may have seal (almost black), chocolate (warm brown), blue (slate blue), and lilac (pinkish-gray); the International Cat Association additionally recognizes red, cream, and tabby points.

      In all colorpoint cats, the color is the result of a gene that inhibits pigment. This gene is affected by temperature; the dark color comes out on the cooler body areas, like the tail, face, and legs. As a pointed cat ages, the skin temperature cools and the body darkens.

      Piebald cats have two or more distinct colors, generally on a white background. Tortoiseshell cats, or “torties,” are cats whose fur combines two colors other than white, usually black and red or the dilute variations of these colors. Our neighbor’s beautiful tortie would be described as lavender/lilac and cream. If the tabby pattern is also in evidence, the cat is called a “torbie.”

      Colors vary according to registry and can be put together into many combinations. For example, the American Cat Fanciers Association lists thirty-nine possible color combinations plus “and white” and “van-colored” for the American Shorthair, which includes fifteen tabby variations, such as brown, blue, cameo, golden, and silver. Besides the standard black, blue, red and cream, there’s also chinchilla, cameo, blue smoke, black smoke, and blue cream smoke.

      

      The classic tortoiseshell colors are black and red.

      DID YOU KNOW?

      A “mitted” cat has four white feet.

      

      A green-eyed beauty.

      Other cats may be cinnamon, or amber, or fawn. And these are just coat colors. Cats’ eyes may be blue, copper, green, gold, or brown, or a cat may have eyes of two different colors. This can occur in any breed, but is frequently seen in the Turkish Angora, Turkish Van, and Japanese Bobtail.

      If you want to study all of the various permutations of color in cats, the Messy Beast’s color charts (www.messybeast.com/colour-charts.htm) are a great place to start. If you’re trying to identify the colors of a specific breed, check the colors listed in the breed descriptions set forth by the various cat registries. Color descriptions may vary between registries, and different countries may also have different names for the colors.

      The name of the color matters only if you are registering a pedigreed cat or entering a cat show with a breed in which there are color divisions; otherwise, it doesn’t matter whether you call your cat gray or smoke or lilac. Your cat won’t care, and because you love your cat, you won’t care either.

      6

      Finding a Breeder

      It’s always nice to adopt a stray cat or rescue a cat from a local shelter, but what if you have your heart set on certain characteristics in your cat? If you want a talkative breed, you might look for a Siamese or one of the other Asian breeds known to enjoy carrying on conversations. Maybe you’ve fallen in love with the ruddy coloration of an Abyssinian, or you want an athletic cat of any color. If your shelves are filled with treasured heirlooms, you may prefer a cat like the Ragdoll, who’s not as likely to jump and climb. Perhaps you love the look of long, flowing fur or, at the opposite end of the spectrum, you find a hairless cat your ideal. These are all good reasons to consider a pedigreed cat.

      You might be attracted to the idea of cat shows and decorating your walls with the ribbons your cat wins. Maybe you’ve even become so enthralled by a particular breed that you’d like to start your own cattery.

      For any of the aforementioned reasons, you should look for your pedigreed cat from a breeder. Another reason you might want to get your cat from a breeder is that there are certain hereditary diseases in cats. If there are genetic tests for specific diseases, a reputable breeder will have had them done. You’ll know that the mother cat (the queen) has had proper nourishment and necessary vaccinations. When you pick up your kitten, you’ll know he’s been wormed, if necessary, and had preliminary shots.

      

      The Ragdoll is one of the more docile cat breeds.

      When you buy from a breeder, you may get a written contract that states the purchase price and any conditions, like spaying or neutering the cat. There may be a health guarantee as well, stating that the cat is free of inherited diseases. There may also be a time frame during which you can return the kitten and receive your money back. Or the contract may state that if your kitten dies within a certain amount of time, the breeder will give you a replacement kitten.

      While some breeders may not, a truly good breeder will agree to take back any cat she has bred at any time, and for any reason. This means that if a time comes when you can no longer care for your cat, you know that he will be returned to the breeder’s care rather than end up in a shelter. The older I get, the more reassuring that kind of guarantee is.

      

      Bengal cats have distinct tiger-like markings.

      A Scottish Fold mother and kittens.

      Another great thing about getting a cat from a breeder is that you’ve got someone to turn to for advice and information, whether you have a behavior question or you want to learn more about cat shows. Whatever your cat-related question, your breeder will be there for you.

      In addition to the contract and a copy of your kitten’s pedigree, the breeder may give you a small bag or can of whatever food your kitten is used to and maybe even a small bag of litter. At the very least, your breeder will tell you what kind of food she feeds and what kind of cat litter she uses.

      When you begin your search for a pedigreed cat, understand that the closer your cat is to breed perfection, the more expensive he will be. Also, if you are particularly interested in breeding stock, an established breeder will have a lot of questions for you СКАЧАТЬ