Particolor Persians The Parti-Color Division of CFA is truly unique among the Persian divisions: as a division made up entirely

of females, it is the only division that cannot reproduce itself without going outside its division. As a result, the Parti-Colors were not taken as seriously, perhaps, as they might have been in the early years of the fancy. The problem may have been partly one of failure to understand the working of color genetics as they apply to sex-linked red. As late as 1939, Mrs. E. Soame wrote about breeding blue-creams and noted that they were, "caused by interbreeding Blues with Creams or Reds in the past, it's hoped to breed Blue-Cream to Blue-Cream in the future. That is providing we produce some males." (Gebhardt, 1979, p. 223.) That day, of course, never came. Probably because of this misunderstanding about color genetics, our lovely Parti-Color girls did not always get the respect they deserved in the early years. Harrison Weir, writing in the late 19th century, was convinced that tortoiseshell was not an original Persian color, since there were no records of any Persians of that color having been brought into England. Because this was a common color in the domestic cats of England, he surmised that the tortoiseshell Persians had originated through accidental matings between black Persians and mongrel tortoiseshells. As he included black, blue, red, and cream among the original Persian colors, his suspicions of the "common" origin of the tortoiseshell and the blue tortoiseshell, as the blue-cream was then known, seem unfounded. Beginnings in CFA Looking back through CFA's history, the tortoiseshell and blue-cream clearly have always played an important role. CFA began its Stud Book and Register in 1906 and the first cat listed in the Stud Book proper was a tortoiseshell Persian, Molly Bond. The first bluecream, Blue Vixen, bred and owned by Mrs. F. Tompkins, was registered as "AOC" (Any Other Color) in 1908 and appears in Volume 3 of the CFA Stud Book. The next bluecream, Madison Aurora, was not registered until 1910, and that year also saw the first blue-cream listed in the stud books as an import: Thibeta, imported by Mrs. James Chester of Lyndhurst, NJ. The old stud books also have cats registered as blue tortoiseshells who may well have been blue-creams; although generally cats listed this way at that time had one red parent. On May 19, 1914, the CFA Board held a special meeting at which the official longhair

standard was adopted. For the first time there was a written color standard for tortoiseshells as well as for whites, blacks, blues, oranges (reds), creams, brown tabbies, silver tabbies, and orange tabbies. For some reason blue-creams were not included and would have to continue to compete in the AOC class along with the chinchillas, shaded silvers, smokes, and calicos. The blue-creams did not receive their own color standard until 1932. Early Tortoiseshells CFA established the title of Grand Champion in 1930, but prior to 1971, only eleven tortoiseshells had achieved the title. In fact, the first tortoiseshell Persian to become a grand champion, GC Nor-Mont's Duchess, owned and bred by Mrs. Merald Hoag, did not do so until 1960. The second tortie to grand was GC Kohinoor Kathleen of Moonfleet, bred by CFA judge Mary Kate Carroll and originally owned by Marjorie Rogers until her death in 1960. "Kathleen" survived the auto accident that killed Mrs. Rogers unharmed, and went to live with Mr. and Mrs. Ben Ehrhardt, who showed the cat to her grand at the age of six. In 1964, a third tortie, GC Astra's Monita, bred and owned by Agnes Bradley, became a grand. Monita was the only tortie in a litter of five, with four white littermates. She was the grandam of the fourth tortie to grand, GC Astra's Gypsy (1966), also bred and owned by Agnes Bradley. In 1967, another tortie granded, GC Birch Haven Tike of Ben-Mar, bred by Mrs. Nina Duff and owned by Mr. and Mrs. Ben Ehrhardt. Five torties granded in 1968: GC Astra's Firefly (Br: Agnes Bradley, Ow: Hazel Rand), a littermate of GC Astra's Gypsy; GC Cherubino Twice Blessed (Br/Ow: Mr. & Mrs. Paul Foster); GC Birch Haven Pan-Z-Face of Catalot (Br: Nina Duff, Ow: Leslie Hunter); GC Woodkiff Calypso of Castilia (Ow: Mrs. Marcena Myers); and GC Misty Mornin' Meg (Br/Ow: Charles Milwain & William Nix). "Meg" went on to become cat of the year for 1969, the first tortie to do so. In 1970, there was one new tortie grand, GC Glenorchy Merl (Br/Ow: Mrs. F. W. Campbell Clarendon). Early Blue-creams The first blue-cream grand champion was GC Rosedere De Anne of Nor-Mont, bred by Emma Payne and owned by Mrs. Merald Hoag. "De Anne" was born in June of 1947 and granded at the Alamo City Cat Club show in February of 1951, having previously made points toward her grand in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio. The first Parti-Color and only blue-cream to become Cat of the Year was GC Larks-Purr Precious of Castilia (Ow: Mrs. Marcena Myers & Mrs. Merald Hoag), who was Cat of the Year for 1966. Other blue-cream grands before 1971 were GC Nor-Mont Charm (Br/Ow: Mrs. Merald Hoag); GC Bloemhill Miss Iowa

(Br/Ow: Mrs. John Bloem); GC Bloemhill Money Moon of Jeannel (Br: Mrs. John Bloem, Ow: Donna Jean Thompson); GC Bloemhill Fancy Free of Wynden (Br: Mrs. John Bloem, Ow: Ann Pevey), a daughter of Miss Iowa, GC Widdington Rosebud of Gaylands, Imp. (Ow: Verner Clum); GC Mar-Geo Princess of Rangemore (Br: Mrs. George Draper, Ow: Dr. & Mrs. Rex Foster); GC PussiWhillow (Ow: Thomas O'Hara); GC Sweet Dream of Kohinoor (Ow: Mary Kate Carroll); GC Hayword's Lolita of Misty Mornin' (Ow: Charles Milwain & William Nix); GC Misty Mornin' Mopsy (Br/Ow: Charles Milwain & William Nix); GC Nor-Mont Bright Star (Br/Ow: Mrs. Merald Hoag); GC Zoda Fleur-De Lys of Toireh (Ow: Mr. & Mrs. David O'Hern); GC Rulor Kandedol of Bloemhill (Ow: Mrs. John Bloehm); GC Skyway's Bo-Peep of Dunhowa (Ow: Wilda Derouin); GC Kirklea Kim of Misty Mornin' (Ow: Charles Milwain & William Nix); GC Ben-Mar Petunia (Br/Ow: Mr. & Mrs. Ben Ehrhardt); GC Hadleigh Coquette of KaneKaha (Ow: George Evans); GC Kohinoor Elfin of Kirklea (Br: Mary Kate Carroll, Ow: Charles Milwain & William Nix); GC Merchant's Run Around Sue (Br/Ow: Geraldine & Sharon Merchant); GC Show Me Blueberry Muffin (Ow: Mr. & Mrs. James Frankenburger); GC Stonybrook Paige of Chatalain (Ow: Peggy Otto); GC Bloemhill Brocade of Serendip (Br: Mrs. John Bloem, Ow: Donna Jean Thompson); GC Jan-Dam Sissie (Ow: Ken Aumuller); GC Chatalain Nepeta (Br/Ow: Peggy Otto); GC Erman Nyla of Shawnee (Ow: Nikki Shuttleworth); GC Flo-Sher Princess (Br/Ow: Mr. & Mrs. E.S. Cox); GC Misty Mornin' Be-Bop of Catspurr (Ow: Helen McFadden); GC Misty Mornin' Motif of Arahn (Ow: Seymour Lazerowitz). This is probably not a complete list of all the blue-creams that granded before 1971, but these 30 blue-cream grands demonstrate that blue-creams have a long tradition of winning. By 1971 they had already come a long way from their beginnings in the AOC class. It is wonderful when listing the early Parti-Color grands, both tortoiseshell and blue-cream, to note the number that were shown by breeders who are still active in the fancy today. Several of these breeders are still producing top show cats. Modern Parti-Colors In the years since CFA's current national awards program was begun in 1971, there have been far too many tortoiseshell and blue-cream grands to be able to list them all. In 1971 and 1972, there were no top winners in these colors, but since that time, this has happened only once, in 1992. Certain years stand out as especially strong for torties and blue-creams. In 1978, for example, two torties and one blue-cream made national kitten wins. This was a major accomplishment as kitten wins were limited to top five at that time. The 1980s saw the Parti-Colors doing particularly well. Four times in that decade there were three Parti-Colors in the top championship wins. Perhaps the most noteworthy was 1983, when three blue-creams

finished in the top ten, quite an accomplishment. Ten years later, in 1993, three bluecream kittens made national kitten wins. A number of Parti-Colors had national wins in more than one year. Two cats had premiership wins in two years: CH, GP, NW Mar-Geo Draper's Daphnie of Tara (Br: Mrs. George Draper, Ow: Jane Carlson) in 1974 and 1975 and GC, GP, NW K'Lane's Emily of Lilibet (Br: Henry & Joann Pillard, Ow: Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Ford) in 1981 and 1982. One cat, GC, GP, NW Ann-Ge Honi Babe of Windborne (Br: Mr. & Mrs. George Beal, Ow: Mr. & Mrs. George Beal & Vicki Dickerson) had both championship and premiership wins: 10th Best Cat in 1985 and 12th Best Cat in Premiership in 1993 (Ow: Carol Hutchings). Seven Parti-Colors had both kitten and championship wins. GC, NW Bryn Mawr Georgie Girl (Br/Ow: Werner, Irene & Mike Kachel) was Best Kitten in 1975 and 2nd Best Cat in 1976. GC, NW Bryn Mawr Parti Girl (Br/Ow: Werner, Irene & Mike Kachel) was 5th Best Kitten in 1978 and 14th Best Cat in 1979. GC, NW Currle Cats Chrissy of Marcus (Br: Kenneth & Lucindy Currle, Ow: Mark Hannon) was 5th Best Kitten in 1980 and 11th Best Cat in 1981. GC, NW Erina's Joy of Q-T Cats (Br: Nora Russo & Marcia & Leon Samuels, Ow: Marcia & Leon Samuels) was 4th Best Kitten in 1981 and 9th Best Cat in 1982. GC, NW Catala's Blaze Starr of Carolot, DM (Br: Jane & Gayden Latture, Ow: Ott & Carolyn Noble) was 7th Best Kitten in 1985 and 8th Best Cat in 1986. The final two cats set records that may stand for some time: GC, NW Kyina Patience of Oakway (Br: Anne & Amanda Bright, Ow: Judy Sturm & Anne & Amanda Bright) has the distinction of having been Best Kitten in 1979 and Best Cat in 1980; GC, GP, NW Mystichill Mighty High (Br: Diane Silverman, Ow: Mark Hannon & Diane Silverman) was 3rd Best Kitten in 1986, 3rd Best Cat in 1987, and Best Cat in Premiership in 1991. She is the only Parti-Color to achieve national wins in all three award categories. Many of the cats on the list of Parti-Color national winners have close relatives who have also made national wins, but several stand out for their close relationship to other Parti-Color winners. GC, NW Bryn Mawr Georgie Girl, 2nd Best Cat in 1976, was bred to another national winner, GC, NW Tra-Mar Happy Fella of Jensen (Br: Dayle & Marion Hall, Ow: Clark & Lois Jensen), a black and 20th Best Cat in 1979 to produce GC, NW Bryn Mawr Parti Girl who became 14th Best Cat in 1979. GC, NW Goliada Melissa (Br/Ow: Michael & Nancy Petersen), 4th Best Cat in 1980, was bred back to her color-bred blue father, GC Ariane Ambrose of Goliada, DM (Br: Dulcie Percival, Ow: Michael & Nancy Petersen). Ambrose was a British import who would become CFA's first blue male DM. This mating produced GC, NW Goliada Merissa (Br/Ow: Michael & Nancy Petersen), 6th Best Cat in 1983. GC, NW Myshadows Baughdy Lady (Br/Ow: Ann Sones), 8th Best Cat in 1987, and GC, NW Myshadows Madame (Br/Ow: Ann Sones), 6th Best Cat in 1989, were both out of GC, NW Bar-B Satin Doll of Myshadows (Br: Barbara Thal, Ow: Ann Sones), 19th Best Cat in 1985, bred to GC Myshadows Here Comes the Sun (Br/Ow: Ann Sones). "Baughdy Lady" is also the grandam of GC, NW Spellbound Estee Lauder (Br/Ow: Bob & Diane Deibert), 12th Best Cat in 1994. In the first 25 years of the CFA national awards, there have been 33 championship awards that have gone to Parti-Colors, 16 to torties and 17 to bluecreams; 22 kitten awards, 9 to torties and 13 to blue-creams; and 19 premiership awards, 5 to torties and 14 to blue-creams. The Parti-Color

Division has had an amazing number of cats receive the title of Distinguished Merit for producing five grands. From 1982 to the present, 77 Parti-Colors have become DMs, 54 tortoiseshells and 23 blue-creams. This compares very well to 53 blacks and 25 coppereyed white Persian DMs during the same time period. The Parti-Color with the most grand offspring as of January 1995 was GC Mystichill Too Hot to Handle, DM, a tortoiseshell bred by Diane Silverman and owned by Judy and Greg Brocato, who has produced 12 grands. Among the many top Parti-Color winners, only one has also become a DM - GC, NW Catala's Blaze Starr of Carolot. Her grand offspring include GC, NW Carolot Starr Dust (Br/Ow: Carolyn & Ott Noble), a black male who was 24th Best Cat in 1991. Two other cats that have made Parti-Color Division wins have also become DMs: GC Marhei Fruitcake (Br/Ow: Charles & Susan Helmke), 2nd Best of Breed/Division in 1992, and GC Jlor's Bonnie Blue Chip of Barmont (Br: Lori & Joanne Pavlik Ow: Bob Baratto), 2nd Best of Breed/Division in 1993. "Bonnie" has the additional distinction of having produced three national winners, one in each of the litters it took her to become a DM. Chocolate Tortoiseshells and Lilac-Creams Although CFA recognized pointed Himalayans in 1957, the first solid color chocolate longhair was not imported to North America until 1963. In 1972, Pat Horan bred the first chocolate tortoiseshell longhair in America, Miversnit's Marmelade. In 1973, the first lilac-cream longhair, Miversnit's Ambrosia arrived. In 1981, CFA created two divisions, one for pointed colors and one for solid colors, within the Himalayan breed. In 1984, the Himalayans were merged with the Persians. At that time, a Himalayan Persian Division was created for the pointed colors and the solid color chocolates and lilacs became part of the Solid Color Persian Division. Finally, in 1993, chocolate tortoiseshells and lilaccreams were accepted for championship status within the Parti-Color Persian Division. Chocolate tortoiseshells and lilac-creams are produced by the addition of a single recessive gene, the browning gene (symbolized "b"), to the tortoiseshell and the bluecream. Thus, the chocolate tortoiseshell is a tortoiseshell with two doses of the browning gene, one from each parent, while the lilac-cream is a blue-cream with a double dose of the browning gene. Thus, the chocolate tortoiseshell is the familiar (black) tortoiseshell plus the recessive pair (bb), while lilac-cream is blue-cream plus the recessive pair (bb). Just as the dilute gene (dd) changes black to blue, the browning gene (bb) changes black to brown (chocolate). However, unlike the dilute gene, the browning gene does not change red to cream. So, chocolate tortoiseshells, for example, exhibit the same red patching or intermingling as the "black" tortoiseshell. This is not to say that the chocolate gene has no effect on the red gene; rather, the chocolate gene somehow seems to enhance the color and make it richer than the normal red or cream. The cream on a lilac-cream is a very different shade of cream than one would see on a blue-cream that does not carry the browning gene, giving the lilac-cream a pinkish glow. In fact, carriers of the browning gene are not quite the same shade of color as non-carriers; instead, the coat color is often somewhat distorted. For example, black carriers may appear dark sable rather than black, red carriers are too, too red, and cream carriers appear hot. To date, no chocolate tortoiseshells or lilac-creams have attained the title of grand champion; however, between May 1993 and December 1995, four chocolate tortoiseshells attained the title of champion. These groundbreaking cats are CH

Bevenlee's Chocolate Mosaic (Br/Ow: Beverly McKinnerney), CH Gladevalley Sassafras (Br/Ow: Karen Roderick), CH Warkatz Small Town Girl (Br/Ow: Alma Ward), and CH Yo-Mans Memories Are Made-Of-This (Br/Ow: Myrtle Youmans). During this same time period, five lilac-creams attained the title of champion: CH Bevenlee's Glorious Sun N Lilacs (Br/Ow: Beverly McKinnerney), CH Fursaflyin Sweet Pea of Krystalpaw (Br: Linda Bonetti, Ow: Beverley Abramson), CH Keltset Cherry Blossom of Kim-Ball (Br: Louis Wheeler, Ow: Laura Barton), CH Kim-Ball Peaches of Shurwin (Br: Laura Turner, Ow: Pamela Heath), and CH Lilypurr's Althaea (Br/Ow: Helene & Joseph Wonoski). The Standard Changes In England, the color standard for the tortoiseshell calls for a patched cat and the color standard for the blue-cream calls for a cat with both colors intermingled. Until 1995, the CFA color standards for the different Parti-Colors had remained essentially unchanged since their initial acceptance and all called for patching. In addition, the color description for tortoiseshell called for patches of both red and cream plus a blaze on the face. With the 1995 show season, the color descriptions for all Parti-Colors were revised to make both patches and areas of intermingled colors acceptable, since it is impossible to breed for a particular Parti-Color pattern (as opposed to Bi-Colors). Also, in 1995, the tortoiseshell color description was revised to eliminate any reference to cream, since tortoiseshells cannot actually exhibit cream as they do not have two dilution genes. The typical tortoiseshell is a patchwork of black and red, usually in a random mixture and in many cases forming a fine-grained mosaic. In other cats, however, there are relatively large areas of clear black and red. If you look closely at the red areas on such a tortoiseshell, you may see that they resemble the coat of a red tabby. This explains the very common, but incorrect, statement that the tortoiseshell exhibits the three colors black, red, and cream. The cream areas correspond to the pale parts of the red tabby's coat. The colors can look quite distinct when separated by an area of black, but this is only a result of the fact that the non-agouti gene is ineffective on red. A cat either has the dilute gene, or it does not - the dilute gene changes black to blue and red to cream (Wright & Waiters, 1980, p. 38). Temperament It has always seemed a bit silly to claim that particular colors of Persians have distinctive personality traits, but tortoiseshells and blue-creams do seem to have a certain special attitude. They may be pansy faces, but they generally refuse to be shrinking violets or wallflowers. The typical Parti-Color has a very regal attitude and will usually manage to

claim the choice pillow on the couch, or even better a place on the bed next to your head, but they will always be in the center of things when something really exciting is going on. They are generally fastidious, but may object to the attention you wish to give them until they are in the mood, at which time they can be quite demanding. They are usually a delight to show, since they are likely to be bright, alert, and eager to show off their best features. They tend to take travel in stride and assume the crowds at the show are there to see them. Bibliography 1. Bloem, Lillias. "A cat may look on a king." 1967 CFA Yearbook. Cat Fanciers' Association. 2. Bradley, Agnes. "Notes on Tortoiseshell Persians." 1971 CFA Yearbook. Cat Fanciers' Association. 3. Fox, B. J. "Chocolate mania in Himalayan/Persians." 1994 CFA Yearbook. Cat Fanciers' Association. 4. Gebhardt, Richard H., Grace Pond, & Dr. Ivor Raleigh (Eds.). A Standard Guide to Cat Breeds. New York: McGraw Hill, 1979. 5. "Our early years." 1959 CFA Yearbook. Cat Fanciers' Association. 6. "Our early years (Part III)." 1960 CFA Yearbook. Cat Fanciers' Association. 7. Pond, Grace (Ed.). The Cat Encyclopedia. New York: Crown Publishers, 1972. 8. Robinson, Roy. Genetics for Cat Breeders (3rd ed.). London: Pergamon Press, 1991. 9. Thompson,Will& Eric Wickham-Ruffle. The Complete Persian. New York: Howell Book House, 1993. 10. Wright, Michael & Sally Walters (Eds.). The Book of the Cat. New York: Summit Books, 1980.

Silver and Golden Persians by Janice Reichle The Silver Persian has long been referred to as the Rolls Royce of the cat world. The look is timeless and elegant, and they have always been described as regal and exquisite in appearance. It is a breed of classic, incredible beauty, considered by many to be the most beautiful Persian color, if not the fairest of them all. Along with the elegant Golden Persian, they have always been a challenge to breed, and silver and golden breeders are a dedicated and determined group. Most have found it more productive to specialize: almost without exception, the top winners of each era have come from catteries that have bred only these colors. Breeding silvers and goldens in addition to another color or breed means keeping two or more sets of cats.

The History The earliest documentation of silvers shows Chinnie, born in 1882 in England. While no pictures of her have been found, there was one of her famous grandson, Silver Lambkin. Some of the pedigrees of our present day silvers have been traced back to Lambkin. There was little record keeping in the early days, but as time went on people paid more attention to documenting their breeding. These records showed that other colors, often blues and tabbies, were used in the breeding of silvers. Silvers also appeared in the pedigrees of Persians of other colors. There is no record to show when silvers were accepted by the Cat Fanciers Association, so it is reasonable to assume they were among the original colors bred when this association was organized in 1906. Silvers had been imported into the United States from England before that date. The Golden Persian does not have as long a history in CFA as does the Silver Persian. The golden color is recessive to silver, and for many years before this color was accepted, odd colored kittens occasionally popped up in colorbred silver litters (see Breeding for Goldens). Most often these kittens, then referred to as brownies, were placed as pets. By the 1960s a few interested breeders were working with them. The beauty of their golden coats with the contrast of their vivid green or blue-green eyes attracted more and more dedicated breeders, and gradually they grew in popularity until they were finally accepted by CFA in 1976. The Division Silver, golden, smoke, and cameo Persians have been subject to more division changes than any other color. The Shaded Division consisted of chinchilla silvers, shaded silvers, and smokes until 1961; at this time, cameos were accepted and added to the division. In 1965, the smokes were taken out of the Shaded Division and given their own division: the Smoke Division. The next change came in 1976 when chinchilla goldens and shaded goldens were accepted by CFA and added to the Shaded Division. Shaded tortoiseshells were accepted and were also added to the Shaded Division. Silver and golden breeders felt that shaded torties did not belong in their division, but rather belonged in the Parti-Color Division with other tortoiseshells. Many also felt that perhaps there should be a Green-Eyed Division, as neither the cameos nor shaded torties rightfully belonged in the same division as silvers and goldens. Although this was not accepted at the time, starting with the 1995-96 season the cameos and shaded torties were placed in the Smoke Division and the name of that division was changed to the Shaded and Smoke Division. Silvers and goldens were then alone in a division called the Silver and Golden Division (not the Green-eyed Division). The Color

Early Persians of all colors bore little resemblance to todays Persians. It was some time before the concept of color breeding came into being. With selective breeding, silver breeders had nearly eliminated tabby markings and leg bars by the mid-20th Century, therefore color breeding became a must. Silver breeders were criticized if their cats were not colorbred; however, there was no agreement on how many generations were required for a silver to be considered a colorbred cat. Color breeding was a necessity for many years in order to maintain the beautiful trademark coloring of the silver Persian. The gene pool was small, and certain physical characteristics appeared to be associated with the silver color: the cats produced were generally lighter in bone and eventually, smaller in size. Additional colors and patterns of the other Persians were developed over the years resulting in a larger gene pool, while the gene pool of the silvers remained the same. This led to an interest on the part of some breeders to include other colors in their breeding programs. One of the earliest pioneers in this type of outcrossing was Fannie Mood of Delphi Cattery, who was also a former CFA registrar. At the time she did this breeding, she lived in California, a stronghold of color breeding, and she was greatly criticized for breeding to a blue Persian. The introduction of solids into a golden program to improve type and bone causes the same problems that it does in a silver program, if not more of them. It muddies the coat color and spoils the eye color; it also causes more tabby markings in a color that has not yet eliminated these markings. Silvers, having been bred in the United States for a century, have had a long head start on goldens, whose breeding history here is less than half of that time. Silvers were being bred before 1900, but goldens were not seriously bred until the 1960s. What was once written about silvers is now also true for goldens: Youve come a long way, baby! While breeders concentrated on and selected for type, less attention was paid to color. In no other Persian is color as important as in the shaded or tipped cats. Though the pale blue color of years ago has all but disappeared from the blue Persian, some things remain the same. A smoke is not a smoke without its dramatic color-on-top and white-underneath coat; and silvers and goldens must have the proper tipping in addition to black mascara and margins with the appropriate and distinctive nose and eye color. At one time there was a significant difference between chinchilla silvers and shaded silvers. Today, some of our silvers are referred to as neither/nors because they are neither chinchilla silvers nor

shaded silvers. While many more silvers are registered as shaded than as chinchilla, we seldom see a true shaded silver with sufficient tipping to give it its lovely dark mantle. It was easier to breed a cat with less tipping than to breed a cat with not only enough tipping, but also even shading. It has come to the point that if a silver is not snow white, or if it has a bit too much shading on the body, it is registered as a shaded silver, even though it does not have enough tipping to be truly shaded. Almost 50 years ago Jeanne Ramsdale of Dearheart Cattery was quoted as saying that one should be able to tell the difference between a chinchilla silver and a shaded silver from across the room. Whether or not she actually said that, it was an accurate description; and until recently this was the case. Some years ago breeders were asked whether they wished to accept blue (dilute) silvers. The rationale was that since breeders were outcrossing to solids, these and other colors were occasionally showing up in some litters. The question was raised four times over a period of years, and each time it was voted down. Clearly the majority of breeders has not wanted them accepted. The last three times breeders were also asked whether or not to accept blue goldens, and this was also voted down. Golden breeders have many different shades of golden with which to deal, and apparently did not want to add to their color problems. We need to improve the colors we already have before accepting a variation of these colors. Silvers are tipped with black, and often there are problems distinguishing between chinchillas and shadeds; goldens have had these in addition to other color problems. Many cats, both silvers and goldens, have less than desirable nose color, mascara and margins. Have you ever seen a judge rub a finger over the dense black mascara on the nose? The really good color has not been seen consistently, so the judge may question whether it is real! One may choose to use other colors in a breeding program, but perhaps we should show only those colors meeting the current standards, rather than continue to create new classes to fit the odd color we may encounter. It has been suggested that there should be one silver class and one golden class. The chinchillas and shadeds would be judged together as two separate colors but in the same class, with one class for silvers, another class for goldens. Opponents feel this would be the end of the beautiful shaded silvers. Chinchilla silver lovers should also be concerned, because it might also represent the end of the pale chinchilla. While some color standards read lighter shades to be preferred, we would probably end up with only neither/nors. It has always been accepted: silvers with enough black tipping to give them that shimmering, silvery look vibrant green or blue-green eye color, and eyes outlined with black as if made up with mascara and with nose margin and lip liner to match. Black, not blue tipping. The eye color in silvers and goldens has always been considered very important, which is

why the standard is specific. It clearly states: Eye color: green or blue-green. Disqualify for incorrect eye color, incorrect eye color being copper, yellow, gold, amber or any color other than green or blue-green. All silver and golden breeders want this eye color in their cats. This may be difficult to attain, but it does not change the fact that this is the standard, although some are willing to accept less. A silver or golden with incorrect eye color may be valuable in a breeding program, but it does not belong in the show ring. Some breeders and judges say that they began by breeding silvers and gave up because they are too difficult. Goldens are even more difficult to breed to the standard than the silvers. With some exceptions, they are years behind silvers in type, which may be attributed to the small number of breeders working with them until recent years. While silvers have variations in the amount of tipping, they do have a white undercoat with black tipping one shade of white and one shade of black, to simplify the description. The goldens are quite different. The golden standard calls for the undercoat to be cream, and the tipping black. While a cream cat with black tipping and green eyes would be beautiful, that is not a true golden. It would be more accurate to say, quoting Judith Legg, that the undercoat is usually cream colored and sometimes its gray with seasonal variations. The overcoat of guard hair is ticked. Each hair shaft is banded with yellow, rust and dark brown or black. Goldens, including chinchillas, have tabby Ms on their foreheads, and dark spines and dark tail tips. This probably explains why there have been many variations of the golden color. The color has ranged from pale amber to bright red-gold to the less desirable brownish-gold. Early golden breeders had tried for so long to have goldens accepted that they did not want to quibble over this color description; however, this was not what had been submitted as their standard. Rarely do two goldens have the same shade, even from the same litter, and the coat color can change until the cat is five years of age or even older. Some goldens are born with wonderful, rich color; some take two to three years to develop. The color of the undercoat can change with the seasons of the year, even achieving a gray, muddy color at certain times of the year. For years, further frustration came from the fact that if a golden had good color, it lacked type and was not showable; if it had type, the color was poor, so it also was deemed not showable. While some judges have bred silvers and appreciate the difficulties, no judge has bred goldens, so they have not experienced all the variations and changes in color. Nearly all golden breeders feel that if a silver and golden of comparable type are in competition, the silver is more likely to be chosen. There are so few goldens shown, usually only one golden in the ring, that judges have rare opportunities to

compare their color. Many goldens have been incorrectly registered and shown in the wrong color class. An apricot golden has been shown as a chinchilla golden simply because of its light color, not because of the appropriate amount of tipping. A darker golden color was more apt to be shown as a shaded golden simply because it was dark, with less attention given to the amount of tipping. Whether golden or silver color class has been defined by the amount of tipping, not the color of the undercoat. The Look The 1950s, 60s, and 70s produced many beautiful and very competitive silvers, no different from Persians of other colors in type. Judging by the CFA Yearbooks, it was by the late 1970s that blacks had developed a different look and shorter noses than some other colors; however, the silvers were as good or better than the whites shown at the time. Silver breeders were breeding selectively to improve and set type. When compared to some of the other colors, silvers improved more quickly in doming, tophead, and ear size. Unfortunately, this selective breeding further limited the already small gene pool. From time to time, some breeders talked about the possibility of a different standard for Silver and Golden Persians; however, most feel that good silvers and goldens meet the standard as it is written. It has not been the standard or the cat at fault, but more likely the way the standard has been interpreted over the years. Sometimes we hear a cat praised for having no nose. The standard calls for a short nose; how short is not defined, but it does not say no nose! It describes a break, but does not specify how deep the break should be. What is far more specific in the standard is the location of the break, described as centered between the eyes. Until the standard becomes more specific, silvers and goldens should not be penalized for not having noses as short, nor breaks as deep, as some Persians of other colors. During a discussion while judging silvers, one judge stated his opinion that silvers (and goldens) should have a nose as broad as it is long. This meets the description in the standard for a broad nose, as well as contributing to the overall balance of the cat. While silvers and goldens may not have noses as short as some Persians of other colors, they have met the criteria of as short as it is broad, and they are more likely to excel in round doming and small, well-set ears. Their skulls have been smooth and round, without the ridges and flatness often found in Persians of other colors. Silvers and goldens may never look exactly like other Persians. Breeders have used careful selection to improve boning and head type, but the extreme genes might not be there. Occasionally a kitten has been born with the extreme type similar to that of a solid Persian, but these cats have not consistently reproduced that look. Outcrossing to

solids has resulted in some unusual colors, and by the time coat and eye color have been regained, type has usually reverted to what has been known and admired as the silver look. Perhaps, as in the Peke-face Red Tabby standard which has an allowance for a difference in type, an allowance could be included in the Silver/Golden standard so that these beautiful cats do not lose their unique look. Many have used or are using other colors in their breeding programs, but should resist showing a silver or golden with gold eyes even if they are very typy. Would a gold-eyed Himalayan or a green-eyed white be acceptable? Certainly not. Breeders ask for the cooperation of judges to help improve our silvers and goldens. Our cats need to be judged by the standard as it is written and not as it is interpreted by a few. We have worked very hard to meet the standard in every way, and we stand behind the judges when they withhold for poor type and incorrect eye color, as they have done for poor condition or tail faults. Constructive criticism will always be welcomed! Differences Beyond Color The time has passed when silvers were hard to handle. I have been exhibiting long enough to remember when almost every breed had a personality problem. In each decade, you knew without asking when you heard a cat blow in the show hall, just what breed it was. Breeders have worked hard to eliminate behavior problems in almost every breed, including Persians. I remember one judge describing a big silver class in one section of the country. He said of the silvers he judged there, The silvers were all gorgeous too bad you cant put your hands on them! That was a long time ago; silvers no longer have that reputation, and the problem was pretty much eliminated before goldens appeared upon the scene. They are, however, very different in personality from Persians of other colors. They are far more active: ask anyone who has bred and owned enough different colors to compare. Silvers generally have lower birth weights and leave the nest box quite early. Although they mature sexually at an early age, they do not look their best until they are three to five years old. Some silvers and goldens are smaller in size and lighter in bone when compared with the other Persians. The phrase medium to large in the standard has not been defined, and size is relative. The standard also says Quality the determining

consideration rather than size. Silvers and goldens are outgoing cats with unique personalities; they are intelligent, affectionate and people-oriented lap cats. While they are wonderfully decorative Persians, they are not couch potatoes, as Persians have often been described. You will seldom find these colors dozing on grooming tables in a show hall, as you often see other Persians. They are sensitive, so they need to be socialized from an early age, and they do not take well to isolation and confinement. Many have profuse coats, and some have the difficult-to-groom cotton candy coat, but all seem to have fine textured hair that breaks easily. They may have more sensitive skin. All of this means that grooming had best be started early and done gently to prepare them for the care required to keep the long, flowing coat at its breathtaking best. The Unique Silver and Golden Silver and golden breeders have worked very hard to meet the challenge of type to produce beautiful, well-balanced Persians. Their successes are obvious, as shown in the accompanying pictures. There are variations of the look throughout history, but we hope the unique look of silvers and goldens will always be there. When one thinks of silvers and goldens, one pictures a cat with a wide-open, sweet expression with large, round eyes of a luminous green or blue-green. The ears are small with the wonderful round doming that seems to be a silver and golden trademark. The nose is short and broad, and this lovely round head, framed by full ruff, is attached to a short, cobby body with a long, flowing coat. It is perfection that we strive for but let us not lose the unique look! There are many articles available that show the development and changes of silvers and goldens since 1900 (See CFA Yearbook articles), but our attention here has been directed to those of recent years. For more reading about Silver and Golden Persians, as well as Silver and Golden Exotics, see the United Silver Fanciers Quarterly publication, which reprints many of the listed articles and some otherwise unavailable articles.