Marble color in British cats: history of appearance and features of care

British among cats

This breed is popular due to its independent and patient disposition, because British women will never get bored in the absence of their owner. At the same time, plush purrs are not devoid of a sense of tact and show full love to those who take care of them and treat them with tasty treats.

British cats are the embodiment of calm and intelligence

The British are distinguished by high intelligence - by changing the “notes” in the breadwinner’s voice, the cat will understand that it is doing something wrong. However, these little cats cannot be called too mischievous or vindictive - calmness is their strong point. At the same time, British cats are not inclined to become toys in children's hands; with excessive attention from children, the cat will prefer to run away.

Externally, British catfish differ in the following parameters:

• thick coat with dense undercoat;
• round, close-set eyes of amber color;
• massive head on a short neck;
• wide cheekbones;
• small nose with a wide bridge;
• ears widened at the base with rounded tips;
• muscular body on wide, strong legs;
• medium-length tail, rounded at the end.

Bicolor colors

The group includes combinations of white and other colors.

Bicolor colors are divided into 3 groups depending on the proportions of the colors.

Van is an almost white animal, only the tail or spots on the head are colored.

Harlequin - white makes up approximately 4/5 of the surface of the body, and there are large colored markings on the back and head.

Bicolor - about half of the body is painted white.

The picture shows a British cat chocolate-red bicolor

British bicolors must have white muzzle, collar, hips and paw pads.

Their eyes are copper or golden in color.

How the color of the Briton was formed

There are several versions of the origin of the breed - one says that the ancient Romans brought cats from the Egyptian desert in the 1st-2nd centuries. ad. According to another legend, British cats originate from the purring Chartreuse breed, taken by medieval crusaders from the shores of South Africa.

Chartreuse cats are considered possible ancestors of the British breed

The first true Britons who settled Foggy Albion had gray-blue “stuffed” fur. This is how they were depicted in religious treatises (for example, in the Lindisfarne Gospel), poems and bestiaries. Zoologists began selection, which fixed the color, only in the 19th century, at which time the first breed standard was drawn up.

Color is the color scheme and patterns on a cat's fur coat that are formed as a result of the interaction of genetic materials responsible for the production of melanin in the body. The desired shade of coat is obtained by crossing animals with dominant and recessive genes responsible for the pattern and depth of tone. So, in British dogs with blue hair, the set of genes looks like BBdd (where B is the dominant gene that forms the black color, and d is the recessive gene responsible for muted, diluted shades). Marbled cats carry the Tb gene (where T is the dominant tabby color gene, and b is a recessive gene that makes the coat brownish, not black).

Felinologists became concerned with professionally establishing breed characteristics (including color) in British cats only after the Second World War, when the question arose of preserving this variety of domestic purrs:

• 1950 - official recognition of the British Blue breed;
• 1967 - British blue cats received the champion title from the ACA association;
• 1977 - ban on mating with other breeds, including Chartreuse;
• 1980 - recognition of the breed by the CFA Association.

Silver colors

In representatives of this group, each fur is not entirely colored , but only partially.

Depending on what proportion of the hair is dyed, colors are divided into 2 groups .

The first includes smoky, the second - shaded colors and silver chinchilla.

One-third of the hair is colored with the main color

Smoky cats have short, coarse, dense fur and large, round eyes that are orange and gold in color.

Shaded and chinchilla (tipped) colors

In the British with a shaded color, the hairs are covered with the main color by one sixth, and in Chinchillas - by one eighth.

Representatives of these colors should not have patterns in the form of closed lines on the paws, tail and chest.

British Chinchillas have bright green eyes, while Shaded have yellow or orange eyes.

One way or another, it doesn’t matter whether your cat is pure black or gray-brown-crimson, for you he will be the best and certainly special.

The main thing is to learn more about short-haired or long-haired (“taste and color”) British cats, choose the right kitten, distinguishing it from a Scottish one, choose a nickname, raise it correctly and care for it, not forgetting about vaccinations for British kittens. The result will not be long in coming: you will fall in love with the British man, no matter what he looks like.

SPOTTED TABBY, LEOPARD COLOR BRITISH

The British spotted cat can also be called Spotted tabby or leopard, which, in principle, is the same thing. The color must invariably include: the letter “M” on the forehead, “necklaces”, stripes on the paws, rings on the tail, spots on the belly, a contrasting pattern, eyeliner and nose, all according to the standard.

The spotted color is the most common of all tabby colors. The British spotted cat looks elegant and looks like a leopard, which is why it received this second name for the color. British spotted kittens can be born from parents of any tabby color. Eyes can be copper or green (green eye color is characteristic of golden and sometimes silver colors).

We suggest you read: Childbirth in a cat - how to give birth to a cat at home?

Photo of a British tabby kitten, black silver spotted color BRI ns 24

BRITISH TABBY KITTENS

British tabby kittens can only be born from parents of this color. Those. at least one parent must be a tabby (with a pattern). A British tabby/tabby kitten should have a fairly contrasting pattern from birth. It must be remembered that over time, the color of British tabby cats “erodes” as the kitten grows, so, for example, a brindle color can turn out to be a spotted color. The full tabby color of British cats is formed by one year.

Where does the British marbled cat come from?

Since the beginning of the 20th century. British cats included not only plain blue animals, but also tabby cats with different shades on their fur coats. Thus, in 1901, American felinologists registered a Belle cat with a red tabby color.

British marbled cats appeared as a result of crossing with other breeds

The consequence of two world wars was the almost complete extermination of the British breed, so breeders began to crossbreed pets with representatives of other varieties - Burmese, Russian Blues, Persians and Scottish. The result was the appearance of many varieties of British color while simultaneously preserving the breed characteristics (wide paws, protruding cheekbones, “plush” coat).

At the same time, among all the variations of the striped coat of the British fur coat, it is the marble color that is considered classic, occurring naturally. Zoologists are inclined to believe that the symmetrical darkening on the fur of catfish from Foggy Albion is an inheritance from wild Asian or African ancestors.

How to get marbled kittens

Considering that color can be obtained if gene A is present, two marbled cats are brought together. In this case, you can be guaranteed to get almost all the kittens of the desired shade. In addition, spotted babies are born from the mating of spotted and brindle parents. However, it is important to consider the fact that their mom and dad were supposed to be marble.

Breeders with extensive experience note that in a large number of cases the result is not what you want. And if so, then the color can no longer be considered standard.

Usually it makes itself known:

1. Shading. In this case, the marble is “washed away”, not as rich as it should be.
2. Extra ticking. The drawing is poorly visible.
3. Expressiveness. The difference between the background and the pattern is so noticeable that it looks rather ugly than bright.
4. Torn drawing. In this case, the stripes are not only interrupted, but also intertwined with other lines.

To get the desired result, you need to choose your parents wisely.

Types of merle colors among the British

This color belongs to a group of colors called tabby (from the name of the striped fabric brought to England from Baghdad). The peculiarity of this pattern is the continuity of lines and the uniqueness of the pattern for each individual. Thanks to the efforts of felinologists, today the British marble coat is represented by many varieties.

Black marble

The main background of the coat is dark gray, the stripes have a pronounced black tint. There is a black outline around the eyes and nose, the color of the eyes is brown-orange.

British black marble shades are highly prized by animal lovers.

Black marble on silver

Charcoal stripes and spirals are symmetrically arranged on a silver background. There are dark spots near the eyes and the red-brown nose.

Black marble on silver - exquisite colors of British cats

Black marble on gold

The main color of the coat is copper-golden, the stripes have a black or dark brown tint. The eyes are most often green or yellow.

The British with the “black marble on gold” color look very presentable

Lilac marble

The silver fur coat is decorated with patterns of lavender or peach undertones. There is also a lavender rim around the nose and eyes. The iris is yellow or pale brown.

British cats with a lilac-marble hue are quite unusual

Tortoise marble

The main background can be silver-red or silver-brown, while the spots and patterns remain black or dark brown. The eyes are often yellow or greenish. The color is characteristic only of females; in rare cases it is found among males. Cats with this color cannot have offspring due to genetic characteristics.

Tortoiseshell marble involves adding reddish shades to the main color scheme

Chocolate marble

The fur coat is the color of milk chocolate, the pattern is dark brown. The eyes and nose are outlined with thick chocolate eyeliner. The color of the iris is from yellow to golden brown.

Chocolate Marble is a common color option among the British.

Bicolor

The main color with spots is diluted with white inserts on the paws, chest and belly. Eyes can be yellow, brown or green.

Bicolor color is also found among British harlequins.

Red marble

The light red fur of the main background is decorated with spots and streaks of a rich red hue. The eyes are orange, brownish-golden.

Red merle is a red British breed with merle patterns on their coats.

Red marble on silver

It is distinguished by a silvery tone of the main background, the spots have a light red color. The fur around the eyes is white, the nose is pink. The eyes are yellow or golden.

Red marble on silver - a spectacular coat color for the British

Cream marble

The main background has a shade of creme brulee, and the spots tend to be peach. There are white hairs around the eyes and a pink nose. Eyes yellow or gold.

Cream marble is a very delicate shade of the fur of British cats.

Blue marble

Silver coat with smoky gray stripes and spots, dark gray lining around the nose. The eyes are not circled and have a brown-golden tint.

The British in the shade of “blue marble” look noble

Description: what does the standard look like?

Variety of colors

The most famous color is black marble on silver, where the main tone is white-silver with a clear black pattern. In addition, cats of the British breed have the following colors:

• Gold marble (black marble on gold). There is a black and brownish pattern on a golden brown background.
• Chocolate marble. There are clear brown stripes against the café au lait background. The chocolate shade has varieties of silver (light base color and brownish pattern) and golden, where yellowish predominates in the shades.
• Blue marble. Includes a combination of dark and light gray.
• Red marble. This is a bright red cat with a characteristic pattern of a darker tone.
• Red silver marbled cats. They are distinguished by a light base color and light brown stripes.

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Breed standard

The British marbled cat breed cannot have fold ears, so kinks in the ears are considered a deviation. Disadvantages include an incorrect bite, a narrow muzzle, a hump on the nose or a sign of brachycephalic breeds, and a pronounced pinch. Marbled kittens must be tabby, any baby from the litter must have short hair. The basic requirements for the breed are shown in the table:

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Some breeds and types of marble

The merle color is found in various varieties in many domestic cat breeds.

Bengal marble

He is very unique. These hybrid cats have primary color patterns of gold, silver, snow and charcoal, but always with a tabby pattern. These can be bright spots, peculiar “rosettes” or various stains. That’s why they call marble “on gold”, “on silver”, snow and coal.

The type of pattern itself is also different. If you don’t delve into the special terminology, but accept the generally accepted one among breeders, then it can be of the “cloak” and “sparble” type.

Cloak marble is the most inexpressive pattern, when dark lines practically merge and overlap the main background. Such animals are poorly valued.

But sparbles are highly valued. These cats can be said to combine large two-color rosettes and large concentric circles on the sides, belonging to true classic marble. Usually such animals are the brightest and most expressive in the litter, with bright glitter.

Bengals do not have tortoiseshell marbles.

British marble

It is common in closely related breeds - the British and the Scots, which differ only in the shape of the ears; in the latter they are bent forward and hang down.

This is one of the oldest breeds of domestic cats in Europe. Received by crossing street, English and Persian individuals. The structure of their short, printed coat with abundant undercoat is reminiscent of teddy bears.

By nature, these animals are quite capricious, lazy, independent and picky. But with proper training, they make excellent pets.

The merle color can be regular or tortoiseshell. It is these breeds that have the greatest difficulties in breeding this color due to the moire factor.

Asian tabby

The name of the breed itself speaks about the color characteristics. Bengal wild type marbles are common. But moire is quite common, since the breed was obtained by crossing a Burmilla and an Abyssinian, which is distinguished by high ticking.

These animals are very active, playful and restless. They are extremely attached to their owner and distrustful of strangers.

American Bobtail

It is also distinguished by a variety of colors, among which marble in various color variations is not the least important.

This is an American breed, bred in the 50s of the last century. The main distinguishing feature is the short tail, which is often called a bob. The coat can be short or medium length.

Smart, sociable, independent pets are excellent companions for all household members.

Read more in the article about American Bobtails.

Bramble

This very young breed (2000) bears the name of its creator Harry Bramblett. In addition, it is also used in consonance with the English word for “thorn” - “bramble”.

Obtained by crossing a Bengal cat and a Peterbald with a brush coat. Therefore, the marble of these cats is of the Bengal type, and the fur itself resembles a hard wire in appearance, but is soft to the touch. This is currently an experimental and very rare variety.

In character they are unusually reminiscent of Bengal.

Bohemian rex

Extremely rare animals. They were bred in the 80s of the last century, but breeding work has practically ceased.

They descended from short-haired Persians with a rare gene for curly hair, apparently accidentally introduced during crossings during the selection of German Rexes.

Very cute and obedient pets come in a variety of colors, including marbled ones.

Devon Rex

Can also be marbled. It was this breed that was formed due to a random mutation.

This was discovered when an attempt was made to cross them with Cornish Rex. The genes of the two species turned out to be different; the desired result did not work out.

Like all curly-haired cats, Devon Rexes resemble in their behavior the symbiote of a monkey, a dog and a cat. Cheerful, energetic, restless pets are loving, intelligent and trusting.

Napoleon

This amazing animal only recently received the title of a provisionally recognized breed six years ago, but has won the love of the whole world due to its unusual appearance and chic character.

American breeder Joe Smith crossed Persians and Munchkins to get a long-legged variety of the latter, but the result was short-legged Persian cats that absolutely did not inherit the warlike and harmful temper of their ancestors.

The colors of the breed are varied, marbled Napoleons are one of the most beautiful cats in the world.

Other breeds

These are not all breeds, among whose representatives marble beauties are often found. These also include:

• American Shorthair and Wirehair;

American shorthair cat

• American Curl;

• Brazilian Shorthair;

• European Shorthair;

• California radiant;

• Kanaani;

• Karelian, Kuril and Japanese bobtails;

Two Karelian bobtails

• Cymric;

• Laperm;

• Lamkin;

• Munchkin;

• Manx;

• Maine Coon;

• Norwegian Longhair;

• Oriental and many others.

Marble color standards

In addition to the basic standards of the breed, additional requirements have been established for British merles, which must be present in the exterior. The absence of at least one sign leads to the culling of the pet and the inability to participate in further breeding.

Marble British should have a clear pattern

Interestingly, the classic letter “M” on the forehead of tabby cats is associated with the prophet Mohammed. Allegedly, when the saint picked up a marble cat, the hair on its head became colored in a specific way. Which became a sign of the Higher Powers’ love for these purrs.

So, the marbled British cat is distinguished by the following characteristics:

• brightness, symmetry and clarity of the pattern on the fur coat;
• absence of intersections and broken lines in the patterns;
• the hairs are colored in two ways (in several shades - the hairs of the main background, in one color - the hairs of the patterns);
• the color of the iris depends on the shade of the coat; it can be copper, hazel, greenish or brown;
• there are “necklaces” on the chest, and two dark curls running parallel on the cheekbones;
• the forehead is marked with a pattern in the shape of the letter “M”, on the back of the head and shoulders there is a pattern in the form of a butterfly;
• the outer side of the ear closer to the base has a white spot;
• three long stripes of distinct dark color stretch along the ridge;
• the hips are marked with circular closed patterns;
• the tip of the tail is always marked in a dark color;
• There is a bright outline around the eyes and nose.

In addition, a classic marble cat should have small, far-set ears and massive paws. At the same time, the color of the skin on the pads of the paws, as well as on the nose, depends on the color of the animal’s fur - the darker the fur, the richer the skin tone. Seals with a silver background have pink paws and noses, red ones have crimson purrs, and “dark” British cats are completely brownish.

Table: EMS codes for coat colors in cats

Solid colors

The color should be solid and uniform, without variegated hairs, spots, shades or patterns.

There are 7 standard colors in total:

Photo of a British chocolate cat

Red (red, golden)

Cream (peach, beige)

Eye color is bright copper or orange, and white British people can have blue or even multi-colored eyes.

White British kitten with blue eyes

Colors cinnamon (cinnamon) and fawn

The very rare solid color Cinnamon was developed quite recently.

In chocolate Britons, the color of the nose is slightly darker than the coat or matches its color, while in cinnamon, on the contrary , the pinkish-brown nose stands out against the background of the darker coat.

Cats of the Fawn (also called the color of a young fawn) have fur of a warm light beige shade, and the pads of their paws and nose are a delicate pinkish color.

The eye colors of cinnamons and fauns range from golden to rich copper.

Description of tortoiseshell color

Colored spots (red and black) are evenly and chaotically distributed throughout the cat’s body. Both colors must be present on the legs. For all tortoiseshell cats, regardless of breed, it is very desirable to have a red (red or cream) spot on their face - a flame.

It is welcomed when there is a red-red smear on the cat’s face

A breeder I know says that tortoiseshell cats are conventionally divided into groups based on the size of their spots. If the motley pattern visually resembles fish scales, while small black and red spots are combined in a chaotic manner, overlap each other and do not have a clear separation from each other, then this color is called scaly. If areas of different colors are larger, clearly distinguishable and have clearly defined boundaries, then this coloring is called patchwork.

The tortoiseshell cat's coloration may resemble fish scales.

Table: varieties of tortoiseshell cat colors

The color of the skin on the nose and paw pads corresponds to one (predominant) solid color that makes up this tortoiseshell color variety.

Colored spots can be large and combined with white

Breeders distinguish tortoiseshell in combination with white, the spots of which are located below (on the abdomen, paws, neck and chin) as a separate subtype.

Video: cats with lights

Color point color

A characteristic feature of this group of colors is a light body color and contrasting dark areas - the muzzle, ears, paws and tail.

Color point colors can be solid, tortoiseshell, smoky, shaded, veiled.

The color with black spots is called Seal point (Siamese color) .

Photo of a British kitten chocolate color point

The picture shows a British cat cream point

Each name refers to the color of the dark markings.

Colorpoints have blue or light blue eyes.

Anomalies and features of merle color in the British

A plush fur coat with streaks and patterns reminiscent of a cut on marble is considered one of the most difficult in terms of proximity to standards. If you plan to purchase such a kitten, breeders and experienced owners recommend taking a baby no younger than 4–6 months of age. By this time, the pattern on the coat will be completely formed and the slightest deviations from the norm will be noticeable.

British merles have the same developmental anomalies as other cats.

At the same time, British harlequins have clearly marked stripes and circles on their coats from birth. If the degree of coloration of the hairs in the pattern is excessive, then the final pattern will be blurry. Then they talk about “false marble”, or moire, among the British. This is an anomaly due to which the animal is not allowed to be bred.

Disadvantages that reduce points at exhibitions:

• torn edge of the pattern;
• The picture is too large and overlaps the main background.

Anomalies leading to a ban on procreation:

• polydactyly;
• too many rings around the eyes;
• kinks on the tail;
• disorders in the structure of the jaw.

Communication and perception

Like domestic cats, marbled cats can purr and meow, however their "meow" is described as a chirping sound instead of a more continuous sound. They rely heavily on their vision to see in low light conditions. Their shorter and more rounded skull with flattened nasal bones gives them a more spacious view. This morphology, combined with large amber eyes with vertically oriented elliptical pupils, provides the maximum vision needed for locomotion in low light conditions.

Caring for the British Marbled's fur coat

The breed is one of the cleanest and neatest cats, so the animal often takes care of its appearance on its own. At the same time, it is recommended to wash the cat every six months and comb its elegant fur at least once a week.

British marble cats do not require special care

Since the coat of British cats is quite elastic and flexible, there are no special rules for caring for it. It is recommended to regularly clean the animal’s ears (with cotton swabs dipped in warm water) and the animal’s eyes (with warm and damp cotton pads) - every 7-10 days.

Video: British marbled cat

Recommendations for care and maintenance

Caring for British merle cats and cats is not that difficult, but it will take time.

It is recommended to comb animals with a special comb several times a week. This is done to prevent the wool from matting and matting. It is best to bathe Britons when their fur gets dirty. Usually 1-2 times a year, sometimes they are bathed immediately before exhibitions. For bathing, you should use special shampoos, not the ones that people use. Nails are trimmed every 2-4 weeks as they grow. For this procedure, you should use a special nail clipper. Animals' ears should be cleaned very carefully and only when dirty. To do this, it is recommended to use a special liquid and a cotton pad; do not clean cats’ ears with cotton swabs. You should also take very careful care of your eyes. They can only be wiped with a cotton pad or a piece of gauze soaked in warm water or chamomile infusion.

If pus is detected in the eyes, it is very important to promptly seek veterinary help and not self-medicate.

Before vaccinations, animals are always given a remedy for helminitis. It can be either a suspension or a tablet. The main thing is to give the medicine according to the instructions and the weight of the animal.

A cat must have its own place in the house. It can be either a cat house or a small pillow for sleeping. It is advisable to have scratching posts, otherwise animals may involuntarily scratch floor surfaces and furniture.

As for feeding animals, they can be fed food or natural. Both diets have their pros and cons. The main thing is that any diet is balanced. Ready-made food is already such, but if we are talking about natural food, then in no case should it consist of food that a person consumes. Anything spicy, fried or salty, as well as fish and chicken bones are contraindicated.

The British are recommended boiled vegetables, lean meat (idea, rabbit, chicken, young sheep), cottage cheese, yolks and some fermented milk products without additives

Whatever diet the animals are on, it is very important that they always have clean and fresh water. Bowls should always be washed thoroughly after eating

About character

In the photo , cats of the British breed always delight with their calm gaze.

This look conveys the true English character: delicate and unobtrusive. Cats love their owner, but try to remain as independent as possible. They prefer to spend time quietly, enjoying warmth and comfort.

Most British marbled cats are playful. But they are reluctant to be held, especially by strangers. Although cats do not show aggression, even if something happens against their will. True aristocrats always show amazing restraint, which is why their owners love them so much!

Knitting features

The British merle color is one of the most difficult to breed due to the high degree of moire among the offspring. Felinologists still cannot track the pattern of appearance of vague patterns. The most common reason is the crossing of a merle parent with a solid-colored Briton.

British marbled cats can only be knitted with each other

Everything is explained by the genetics of color - the gene responsible for the merle pattern is recessive, and the gene for uniform color easily overlaps it. Therefore, in order to preserve breed characteristics, it is important to breed only between British Marbleds. In exceptional cases, crossing with representatives of the breed that have a tiger (mackerel) color is allowed.

Video "British cat"

We advise you to watch the video starring the Briton of the color in question.

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How are cats with this pattern bred?

Of all the tabby varieties, the marbled cat color is the most recessive. Therefore, in order to get kittens of the desired color, when crossing, marbling of both parents is required - then the kittens will definitely have the desired pattern. Matings in which one of the parents is spotted or brindle is somewhat less effective. When mating only brindles, all kinds of kittens will be born - “tigers”, and spotted ones, and “marbles”, if, of course, the parents have the right gene. Crossing a brindle sire with a spotted one will give the same results, but a pair of spotted sires will only produce marbled sires and others like them.

To the exhibition with the marble Briton

Since British cats were officially recognized as a breed back in the 1980s, these purrs regularly participate in advertising shows, seminars and exhibitions. Marble Britons were no exception.

British marbled cats are regulars at exhibitions and shows

Before sending your pet to a competition, it is necessary to carry out hygiene procedures - wash the animal, clean the eyes and ears, and comb the hair thoroughly. You also need to carefully trim the tips of the claws and give the fluffy a little sedative before the trip (1-2 drops of valerian).

To participate in the exhibition you must meet a number of requirements:

• have a veterinary passport and a document about the origin of the cat;
• the animal must be completely healthy;
• Murka should not have fleas and other parasites;
• The minimum age of a cat is limited to 3 months.

The British Marble will not be allowed to compete if:

• aggressive behavior;
• deafness;
• the presence of tattoos and other interventions in appearance.

Photo gallery: British merle coats

It is better to purchase British harlequins from trusted nurseries.

Marbled British cats are fashionable pets of our time Marbled cats, like other British cats, often suffer from constipation and obesity

Due to the difficulties in maintaining the marble pattern among the British, the price for such kittens is quite high

British marbled cats should only be crossed with each other

The main thing in caring for the coat of a British harlequin is regular brushing.

Marble British are easy to care for

Marbles are difficult for the British to breed. British Marbles became popular after advertising cat food with a similar kitten.

Cream marble - a rarity among the British
The marble British cat is a true decoration of the home interior, and its purring nature will make it a favorite of all family members. The main thing is to carefully monitor your pet’s health and not leave it alone for a long time.

Health status

The Fold cat has many genetic diseases, which are not observed in the British marble cat. Such cats live up to 20 years, have strong immunity, and rarely get sick. However, they catch cold quickly if left in the cold or draft. As well as marbled, blue, black and white British kittens and adults may suffer from the following diseases:

Animals have a strong immune system, but can suffer from diseases such as obesity.

• Obesity. Representatives of the breed are lazy and sedentary, which contributes to excess weight. This negatively affects the cardiovascular system and joints.
• Cardiomyopathy. Characterized by thickening of the heart muscle and poor circulation.
• Hemophilia. This is a bleeding disorder that can cause prolonged bleeding and lead to anemia.
• Polycystic kidney disease. Cysts form on the organs, gradually replacing the parenchyma, which leads to dysfunction.
• Tartar. The merle shorthair is prone to plaque formation on the teeth, which is dangerous for the development of gingivitis and periodontal disease.

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Mr. Cat Recommends: False Marble

With a tabby pattern, each hair is ticked and painted in several colors. If it is excessive, the marble pattern turns out to be shaded, as if supported by a film or fog.

This blurriness is called moiré or false marbling in the British breed.

For Bengals, this phenomenon is called phasing, and it has a different character. The ticked undercoat covers the main color, but it definitely goes through. Moreover, it is marbled kittens that flourish earlier than others - spotted, rosette.

But British moire patterns can remain “shaded” for life. No one can predict whether a baby will get ticking or not. Therefore, it is better to purchase marbled British kittens, straights or Scottish, later - by 4-6 months.

Difficulties of breeding

Since this color is recessive, two marbled parents produce exactly the same kittens. But it often forms in spotted or tabby mackerel. That is, absolutely all tabbies are carriers of the classic marble, and it is impossible to predict which pair will give birth to which kittens.

Another difficulty in obtaining marble is that the intensity of color and contrast also does not lend itself to any pattern.

Another problem is that the stripes of the pattern become too wide, covering the entire body, and the main background is visible through them in thin stripes. The animal does not lose its beauty, but by breed standards it loses. Therefore, to obtain beautiful marbled kittens, experienced breeders carefully select producers, carefully studying their pedigree.