Cats that attract attention: Persian, British and Scottish breeds wearing a color point mask

Maintenance and care

The shorthaired Scottish Straight needs brushing no more than once a week.
Highlands with long hair are brushed more often. Cats easily accept this procedure. It's more difficult with bathing. More kittens need to be accustomed to it, otherwise an adult cat will never sign up for such an adventure. It is not recommended to bathe these cats often; two or three times a year is enough, and only if your cat is extremely dirty. The cat endures the rest of the care procedures - such as examining the ears, trimming claws and brushing teeth - stoically. It is advisable to accustom kittens to unpleasant manipulations. An adult animal is distrustful of everything new.

However, these cats are almost problem-free pets; they do not require extraordinarily complex care procedures. You just need to carefully monitor feeding so that your cat does not get fat, and provide him with a place to play and relax.

Genetics color point

The hairs and eyes of British Color Point kittens are filled with color due to melanin. Its production occurs under the influence of tyrosinase (enzyme) on the amino acid tyrosine. Tyrosinase works under the control of the C - color gene, which determines what shade the eyes and hairs will be. In the case of gene C mutation, the production of active tyrosinase is blocked, which prevents the appearance of pigment. In this situation, an albino animal with bleached fur will be born. A lowercase letter “c” is used to designate a mutant gene.

Photography – Genetics of color point color

Wool changes its color when exposed to different temperatures. The principle “the warmer, the brighter” works here. Thus, the color of the muzzle, ears, front and hind limbs, and tail is darker relative to the body. The cs gene is responsible for the manifestation of the Siamese coat coloring, allowing the pigment to penetrate the hairs only on parts of the body at a lower temperature.

Fun fact: Newborn Siamese kittens (British Color Point kittens) have a completely light coat color because the environment in the womb is warm. The final color will be established at the age of 6-10 months.

The recessiveness of the cs gene will allow it to appear in the offspring only if it is present in the genotype of both producers. To do this, producers do not have to be colorpointed; it is enough to be carriers of the gene.

Content

A Scottish Straight kitten is purchased at the age of 2.5-3 months. At this age, kittens from professional breeders are socialized: they are toilet trained, scratching posts, and have received the necessary vaccinations. To keep a cat in the house, the owner must purchase:

• scratching post;
• a bed with a removable cover or a house;
• bowls for food and water;
• litter tray;
• high-quality filler;
• nail clipper;
• shampoo;
• special toothpaste;
• massage brushes with bristles and sparse metal teeth;
• various toys: balls, fishing rods and other items for cat fun.

Grooming

The undercoat of Scottish Straights is thick and dense. It is very difficult for a cat to get rid of old fur on its own. Scottish cats are very clean animals - by carefully licking themselves, they can swallow a large amount of hair. This leads to unpleasant consequences: clogging of the animal’s intestines.

Daily brushing will help the cat.

Bathing also helps remove unwanted lint. Scots should be washed 2 times a week with a mild shampoo. Cats are patient about bathing.

Some useful tips:

• It is convenient to wash the wool with a rubber glove strictly in the direction of growth from top to bottom;
• You should avoid drafts when bathing your pet;
• Do not leave the cat to dry on its own;
• You can blot the plush coat with a damp towel and then dry it with a hairdryer.

Eye care

• The animal's eyes are washed with a cotton swab dipped in boiled water in the direction from the outer corner of the eye to the bridge of the nose. The movement should be soft and gentle.
• Do not press or rub your eyes. It is imperative to use different discs for each eye (especially if one of them is diseased).
• If the discharge from the eyes is cloudy or purulent, this means that the animal has an infection. You should consult a veterinarian.

Behind the ears

• The animal's ears are cleaned with cotton swabs. The inner surface of the ear is treated. You cannot go down into the ear canal during the procedure.
• Light movements remove dust particles and possible natural secretions. Healthy ears should not have copious deposits of secretions, sores or unpleasant odors.
• After the procedure, you should wipe your ears with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or hydrogen peroxide and lubricate them with baby cream to avoid the appearance of crusts.

For tooth and claw

Taking care of your teeth is extremely important to prevent tartar buildup and the possibility of oral infections. The teeth are wiped with a swab dipped in a chamomile solution and cleaned with toothpaste and a pet brush.

Once every two weeks it is necessary to trim the animal’s claws. This must be done carefully so as not to injure living areas. Then you should disinfect the claws with a solution of potassium permanganate. It is necessary to give the animal anti-worm medication in a timely manner and treat it with a flea and tick remedy.

color-point groups

The activity of the point color gene is activated when it is present in two sires. Scientific research has revealed that individuals of this color are partly albinos. At birth they have a snow-white coat color, which later turns into color point. In the first month of life, the ears darken, a month later - the nose, and then the entire muzzle. Dark spots should be intense, contrasting relative to the body.

Color changes when exposed to heat or cold. To maintain purity and uniformity of color, such animals require warm conditions.

Scottish straight SFS 71 b 33 alt=»BLH-ny-21-33-03″ /> British longhair ny 21 33 03

Solid colors

Solid color point varieties are widespread among furry representatives of the British breed. Owners of the classic color point have a very light body framed by areas of the main color.

The fur is short, with a dense structure. The correct color is contrasting, the hairs in dark areas are evenly colored. The color of the point marks is clear, intense, no blurring, no dyed white hairs. The point markings, nose, and pads on the limbs are characterized by a single color.

British shorthair red point BRI d 33

Blue-eyed Lilac-point cat BRI c 33

Offspring with a solid color point in British and Scottish cats can only be obtained from sires with this coat color or from carriers of the corresponding gene. It is also important for older ancestors to be solid color point or have a gene for this color in their genotype and the ancestors of both parents should have it. As mentioned earlier, newborn kittens do not have point markings. Darkening appears on the limbs, tail, ears, and muzzle later. It is interesting that the intensity of the shade of point marks in British cats depends on their age; in more mature individuals, the color is more saturated in tone.

Scottish straight blue point cat SFS 71 a 33

Scottish fold cat with blue eyes SFS c 33

The varieties are shown in the table.

Scottish cat SFS 71 b 33

Scottish Fold Shorthair SFS n 33
The main thing for a black point is a clear contrast between the shade of the body and the point markings. The points will be almost black if the body is dark and light if the body is white.

Cream Points have very little contrast between the cream-colored point markings and the lightened, milky body. In such a situation, it is important to observe the color of the eyes, which, according to the rules, should look bright and intense. In addition, the British Cream Point coat has a residual pattern, which is a genetic feature of this color. The formation of color is completed by one to one and a half years.

Red color-points among British cats have the same characteristics. They are distinguished by the presence of a residual pattern on the coat; the final shade will be formed by one to one and a half years.

The body color and point markings of the British lilac-point do not contrast strongly with each other, but there is a pronounced, clear transition.

Tabby point | BRI x 21 33

This color is notable for the presence of a tabby pattern on the points. Its color refers to the main or one of the tones of the mosaic. Markings cover the frontal part of the head (the letter “M”), the area around the antennae, and the eyes.

On the very light body the pattern is absent, but appears on the forelimbs as torn rings and stripes on the thighs. The ear is marked on the outside with a light spot.

BRI from 21 33 lilac-tubby-point

The paw pads and nose are colored the same color as the markings. Tabby points correspond to codes 22, 23 and 24 (marble, tiger and spot, respectively).

Links | lynx are designated with a single code 21, regardless of the tabby variety.

Therefore, to indicate a specific color, it is customary to add the number 21 to the code. For example, seal tabby point will be designated as BRI n 21 33, seal tortie tabby point – BRI f 21 33...

Color point with white

This is a complex color. Its representatives must meet the standards of two colors: color point and bicolor. The tail, ears and paws (as a rule, only the hind legs) are characterized by darkening, but the cheeks in the area of ​​the mustache and nose are often spotted, with white spots. The front legs are almost always white. Half to a third of the cat’s body is also covered with the same color.

The British with this color have eyes of a standard shade - sky blue or blue. The shade of the nose and paw pads is according to the standard.

alt=»ay-21-33-03-golubaja-zolotaja-tabbi-point-bikolor» /> Blue golden tabby point kitten with white BRI ay 21 33 03

Long-haired kitten chocolate golden tabby point harlequin BLH by 21 33 02

To breed color-point bicolor offspring, you need a pair of cats of the same color or carriers of the gene. The parents' pedigree must contain pointing, white-haired Britons. Colorpoint British kittens are born without point markings. Dark areas appear as babies grow.

BLH cy 11 33 03

There are the following combinations of shades among the British:

BLH ny 21 33 03

Highland fold SFL n 21 33 03

BSH bs 21 33 03

lilac gold shaded point with white cy 11 33 03

Smoky color point | BRI xs 21 33

British, Scots with this mixed shade must comply with the standards of smoky color, color point. These cats have a white undercoat under light hairs, a darkened tail, paws, muzzle, and ears, and the ears seem to be sprinkled with silver. The presence of a tabby pattern on the coat is rejected. British shorthair and longhair cats of similar color have blue eyes, and the pads on their paws, nose and point markings are the same color.

BRI as 21 33

BSH cs 21 33

Darkened areas of the body in British people with smoky color point:

as 21 33

BRI as 2133

Torty Point | tortie point | tortoiseshell point

Another variety of mixed colorpoints among the British is the tortoiseshell. The body of the animal is tinted in a light color, while the points are painted in the basic color with a tortoiseshell mosaic. The presence of large and distinct black and red spots is a defect.

It is rare to see a tortie point. It is possible to breed this shade of fur from the offspring when one of the parents is tortoiseshell and the other is a color point.

BRI f 33 03 black tortoise point bicolor British longhaired chocolate tortoise point bicolor BLH h 33 03

Possible color combinations for the British tortie point:

Shaded Point | shaded color point

The base shade of the British coat can be golden or silver. At the same time, the third part of the hairs in the tipping on the back is made in the main color. From color point, representatives of this color have a darkened tail, ears and muzzle. The rim around the nose is painted in the main color, as is the outline around the sky blue eyes. The eyes are surrounded around the perimeter by white fur. The color of the pads on the limbs corresponds to the color. The presence of tabby marks is a defect.

BLH by 11 33

BLH ny 11 (25) 33

Color combinations of shaded color point:

BLH n 11 33

Chinchilla Point | veiled color point

The main tone of veiled British cats can be either gold or silver. Tipping fur is ⅛ of the main color, usually black. There is darkening of the tail, ears, and muzzle. The outline of the nasal mirror and the eyes are colored in the main tone. The eyes are blue with snow-white fur around the perimeter. The color scheme of the paw pads corresponds to color point standards. The tabby pattern is considered a breed culling.

Colors of veiled color point:

BRI ny 12 33
In order for British kittens to inherit the color point color, you need to breed two cats of the same color, or a pair of carriers of the corresponding gene. At birth, the offspring do not have point marks; as the animal grows, the paws, ears, muzzle and tail darken.

Care and maintenance of Scottish straight-eared cats

Caring for straights is easy. Once a week you need to comb the coat with a special comb to remove dead hair. The Scottish Longhair cat requires more careful care of its coat, so it needs to be brushed more often.

Necessary hygiene procedures include: wiping eyes, cleaning ears, teeth, trimming nails with tweezers or scissors. Bathing the pet is carried out as needed using cat shampoos.

Regarding the question of what to feed a Scottish Straight cat, veterinarians are unanimous on this issue: Scottish Straight cats have some special features of the digestive system, so feeding should be approached responsibly.

If natural food is a priority, then the pet’s diet should be enriched with proteins, vitamins and macroelements. The menu to feed the kitten should contain lean meat, offal, marine fish, fermented milk products (except milk), cereals, and vegetables.

Products containing large amounts of sugar, fat, and salt are prohibited, as they contribute to weight gain, decreased mobility and activity. The main requirement for a natural diet is that the daily dose of food must contain the required amount of calcium.

Food from your table is strictly contraindicated for your pet. Sausages, sausages, and semi-finished products can be dangerous to the health of the animal.

If you decide to feed your Scottish kitten with ready-made industrial food, then you should give preference to super premium products.

How to care for a Siamese cat?

Almost all breeds that have a colorpoint color as standard value the contrast between the “points” and the rest of the body. Therefore, the task of the owner of such a cat is to prevent darkening. The temperature factor has already been written above. However, other factors also influence coat color. Firstly, this is age. Almost all cats, and especially seal point cats, darken with age. Nutrition can also have an effect. It is known for sure that color changes can be caused by carrots and seaweed, which contain a lot of iodine. So, carefully read the composition of ready-made food and do not buy vitamins based on algae and kelp, and also beware of products with excess copper. Breeders notice that Thais, for example, get dark from liver, buckwheat, seafood, even beef. If there is a genetic predisposition to browning, it is better to use special food.

Such food is, for example, in the Royal Canin line. Another factor that leads to color changes, often irreversible, is any damage to the coat and skin. At the site of injury or surgery, fur grows back much darker than the surrounding background. And it’s not surprising, because the “bald” part of the body is colder. Sometimes the color evens out after molting, but not always. If the colorpoint Persian is “matted” to such an extent that it was necessary to cut off areas right down to the skin, then in these places the hair grows several tones darker. Conclusion - all colorpoints, especially exhibition ones, are undesirable for any injuries or surgeries. If you are going to have to undergo a forced operation, you should carefully choose the least noticeable place for the incision and properly insulate the seam until the fur is completely healed and grows back. It is also important to trim its claws in a timely manner so that the cat does not injure himself or injure other animals - this can ruin all the beauty.

Video

Scottish Straight cat breed: description, standard

It is impossible to describe in words how touching the representatives of this beautiful breed look: plush fur coat, chubby cheeks, round expressive eyes and a touching, naively childish look. And Highland Straight cats also have long fur, so they look not just cute, but chic and majestic.

Straights are not large in size: a cat weighs on average 5-6 kilograms, a female cat weighs from 3.5 to 5 kg. With visual density and heaviness, the animals are very mobile and active, easily standing on their hind legs, for example, to ask for another treat.

Scottish straight. Description of the breed standard:

1. The body is proportional, dense, strong, massive.
2. Limbs of medium length, short, strong.
3. The coat is short, close to the body, plush, soft, with a dense undercoat.
4. The tail is medium length, flexible.
5. The paws are round and neat.
6. The neck is short.
7. The head is rounded.
8. The forehead is convex.
9. The cheeks are dense, round, convex.
10. The nose is wide.
11. The chin is strong.
12. The eyes are large, widely spaced, round. The color matches the coat.
13. The ears are straight, erect, set high, with the tips of the ears spread apart.

The most common colors include:

• ginger;
• chocolate;
• white;
• black;
• grey;
• blue;
• lilac;
• cream (beige);
• tortoiseshell;
• bi-color;
• chinchilla;
• ticked;
• color point;
• tabby

As you can see, the number and variety of colors is great: for every taste.

Cat color codes

First, let's get acquainted with the existing standards and color designations for Scottish cats, as well as with auxiliary designations, and then we will study in more detail the variety of color-point colors of British cats

Letter designations for cat colors

Description of appearance

According to the breed description, this is an elegant medium-sized cat. Due to some roundness of the body and the developed front part of the body, the cat looks quite massive, but most of the effect is achieved due to the dense coat. Scottish Straight is a breed of very dexterous, beautiful and harmonious cats:

• body. Medium-sized body with a well-developed chest and shoulders. All proportions of the cat are respected, although the body is somewhat elongated in length. The muscular frame is well developed. Paws of medium length with rounded pads;
• head. The cat's well-proportioned, rounded head is set on a short, muscular neck. The cheeks, bases of the whiskers and jawline are clearly visible. The nose is wide, proportional, in profile the transition from the forehead to the nose is clearly visible. The ears are small, erect, triangular in shape, wide at the base, harmoniously emphasizing the round shape of the head;
• eyes. Wide-set, round, large eyes give the cat an expression of surprised interest in what is happening. Eye color is directly dependent on the color of the cat;
• wool. The cat's dense coat does not adhere to the body and has a dense, plush structure; it is this structure of the coat that gives cats additional volume and roundness. The coat can be either semi-long or short;
• colors. The Scottish Straight is almost the champion in the number of popular colors; this is an accompanying characteristic of the breed. The colors of cats are as varied as that of their close relative, the Scottish Fold. The most common colors of cats include: chinchilla, lilac, blue, marbled, chocolate, cream, red and black. Such rare colors of cats as black smoke, calico (tortoiseshell) and color point look very impressive.

Fifty shades of round is an apt description for the appearance of an adult cat. It would seem an incompatible variation, but it is so. The general picture when looking at a cat is as if they tried to depict it with a compass, but something didn’t work out, and instead of clear circles we have smooth curves.

Tortoiseshells

Remarkable due to genetic characteristics is the combination of dark and reddish spots scattered throughout the body. In combination with acromelanism of color points, they lose their brightness and become poorly visible.

Seal cake point

Light beige coloring of the body and a deep dark mask of the limbs, combined with reddish tortoiseshell inserts.

Blue cake point

Pale blue coat, close to the cool gray-white spectrum, and blue-gray spots. The blue color-point color of tortoiseshell cats is complemented by faint cream shades.

Chocolate tortie point

The traditional warm, creamy color of the coat and the rich mask of the limbs are complemented by distinct reddish accents.

Lilac cake point

A kitten in lilac color is rare. Its standard characteristics (light base color and gray-pink pigmentation) are complemented by a tortoiseshell redness.

Cinnamon torty point

The cat's body has ivory-colored fur and a rich mask ranging from cream to light brown.

Interesting: Another distinctive feature of the color-point tortoiseshell is the paw pads and nose. They are two-tone, matching the shade of the adjacent coat.

Tabby

Pronounced spots appearing against a contrasting background form a tabby or tabby color. Typically, spots or stripes are visible on the face, ears, around the neck, paws and tail. On the frontal part of the animals, the silhouette of the letter M is clearly visible.

Felinologists distinguish several types of tabbbing:

• shaded or marble;
• spotted or spotted;
• mackerel or tiger.

Marble on silver

The merle color is characterized by the presence of butterfly-shaped spots on the cat's shoulders. The back is divided by three large stripes, and there are many small spots on the fluffy belly. Kittens with gold or silver marble are especially prized.

Spotted Scottish cats have one stripe running along the spine. The sides are covered with round and oval spots. Tiger folds are distinguished by stripes throughout the body.

Ticked

Ticked Scots look the most impressive. The term ticking refers to the alternation of three-color colors on each fiber. The presence of layer-by-layer coloring in the fur gives the animal a unique appearance. Typically, when ticking there is a transition from yellow to black or brown tones.

Color point groups

Solid colors

Surprisingly, color point cats also come in solid colors. In this case, the characteristic markings on the coat are colored the same and do not have any white inclusions or patterns. The pads on the paws and the nose are the same color as all the markings on the body.

Read the basic rules for choosing dry cat food.

Shedded point and chinchilla point

A variety of colors is also considered to be shaded, otherwise this color is called shedded point. In this case, cats have a light undercoat, shaded hair on the sides of the body, on the back, head, ears and tail. On the belly, in the chin area and the bottom of the tail, the fur is light in color. Thus, any of the primary colors of the color is present only in the upper part of the hair. If 1/8 of the length of the guard hair is colored, and the rest remains white, then such a cat has a chinchilla point color.

Cats of this color have three varieties:

• silver chinchilla;
• golden chinchilla;
• Blue golden chinchilla is the rarest color in cats.

Silver

Among the shaded colors there are:

• shaded golden;
• shaded silver;
• shaded red.

Cats of these colors should not have a clear pattern, but may have the letter M on the forehead and dark rings on the paws.

Tabby point

This is an interesting color in which the cat has a pronounced pattern on its forehead, reminiscent of the letter M. The area around the eyes and whiskers contains distinct spotting. On the front paws there are torn rings that extend from the toes upward; the hind legs are solid shade. Stripes are visible on the hips. In this case, the ears are colored the same tone, but there is always a lighter mark on the outer part of the ear.

A characteristic feature of the tabby point color is the inevitable presence of red or cream spots on the ears. The mirror of the nose is painted pink. When a cat’s genotype contains the tabby gene (responsible for the presence of stripes), then the prefix “tabby-” is added to the name of any type of color. For example: seal tabby point, blue tabby point, red tabby point, etc. It should be noted that stripes are visible only on colored points, as a result of which this color looks very delicate.

Tortoiseshells

The next variety of color point is the tortoiseshell color, which is scientifically called “tortie” (remember the well-known turtle Tortila from the fairy tale?). With this color, the spots have a reddish (red) or lightened cream color, which looks quite contrasting against the general background. These cats are called happy cats because of their tri-colored tortoiseshell coloration, which contains black (or blue), red (or cream) and white.

Caring for cats is very important, so take care of how to choose a house, sew a blanket, make a scratching post, choose a name, toy, litter, carrier and furminator.

Solid (solid)

Monochrome is considered a classic color scheme. The coat has a uniform toning of the same shade. Since British cats took part in the development of the Scottish Fold breed, the fur coat often acquired a blue or gray color. Moreover, the animals had amber pupils of their eyes.

Blue solid

Various combinations of dominant and recessive genes have led to the emergence of other solid color options:

• ebony (black);
• cinnamon (milk chocolate);
• brown (chocolate);
• faun (deer);
• red (red);
• peach (cream);
• lilac (pale gray);
• white.

In the photo there is a black Scottish fold cat (ebony)

Eye color often directly depends on the color of the coat. White folds have predominantly blue or multi-colored pupils. Lilac and black Scots typically have bright yellow or copper-colored eyes. The amber look is characteristic of chocolate-colored Scottish dogs.

Color features

The color mask of the limbs in animals with acromelanism (incomplete albinism) varies depending on the base tone of the coat. It is never pure white, but lightens in harmony with the characteristics of the recessive CS gene.

Therefore, for example, the rich brown mask of a color-point cat accompanies a fawn shade, and red pigmentation stimulates varieties of the cream range of the color palette.

In total, the group combines about 20 different coloring options, from traditional dark to exotic lilac or wine.

What to name a Scottish kitten

Many new owners of plush kittens prefer to follow the beaten path and give their pets well-known nicknames: Barsik, Murzik, Vaska. But for open-minded cat lovers, choosing a name for a boy or girl is a great way to show creativity and imagination.

What nickname can you come up with for your pet so that it is associated with Scotland? This is not difficult, because the history and culture of this country are known throughout the world. Kilt, bagpipes, whiskey, tartan - this is not a complete list of words that make us think of distant Scotland.

You can rack your brain and come up with a name based on the suggested words. But most often male kittens are named Scott (Scotty), Shot (Shotti), Valli, Rob, Roy, Baxter, Archie and even Holmes or Watson. The girls are called Foxy, Orange, Athena, Shakira, Martha, Chessie, Shaddy.

What is the difference between straight and british

As a result of this crossing, 2 new cat breeds appeared: Scottish Fold - fold; and Scottish Straight - straight-eared.

Only the Straights have long been classified as British due to their external similarity and genetic relatedness. Until in 2004 the differences between the breeds were recognized and the Scottish Straight breed was officially registered.

Differences between breeds in the following indicators:

• Scots are lighter and slimmer;
• The British have a more “knocked down” skeleton;
• the childish expression of the face remains in the animal’s adulthood, unlike the British. This is due to the different structure of the skull and the position of the nose;
• The muzzle is more rounded in Scottish cats.

Color point breeds

Selection research by cat lovers has led to the emergence of various breeds with color point color. They differ from each other not only in the shade of the color dots, but also in the basic tone. Let's list the main color point cats. The well-known Siamese color is called seal point. It should be noted that in America such cats are called Himalayan, because a similar color was known in Himalayan rabbits.

If a cat has a pair of Himalayan genes in its cages, then its fur on its limbs, tail and face will be dark brown. These spots do not turn black because the enzyme tyrosinase in Siamese cats is not active enough, and the formation of melanin does not occur so intensively as to polymerize. The eyes of Himalayan cats should be blue due to the small amount of melanin in the iris. The richer it is, the more purebred the cat is considered.

Its relative, the Thai cat, is very similar to the Siamese cat. It has many varieties, depending on the predominant shade. But they are united by one feature: the body has a certain color, and the limbs, ears and muzzle will always be painted darker. The Thai cat was bred using selective selection, as a result of which some characteristics of its ancestor, the Siamese cat, were changed:

• muzzle shape;
• color;
• body shape.

The Thai breed cat standard was officially adopted in Germany in 1990.
Let's compare cats of both breeds and determine what their differences are:

1. The Thai cat looks much more massive, the Siamese has an elongated, graceful body.
2. The Thai's muzzle is round, while the Siamese's is elongated.
3. The Thai cat has rounded eyes, while the Siamese cat has pointed eyes.
4. Thai cats have short and powerful legs, while Siamese cats have long legs.

The common features of all representatives of the Thai cat breed are affection and complaisance. They quickly become attached to their owners and can follow commands that they have been taught. They love to communicate: they meow and purr to carry on a conversation with their owner. But try not to offend them, as they remember the insult for a long time and can take revenge. Externally, Thai cats look very elegant: the muscles are well developed, the head is round, the eyes are blue, the coat is soft without undercoat. Their weight and size can reach 3 kg.

It will be interesting to learn about such an unusual breed as the Snowshoe.
The Red Point is a Thai cat with a white base color and a red tint on the legs, face and ears. Caring for and maintaining the Thai cat breed is not particularly difficult, as they are usually healthy, not susceptible to any special diseases, and their fur does not require combing. You can use standard food - either natural products or dry food and mixtures

Persian color point

Among all color-pointed cats, fluffy semi-longhaired and longhaired Siamese cats stand out noticeably. In 1931, American scientists set themselves the task of breeding a Persian cat with a Siamese color. They bred a purebred black Persian cat and a Siamese cat. For more than 20 years, by crossing the brightest representatives of litters from Siamese and Persian cats, scientists achieved the birth of a pure breed Siamese-Persian cat, which combined the Siamese color and blue eye color with the nose and ears of the Persian breed. In 1955, the Persian Longhaired Color Point received official recognition. By the 70s of the last century, color point cats acquired a look more characteristic of Persian cats

British color point

Relatively recently, a British cat with color point color was bred. Let us remember that in America these representatives of the cat world are called Himalayan. The British Color Point is painted in light colors; limbs, tail, ears and muzzle contrast with the main color and have a dark tint. Their eyes are dark blue or deep blue. The Briton's coat is dense and dense.

Did you know? British Color Points are born albinos, and only after a few weeks do they show the well-known dark spots. Young cats always have a more pronounced color than adults.

The character of British Color Points is independent, but calm. They get along well with all household members and require a lot of attention and love. They have a developed hunting instinct: these cats are able to catch mice. If a Briton has a white coat with light blue markings, then he is called a blue point. The coat of a British cat has 2 levels: a dense undercoat, reminiscent of plush, and long guard hairs. Therefore, it requires special care.

Find out what gray, red and tabby cats they are.

To maintain the healthy appearance of such a coat, a Briton’s diet must certainly include calcium, essential vitamins and microelements.
A British cat should be checked for tangles in its fur and should be constantly brushed with a massage brush. When washing, use shampoos for short-haired cats. If you have British kittens, then they need additional care:

• wipe the eyes with a damp cloth from time to time to remove any accumulated secretions;
• ears are cleaned of accumulated wax;
• check for the presence of ticks in the fur;
• Nails are trimmed with a special nail clipper.

British Color Point kittens can be toilet trained. The tray designated for this should be in a secluded place and should be cleaned in a timely manner.

Scottish straight

Scottish Straight cats were bred in Scotland and are also called Scottish Straight cats. They were the result of crossing a Scottish fold cat with a straight-eared cat. Scottish Straight kittens until they are one month old have ears like their fold-eared ancestor, after which they straighten out and become straight.

This representative of the color points is characterized by features that are unique to him, in contrast to the British, with whom he may be confused:

• the head shape is more round;
• the body is elongated, graceful;
• significantly lower weight than the British (no more than 5 kg for a cat and 3.5 kg for a cat).

To accurately determine whether the cat you have in front of you is indeed a Scottish Straight cat, use the standards of this breed:

• the head is round on a thick neck; the forehead is slightly rounded, high and convex;
• the eyes are wide and round in shape;
• medium sized body;
• well developed chin, round muzzle;
• the nose is wide, small, has a depression along the entire height of the nose up to the forehead (visible in profile);
• The ears are wide at the head, rounded at the tips.
• the paws are developed in proportion to the body, the tail is long, narrowed at the end.
• the coat has a pronounced undercoat, the guard hairs can be long or short.

Scottish short-eared cats are distinguished by a good-natured disposition, do not require much attention to themselves, prefer to be close to the owner, and do not like to sit on hands. They become attached to one member of the family, but are peaceful with everyone.

Scottish fold color

The genes of the British Shorthair breed gave the Scots the most incredible colors and bizarre shapes

Solid colors are quite rare (if you do not take into account solid colors). Most often, you end up with two or three stacked on top of each other.

We propose to consider the most popular colors of modern tartans.

Tortie suggests the presence of two colors at once: black and red in a variety of ratios.

Smoky is characteristic of wool, where each hair is colored unevenly: the tips are black or dark, and the undercoat is painted in lighter shades. A striking example is the coloring of the chinchilla.

Tabby is perhaps the most popular coloring, second only to solid. Characterized by dark stripes and markings all over the cat's body. A distinctive feature is also a clearly visible mark above the eyebrows in the shape of the letter “M”.

Color-point is a beautiful and very unusual coloring, typical for Neva Masquerade and Siamese cats. In this case, the entire body is painted in a light (white or milky, beige) color, and the tips of the paws, ears and the mask on the face are dark.

Calico is an extremely rare coloration, popularly called the “patchwork turtle.” It is unique to cats and combines bicolor and tortoiseshell. The lower part of the body is painted white, and the upper part is painted in two colors in equal proportions. Such a cat is the dream of any breeder, since her genes can produce kittens with an incredible and varied coat color.

Determination of color

Color point is a derivative of a combination of two English words: color (color) and point (point). Its visual expression is characterized by the contrasting difference between the light body of the animal and the accentuated ends of the limbs.

The most typical representative of this class is the Siamese breed, from which, apparently, the entire selection line came.

The distinctive features of the color point color appear as follows:

• light monochromatic hair on the body;
• clearly visible darkening on the legs, tail and ears;
• a contrast mask on the muzzle that can spread over its entire surface or be located only in the nose area.

The color of the limbs and its saturation depend on additional reasons.

Interesting: All colorpoint kittens are born without signs of future pigmented areas, but they appear already in the first week of life.

Features of character and behavior

By taking a Scottish Straight into your home, you will forever forget that a cat can tear up wallpaper, ruin furniture, or rip a curtain off a curtain rod. Scottish Straight plays pranks, but on a very limited scale; after such a game, one would not dare to say that a hurricane swept through the house. Everything is orderly, peaceful, noble. The innate intelligence and delicacy of a cat does not allow it to play mischief, so it is difficult to see the cat on the table in search of tidbits. He will just wait for you to treat him yourself.

This is not to say that adult cats or kittens are hyperactive animals. They don't exercise much, so they may suffer from overeating. If you see that your cat has become even more rounded, it’s time to go on a diet or start actively walking. Innate curiosity makes this cat an attentive observer and even a hunter. Cats living in a private home can hunt successfully, bringing their prey to the owner for display.

This cat's patience is truly limitless and extends to all households, including noisy small dogs. Scottish Straight never makes a scandal, he just goes away and hides in a hard-to-reach place. And it’s unlikely that you’ll get him out of there until he wants to get out. These cats rarely speak, preferring other methods of attracting attention.

Scottish Straight loves all family members equally, not depriving anyone of attention. He has favorites, but the cat will not demonstrate this

She also does not need too close contact with her owner; the cat prefers to sleep next to her, and not on her lap or hands. The Scottish Straight is a very caring cat, and often makes the rounds of all family members in turn. From the outside, it looks like a visit from a caring family doctor: the Scottish straight-eared cat will definitely sniff you, touch you, let you pet him, and, making sure that everything is okay with you, will move on.

Kittens can be a little willful in nature, but they train well, easily accept the rules of the game and are able to get used to the tray and unpleasant grooming or bathing procedures in a short time.

Mutual respect, love and understanding will reign in your home with a Scottish Straight cat. You will listen with surprise and an incredulous smile to the reviews of colleagues and acquaintances about mischievous or harmful pets, remembering your ideal cat.

Character

Color point cats are unusually cheerful and energetic. The character of color points is similar to that of Siamese cats. They are as jealous as Siamese, they get upset from lack of attention to their person. Get along well with children and animals. This breed is intended for people who spend a lot of time at home. They love to purr and play, even as adults. Stubborn and independent, like Siamese cats, they show their character at times. They may remember past grievances, so try not to offend such animals. But if such an obstinate pet settles in your home, you will definitely love him. Thanks to its unusual and proud disposition, the animal evokes respect and love. If you decide to give him your love, attention and care, the animal will respond to you with deep love, tenderness and affection.

Chinchilla

A kitten or adult Scottish Straight cat with such a spectacular color looks amazing. Breeders do not skimp on laudatory epithets for cats with similar coat colors, comparing them to silver or black pearls. Indeed, wool of such a rare and complex color looks like an exquisite jewel.

Visually, the coat looks like a single color, but if you look closely, you can see a thin “spraying” on the coat. This effect is achieved by painting the ends of the hairs to 1/8 of the length. There are at least ten variations of chinchilla color: lilac, chocolate, as well as cream and red (cameo). The eyes should be green. By nature, chinchillas are calm and friendly.

Main breeds

Thai and Siamese cat breeds are precisely those that have the color point pigment initially. This is implied by the standard. But there are other types. In addition to plain coats, they also have point subspecies. These include:

1. Persian. This is the first breed that has been successfully turned into a pointing breed, with the exception of the Siamese. The Point Persian was created by mating a Siamese cat with an ordinary Persian cat. But there is also a small minus for the owners - a lot of attention must be paid to the luxurious fur of these pets.
2. British colorpoint cats. This is a separate subspecies of ordinary Britons, which was first bred not so long ago. Breeding them is quite a difficult task, so babies of this breed are highly valued.
3. Scottish straight. Representatives of this breed have darkened areas that look like a light haze. It was possible to breed by mating the best specimens of the British and Persians. These are very beautiful cats, and they also have a soft and flexible character.
4. Neva Masquerade. These are Siberian cats with pigment coloring. They were first bred by St. Petersburg breeders by crossing Siberians and Siamese. The artificially bred breed is extremely beautiful. Its representatives have a rather large body with a very thick coat, which was inherited from their Siberian ancestors. It goes well with the colors of the Siamese, as well as the deep blue eyes.
5. This coloring is found in all breeds of sphinxes, for example, Canadian or Peterbalds. They have point coloring on their skin, since the fur is completely or almost completely absent.

This is not the entire list of breeds with this coat color. There are also very rare ones, for example, snowshoe or Burmese. But they are not yet very common in the world.

Scottish Highland Straight

The Scottish Highland Straight is a subspecies of the Scottish cat. It is distinguished by the fact that it has long hair and erect ears. This variety has an unusual color. They brought her out in the 70s. years of the last century, when the British crossed with the Persians. Kittens from these breeds were able to get only the best. They have a very calm and friendly character, as well as a cute appearance. Highland Straights are easy to maintain. There is also a tortoiseshell variety, which also has a point color. Description of the breed:

1. Quite long coat that is very easy to comb. Has a relatively dense undercoat.
2. The ears are small in size with rounded tips and stand erect.
3. The eyes are large and round in shape. Color may vary. He is completely dependent on wool.
4. The body is strong, muscular, of medium size. Often these cats have a round shape.
5. The toes are quite tightly clenched. The limbs themselves are long.
6. The head is round and has a convex skull.
7. Average tail length. He is very fluffy and active.
8. These cats live from 10 to 20 years.
9. The average weight of animals is 3.5 kg, and that of a cat is 5 kg.
10. Standard length is 30 cm.

This breed is very flexible. But their main advantage is their tenderness and friendliness. When buying a kitten, you should pay attention to the color, as there should not be white color.

If it is present, then such a pet will not be able to participate in exhibitions.

British Shorthair

There is a well-established opinion that this breed was brought to Great Britain in the first century BC by the Romans. The main advantage at that time was considered to be short and very thick wool. It helped protect cats from excessive moisture, as well as small parasites while hunting rodents. The British breed was very hardy and had good health. They were used as hunters. Only many centuries later they began to be looked at from the point of view of beauty. The first exhibition took place in 1871. Description of the breed:

1. The British Shorthair cat has a thick and dense coat. The color may be completely different.
2. The eyes are large and round in shape. Very often a red tint appears.
3. The ears are small and straight, set low.
4. The body is of medium size. Cats are usually strong and slender.
5. The legs are straight and short.
6. Massive round head.
7. The neck is powerful and thick.
8. The tail is fleshy. Has a rounded end.
9. The standard weight for a female is 4 kg, for a male - 6 kg.
10. These cats usually live 10-15 years.

The British breed can only be long-haired or short-haired.

A long coat is standard for this species. The short one appeared thanks to the mating of a Briton and a Persian. Many experts argue that the differences are only noticeable in the length of the coat. Although sometimes changes in the chin may also appear.

Compared to the Scots, the British are distinguished by their independence. They may very often do things contrary to instructions. This breed easily tolerates loneliness, but still has a kind and affectionate disposition. Quite often, the British are wary of strangers and do not allow them to touch them.

Buying a purebred Scottish Straight kitten

A kitten at the age of 3-4 months is already psychologically stable, can eat adult food and use a litter tray, and most importantly, it has already been vaccinated and is ready to tear itself away from its mother. Therefore, it is worth purchasing a small Scottish dog at this age.

A good place to buy is at a show or a reputable nursery. If you like a little mustache, then take a closer look at his behavior - he should be cheerful, playful and well-groomed.

As soon as the baby grows up, his character and excessive hyperactivity will be replaced by balance.

Once in a new home, the little furry will quickly adapt, and most importantly, give its residents joyful emotions and a devoted friend in his person.

Maintaining the color of a Thai cat during breeding

The Thai breed continues to improve and develop thanks to professional breeders. Animals acquire new colors and become more attractive. The Thai cat matures early. She becomes ready for mating by the age of one year.

To preserve the color of the breed, you must follow the following rules:

1. Only by crossing purebred individuals can you get purebred kittens, so you cannot breed a Thai cat with other breeds. It is better to look for a partner in nurseries.
2. It is recommended to select a partner based on color. Animals must be the same color.

If whitish spots or dark spots appear on the kittens' fur in the belly area, this will be considered a flaw in the exterior. All eye colors except blue are also considered a deviation.

Origin story

I would like to immediately clarify the issue of the origin of Scottish Straights. This is the name of the second line of the Scottish cat breed. A Scottish Fold cat's litter may include straight-eared Scottish Straights and fold-eared Scottish Folds. The line was fixed because crossing Scottish Folds with other felines did not give the desired result - stunted, sick offspring were born, with genetic diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Only straights helped to successfully fix the lop ear gene and improve the genetic material.

Due to this dependence of the lines on each other, some time ago the Scottish Strat was recognized as a breed. Moreover, they are really quite different from Scottish Folds in character and temperament.

Difficulties in selecting a pair for the reproduction of lop ears make both breeds inextricably linked. We can say that the Scottish Straight is the other side of the coin of the Scottish Fold cat, in no way inferior to them in beauty and intelligence.

Exterior Features

The body of the animal is medium to large in size, very muscular and squat. The cat has a wide, rather massive chest, shoulders and back; their neck is short and voluminous.

Scottish Folds are characterized by thick, round paws, a medium, thick and very mobile tail with a slightly rounded tip.

The ears are small, slightly curved forward and down, their tips are slightly rounded. They are set wide and pressed tightly to the head, which emphasizes its round shape.

The fur is short, very thick and not adjacent to the body. There is also a quite thick undercoat, which makes the coat as a whole very dense, “plush”.

All colors are accepted for these cats, including color point without white.

The eyes are large, round, widely set. The color matches the coat.

Adults are about 30 centimeters tall at the withers and weigh from 4 to 10 kilograms.

History of the color point color

The color is also called acromelanic or Himalayan.

In English, this coat color means colored markings or dots.

In the 19th century, only Siamese cats had this coloring, then breeders began to breed other breeds with this coloring.

It is known that a cat with this coloring is a partial albino, so the eyes should have a blue iris. The CS gene is responsible for the appearance of dark marks, under the influence of which the pigment appears on the colder parts of the body - the muzzle, paws, ears and tail.

To produce color point kittens, one or both parents must be carriers of the CS gene.

Proper care for your pet

Regular care, quality nutrition, attention and love will ensure your pet has a normal weight and a long life.

• Water procedures. Scottish Straight cats do not like water very much, so they need to be bathed when they get dirty and before the exhibition. It is worth using baby or special cat shampoo and making sure that water does not get into the ears. Afterwards, dry the cat and place it near the heater, avoiding drafts. The fur should be combed once a week.
• Ear care. Inspect them regularly and clean them from dirt using a cotton swab soaked in vegetable oil.
• Eye care. If your Scottish cat has discharge from the eyes that shouldn't happen, contact your veterinarian for advice.
• Claw care. The transparent part of the claws should be trimmed with tongs or scissors. At the same time, the cat must have a scratching post.
• Help during heat. After 7 months, a Scottish cat may go into heat and become irritable. During this period, it is necessary to add sedative herbal remedies to the cat's food to alleviate the condition of the expectant mother.

In turn, you need to submit your pet for preventive examinations in order to identify any diseases in the early stages, as well as get vaccinations on time that will protect the mustachioed from the possibility of contracting an infection. It is also always a good idea to consult with a cat care professional to find out your cat's exact weight.

Colors of British cats with white

Many people are probably wondering: how did it happen that all the representatives of this group are colored so uniquely? To answer this question, you will have to go back many decades and remember that cats became the object of attention of specialists in the second half of the 19th century. The British then began to perceive them as purebred animals and specially breed certain species.

The color point color is found in cats such as Ragamuffin, Highland Fold, Balinese, Siberian and American Shorthair.

The Siamese and Persian cats marked the beginning of the official registration of cat breeds. Later they became the progenitors of many modern cat breeds, including color points. Siamese cats came to Europe in 1870 and became favorites of many families. Blue eyes and unusual coloring are what attracted me in the first place.

Some scientific facts.

The color of the coat and eyes depends on a polymer pigment called melanin. It is formed from the amino acid tyrosine under the influence of the enzyme tyrosinase. It is this enzyme that is controlled by the gene that determines color, which is called Color. This gene is designated by the letter “C”. When the C gene is mutated, no active tyrosinase is produced and the pigment does not appear. In this case, the cat is born an albino, that is, uncolored. And the mutated gene is already indicated by the small letter “c”.

Where did these black spots come from then?

Scientists have discovered the Himalayan cs, or ch gene, which is also formed from a mutated C gene. But in this case, the enzyme tyrosinase becomes heat-sensitive, that is, depending on the temperature, it changes its activity: at high temperatures, tyrosinase is inactive, and as soon as the temperature drops, melanin in the cells it begins to produce and color the cooled areas of fur in darker colors. This is how the Siamese color turns out, which, by the way, is found not only in cats. In the last 30–40 years, geneticists have developed a large number of breeds that differ in color point color.

Feeding

An adult cat is fed 2-3 times a day. The Scottish Straight diet consists mainly of protein foods:

• lean boiled meat (beef, chicken, turkey);
• boiled sea fish without bones (given twice a week);
• fermented milk products (sour cream, cottage cheese, unsweetened yoghurt and even cheese, but you should not give it often or a lot, the cat may develop intestinal upset);
• various porridges with meat broths;
• vitamin supplements.

When choosing vitamins for a cat, you should seek advice from experienced breeders or a veterinarian; Scottish Straight cats are prescribed calcium with caution. According to reviews from breeders, it is better for kittens to choose a balanced specialized food for feeding, which already contains the additives necessary for an active and fulfilling life

According to reviews from breeders, it is better for kittens to choose a balanced specialized food for feeding, which already contains the additives necessary for an active and fulfilling life.

The straight-eared side of the Scottish medal is an unexpected surprise for cat fans. A smart, intelligent and well-mannered cat is an undoubted blessing for constantly busy owners.

How to keep a cat?

It is not too difficult to keep such a cat. His diet should include meat (or offal) and fish (lean, not salted) - 70% of the total food composition, the remaining 30% includes fermented milk products, cereals and boiled vegetables.

An easier option is to feed your cat purchased dry or wet food. Remember that such food must be of high quality, brand name and specifically selected for your furry friend (age, breed, gender, neutered or not). Also, clean, unboiled water should always be available to the cat.

Another thing that is very important is to get regular vaccinations. When and which ones, your veterinarian can advise you. If a loving owner carefully takes care of his four-legged friend, he will be able to live about 15 years of a happy and carefree life.