Colour Charts
Tabby chart/new Siamese Colours
Van pattern chart
Please scroll down.

While this is titled Persian Colour chart it applies to all breeds.

Hope you did not go cross eyed looking at the chart!

The basics of coat color genetics in cats

Genetic make-up is defined by DNA. DNA is made of a string of genes. Genotype: all the cat's genes. Phenotype: The cat's genes the influence of which you and I can *see* on the cat. All genes come in pairs - a kitten gets one from its sire, one from its dam. Such a pair of genes is called alleles. homozygous: the two alleles for a certain trait are identical (for example, two Smoke genes) heterozygous: the two alleles for a trait are different (for example, one gene is for Smoke, the other for solid) Genes can be dominant or recessive towards its fellow gene (in the gene-pair) (there are other options we won't go into right now). A dominant gene is one that will not allow the recessive one in the pair of genes to have an impact on the cat's phenotype. A recessive gene is the one that will only be allowed to "show up" if in the company of another gene of the same kind. Therefore in order for a cat to show a trait that we know is the result of a dominant gene (such as smoke), it is enough for the cat to only have one dominant (smoke) and one recessive (solid) gene. If, however, the cat is to show a trait that we know is the result of a recessive gene, both the alleles (genes for this trait) must be the recessive ones. Each kitten again gets one gene for a certain trait from its sire and one from its dam. The kitty fairy has a choice of four genes (two of the sire and two of the dam) to select from and pick out one of the sire's and one of the dam's genes. And that is how the kitten's genes are chosen :-)

Dense color (red, black, chocolate) is dominant to diluted color (cream, blue, lilac) (cream is diluted red, blue is diluted black, lilac is diluted chocolate) black is dominant to chocolate smoke is dominant to solid tabby is dominant to solid bi-color is dominant to solid non-pointed is dominant to pointed white: there are different genes for white color but the usual white that you see in Persians is dominant to all other colors. remember white is not a color, it's kind of like bleach - washes out the real color of the cat. so the cat is still genetically black or whatever, but the white gene prevents the color from showing up red is linked to the X chromosome: if a male (XY) has a red X, he is red. if a female (XX) has two red X chromosomes, she's red. if a female has one non-red X and one red X, she's a tortie. in other words, a male can be red if his dam is a red or a tortie (or a dilute thereof) no matter what color his sire is; but a female can only be red if she got the red X from both her parents - a red sire and a red or tortie dam.

Two cats with a recessive trait, for example two solids, can never produce a kitten with a trait that is dominant to the one of the parents - in this case a tabby or a smoke. Cause you gotta show it to throw it. Remember, the kitty fairy only had four genes to choose from and all four were recessive (solid), or the parents' wouldn't have been solid!

Alenka:  http://home.amis.net/alenka/

THE 'NEW' COLOURS IN SIAMESE

A brief introduction for those unfamiliar with the background to the new colours.

CINNAMON AND FAWN

Cinnamon was produced in Siamese and Orientals by mating a Sorrel Abyssinian, 'Tranby Red Tutankhamen' to a Seal Point Siamese, 'Annelida Fair Maid'. This produced a brown agouti male a black agouti female, who produced 'Southview Pavane', the first Cinnamon. The light brown gene, which produces cinnamon, is recessive, so both parents must carry cinnamon offspring. Fawn is the dilute of cinnamon, and to produce fawns both parents must carry cinnamon and dilute. The cinnamon gene pool is still relatively small, and you are very unlikely to find cinnamon or fawn kittens appearing unexpectedly.

CARAMEL

This colour came in with the first moggie matings, which produced tabby points. There is an interesting description of one of the non-pedigree tabby sires, grandfather of 'Miss Tee Kat', who herself was described as having 'enormous sapphire eyes outlined by dark brown lines... the nose was silver with gold shading near the tip... the background of her mask had an overall silver look, white fur setting off the dark lines, pale to dark brown stripes on the legs, silver tail with black bars and tip, and the body short coated, sleek and pale with the suggestion of silver dapple on both her flanks'. Caramel is produced by the action of one or two dilute modifier genes on blue and lilac. This means that there are several genetic versions of caramel, which seem to be different in appearance, the blue-based caramel is darker, colder and perhaps less attractive shade than the lilac based caramel. The Dm gene is carried by chocolate and seal, and may be passed along for many generations without appearing. It is possible to produce caramel and lilac kittens in the same litter. It is impossible to know how many caramel and caramel tabby points were produced in the past and registered as lilac or chocolate - in all innocence, as caramel was not recognised, and unknown to most breeders. Probably most of the caramel points were sold as pets, as even young caramel point would not appear pinky-grey. But as we have found so often, it is very hard to be sure of the colour of a young caramel tabby point kitten and some caramel tabby points were very successful on the bench - indeed, one often appears in reference books as a lilac tabby point! Because of this, we may have to assume that all seal and chocolate points and their solid seal and chocolate offspring carry the Dm gene and are capable of producing caramel.

APRICOT

This 'New' colour, ( which like caramel had been around for years), is the result of the Dm genes modifying cream. As caramel appears a darker version of lilac, with a silvery sheen developing with time, so apricot is a darker version of cream with a silver sheen. It is very difficult to distinguish from pale red or a dark cream.

I would just like to mention - Jane Lumley - prefix "Jadeveyn" is happy to chat to all interested in the 'New' colours. Also she has at very limited stud the following cats: Jadevyn Justatoff - Caramel Tabby Point; Jadevyn Vannila Ice - Apricot Point; and recently Supremed - UK Gr Ch Jadevyn Justdiserts - Oriental Caramel Ticked Tabby - Tel: 01952 770929

Di Clarke APPLEJACK Siamese & Foreign Whites Norfolk, 
UNITED KINGDOM applejack@easynet.co.uk http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Bluffs/4619

Tabby pattern Chart

Chart showing the progression of the white spotting gene

1. minimum white spotting. 2. Paws and stomach white..3. High white bi-color. 4.and 5. Harlequin Bi-color. 6 Van Bi-color.

I have no idea whose cats these are but if anyone objects to me using them or would like their names added , please contact me?

HIMALAYAN  COLOR GUIDE - thanks to Mimy Sluiter

A) ParentxParent = Kitten 1) SPxSP / SPxBP / SPxCHP / SPxLP / BPxCHP = SP CHP BP LP 2) BPxBP / BPxLP = BP LP 3) CHPxCHP / CHPxLP = CHP LP 4) LPxLP = LP 5) RPxRP / RPxLP = RP CRP 6) CRPxCRP = CRP

B) DamxSire = Male Kittens / Female Kittens 7) STPxSP / STPxCHP / STPxBP /STPxLP / BTPxSP / BTPxCHP / CHTPxSP / CHTPxBP / LTPxSP / LTPxBP = males: SP CHP BP LP RP CRP / females: SP BP CHP LP STP BTP CHTP LTP 8) BTPxBP / BTPxLP = males: BP LP CRP / females: BP LP BTP LTP 9) CHTPxCHP / CHTPxLP = males: CHP LP RP CRP / females: CHP LP CHTP LTP 10) LTPxLP = males: LP CRP / females: LP LTP 11) STPxRP / STPxCRP / CHTPxRP / CHTPxCRP / BTPxRP / LTPxRP = males: SP CHP BP LP RP CRP / females: STP BTP CHTP LTP RP CRP 12) BTPxCRP / LTPxCRP = males: BP LP CRP / females: BTP LTP CRP 13) RPxSP / RPxBP / RPxCHP / RPxLP / CRPxSP / CRPxCHP = males: STP BTP CHTP LTP / females: RP CRP 14) CRPxBP / CRPxLP = males: CRP / females: BTP LTP

SP = sealpoint BP = bluepoint CHP = chocolatepoint LP = lilacpoint RP = redpoint CRP = creampoint STP = sealtortiepoint BTP = bluetortiepoint CHTP = chocolatetortiepoint LTP = lilactortiepoint

If one or two of the parents are tabbypointed (lynxpointed), please look up the non-striped colour version (so for example see for a sealtabby(lynx)point x choctortietabby(lynx)point cross with: SPxCHTP) and realise you'll also have the listed kitten colours with the added "stripes". Note: I assume the possibility that both parents carry dilution and choc genes - so listed all possibilities. Read your pedigrees if those genes are present (dilution makes red into cream, choc into lilac and seal into blue, while choc turns seal into choc and blue into lilac) so you know if you CAN expect all possibilities. Since both genes are recessives, they ALWAYS can pop up, even after generations (although of course the chance gets smaller each generation away). 

Of course percentages (chances) on getting what kittens of what colors differs but feel with the above listing you at least know what is possible.   Mimy Sluiter Moirawin Manx The Netherlands 

Breeding Information
ACUPRESSURE MATING

If your cat keeps calling and you really don't want kittens at the time what do you do? There are a few options:

You can put her on hormones which is a bit risky.
You can use a teaser tom which i not always satisfactory or
you can do acupressure mating:

This will cause a female cat to ovulate naturally and go out of heat.

I am right handed, so I grasp the female by the back of the neck with my left hand, as a male would. Just above the anus and under the tail, there are two soft pockets, on either side. Press forward with your finger, press firmly. Within a few seconds, you will hear the mating growl, let go and stand back. She will roll exactly as if she would if a male had bred her.

This is much safer than introducing a thermometer into the vulva, and works every time. I would suggest doing it every time she presents, and she wil go out of heat in a couple of days.

I once did this to a female in a show hall, demonstrating with a burmese who had been in solid heat for two weeks, and could not even stand up. She really did the "Big O", shrieked her head off, and flipped all around. Everyone wanted to know what happened, so I had to show every one again. The process now has a really rude name, Mary's Finger , and I get teased about it a lot.

Mary Robinson

What is a breeder?:

A Breeder (with a capital B) is one who thirsts for knowledge and never really knows it all, one who wrestles with decisions of conscience, convenience, and commitment. A Breeder is one who sacrafices personal interests, finances, time, friendships, fancy furniture, and deep pile carpeting ! She gives up the dreams of a long, luxurious cruise in favour of turning that all important Show into this years "vacation". The Breeder goes without sleep (but never without coffee!) in hours spent planning a breeding or watching anxiously over the birth process, and afterwards, over every little sneeze, wiggle or cry. The Breeder skips dinner parties because that litter is due or the babies have to be fed at eight. She disregards birth fluids and puts mouth to mouth to save a gasping newborn, literally blowing life into a tiny, helpless creature that may be the culmination of a lifetime of dreams. A Breeders lap is a marvelous place where generations of proud and noble champions once snoozed. A Breeders hands are strong and firm and often soiled, but ever so gentle and sensitive to the thrusts of a kits wet nose. A Breeders back and knees are usually arthritic from stooping, bending, and sitting in the birthing box, but are strong enough to enable the breeder to Show the next choice kitten to a Grand Championship. A Breeders shoulders are stooped and often heaped with abuse from competitors, but they're wide enough to support the weight of a thousand defeats and frustrations. A Breeders arms are always able to wield a mop, support an armful of kittens, or lend a helping hand to a newcomer. A Breeders ears are wonderous things, sometimes red (from being talked about) or strangely shaped (from being pressed against a phone receiver), often deaf to criticism, yet always fine-tuned to the whimper of a sick kitten. A Breeders eyes are blurred from pedigree research and sometimes blind to her own cats faults, but they are ever so keen to the competitions faults and are always searching for the perfect specimen. A Breeders brain is foggy on faces, but it can recall pedigrees faster than an IBM computer. It's so full of knowledge that sometimes it blows a fuse: it catalogues thousands of good bonings, fine ears, and perfect heads... and buries in the soul the failures and the ones that didn't turn out. The Breeders heart is often broken, but it beats strongly with hope everlasting... and it's always in the right place ! Oh, yes, there are breeders, and then, there are BREEDERS !!

Author unknown.

Cost of Breeding

FOR EVERY LITTER: Pre-mating vet check up, worming & vaccination booster FeLV/FIV testing. Travel taking queen to stud (return fare). Travel collecting queen from stud (return fare). Stud Fee. Premium food & conditioners for queen during pregnancy. Possible complications at birth, e.g. caesarian, uterine inertia, hysteria, milk failure, damaged/malformed kitten/s. Kitten milk replacer for weak kittens/hand-rearing. Common kitten ailments, e.g. sticky eyes, stomach upsets (the latter can spread to all your cats and be very pernicious as well as surprisingly expensive to eradicate). Purchase and preparation of weaning foods for kittens at 3-5 weeks. Extra, premium, food for queen during lactation (she will eat as much as 2 or 3 adult cats for more than a month). Extra cat litter (all that extra food has to go somewhere!) Feeding kittens from weaning-13 weeks (at 13 weeks, 4 kittens eat about as much as 4 adult cats). Even more extra cat litter for kittens (trays twice a day from 6-13 weeks). Extra cleaning - the household, not just the trays! Breakages, e.g. ornaments, house-plants, torn curtains, upholstery (all too common with Siamese kittens). Having 5, 6 or more little monsters under your feet & ripping through your home for 2 months. .Toys for kittens. Advertising. Registration. Vaccination. Insurance. Microchipping. Worming at 6, 9 & 12 weeks. 12-wk vet check & FeLV testing. Keeping off-colour or small kittens for longer time Keeping kitten/s to honour new owners' vacations etc. Cancellations. Refunds & taking kittens back if new owner changes mind. Re-advertising cancelled or returned kittens. Extra heating costs for kittens in cold weather. Giving away or selling for less to special friends and relatives

Not being able to go on vacation or stay over for a night anywhere for for 5 months. Being available for phone calls, visitors and enquirers Time spent handling, socialising & playing with kittens (every day)

Sleepless nights and frayed nerves while queen is calling (every month or less between litters) Annual subscriptions to cat associations & registering bodies Subscriptions to cat magazines. Books .Time off work for birthing and when cats are sick Annual vaccinations, testing & health checks for breeding queen & your other cats. Equipment, e.g. litter trays, carriers, cages, bowls, beds, blankets, heat pads, scratching posts, cat trees

ALL THIS IF YOU OWN JUST ONE BREEDING QUEEN! and of course, that queen might have only one kitten in her litter.

If you also own a stud cat: Stud house and run, & its annual maintenance. FeLV/FIV testing every 3 months Advertising stud services. Responsibility of handling other people's queens (insurance too) Being available at very short notice for stud services Extra time for "loving" a stud cat kept outside. Not being able to board out stud cat if you wish to take a holiday

If you go to cat shows: Subscriptions to more cat clubs Travel to meetings & symposiums .Travel to shows as visitor. Show catalogues & door entry fees Entry fees for shows when exhibiting ..Travelling to & from shows (can be very long distances) .Hotel accommodation .Grooming and conditioning products. Time off work to attend shows .Show cages, drapes & furnishings Extra time for training & handling show cats. Extra veterinary checkups before shows
(from the fanciers list - thanks guys)