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.

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.

History of the breed

Scottish cats are a fairly young breed that immediately became noticeable because of their cute round face and curled ears. The abundance of colors made the pet a favorite among breeders, allowing you to choose a pet of any color.

IMPORTANT: the Scottish tabby cat can be folded (fold) or straight (straight).

Marble color is one of the varieties of tabby

Color with marbled streaks is an absolute achievement of breeders. Sometimes this type of color is considered classic for all Scots, but this is a mistaken opinion. To obtain a contrasting pattern, pairs with a pronounced marbled tabby are selected, and only as a result of competent selection, marbled Scottish kittens are obtained.

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

Interesting facts about tabby color

1. According to the beliefs of many peoples of the world, tabby cats promise their owners good luck in all endeavors
   : from love affairs to financial success;
2. There is an interesting legend regarding the origin of the name “tabby”
   . Allegedly, the name of the color was given in honor of the Attabiya quarter of the Iraqi city of Baghdad, from where in the 17th-18th centuries. fabrics of amazing beauty with unusual moire patterns were supplied to English cities. Some people thought that the stripes on a cat’s fur coat looked like fabric patterns with fancy patterns;
3. Tabby color is considered the most ancient, natural color
   . It was with these characteristic patterns that cats existed in ancient times. But they didn’t need the stripes for beauty, but for camouflage from potential victims and larger predators;
4. In the popular dream book of Felomena there is an explanation that seeing a striped cat in a dream
   means unexpected luck or a date with a wonderful, unusual person;
5. Many felinologists and cat lovers believe that tabby-colored pets have the best health
   . And all thanks to a special gene, which is responsible for the wild striped color, and is also directly related to the animal’s immunity;
6. All cats with red (red) and cream fur have stripes on their coats
   . It’s just that sometimes they are not expressed too brightly, and therefore it seems as if the animal’s color is monochromatic and solid, but this is not so.

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.

Possible problems

Breeders who specialize in breeding attractive marbled kittens of the British, Scottish, Bengal and other breeds very often encounter various kinds of problems, due to which they may end up with a color that does not meet all existing standards.

Most often, breeders face such problems.

• Expressiveness. With this problem, too bright a contrast can be seen between the print and the background on the cat’s skin.
• Shading. If such a deficiency occurs, then the color of the animal will look discolored, as if the marble was very worn.
• Excessive width of patterns. In this case, the background color is practically invisible through the patterns on the coat - this color is not considered the norm.
• Excessive ticking. This disease is externally manifested by a strong blurring of the pattern, which should still be more noticeable and expressive.
• The so-called torn pattern. With this problem, the stripes on the animal's skin may appear torn or even turn into specks of different sizes.

About the marbled Bengal cat, see the video below.

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.

Overview of species

In addition to the size of the fraction, varieties of marble chips differ in the type of solvent and coloring method. The shape of the faction may vary. For example, in the assortment of sellers you can find a tumbled mixture, which is a processed stone that resembles natural pebbles.

This stone is distinguished by its smooth shape and shine. Tumbled chips create glare in the sun and are used to decorate fountains, aquariums and pools, helping to create an atmosphere of sea tranquility. This environmentally friendly material can have different fraction sizes (20-40, 10-20 mm and less).

Finishing material is sold in bags. The weight of the bags can be 2, 10 and 15 kg. At the same time, colored varieties are most often sold in small bags. In addition to them, gray and white crumbs with a particle fraction of 5-10, 10-20 mm are sold in a volume of 2.5 kg.

White

The white mixture consists of grade 400 cement, crumbs, slaked lime, mica, and marble flour. This material is used to create decorative plaster with the texture of natural stone. It is used in the finishing of plinths, facades and columns. It is perfectly tinted, due to which it can be given almost any desired shade to match the chosen color scheme of the interior or landscape.

White cement is produced from it, and it is used in sand filters to stabilize the water composition. A variety with a fraction size of 1 to 3 mm is suitable for these purposes. It is bought for making flowerpots and figurines, decorating with them the local area of ​​a country house or dacha. The mixture helps improve water quality by sequestering carbon dioxide. White sand crumbs are used for very hard water, which may contain suspended matter of manganese or iron.

Gray

Gray marble chips have the same properties and performance characteristics as white and colored counterparts. Its composition can be changed by adding, as with other varieties, different impurities. For example, you can change the texture of a stone by adding malachite, onyx, quartz and other natural stones to the composition.

Unlike its white counterpart, gray marble chips are most often used for the production of de-icing reagents. In addition, it is used in landscape design, masking imperfections in land plots and places of depleted soil where plants grow poorly. This is a useful material that can be used as a mineral fertilizer.

Colored

Colored marble chips are classified as carbonate rocks. The colors of this mineral can be different:

pink;

For example, silicates containing iron color the stone greenish. Iron oxide gives the crumbs a reddish tint. The blue-black variety contains water-dispersed sulfide.

Bitumen and graphite can give marble chips a blue, grayish and black tone. The brown or yellowish mineral contains impurities of limonite and carbonate. However, the color can be not only multi-colored, but also striped. In this case, color saturation does not depend on the size of the fraction.

If desired, the crumbs can be combined with each other, creating unique mosaic patterns. Manufacturers of marble chips independently give the material the desired color using paints based on epoxy resins. This building material is more expensive than its analogues. It is in particular consumer demand. Moreover, the shade can be changed or made brighter.

It is noteworthy that color can determine the price of marble chips. For example, the gray variety is considered the cheapest option. Blue chips are the most expensive, since this mineral is found in nature less often than other analogues. Until recently, blue marble was mined mainly in Argentina and Kenya. Today it is mined in Russia, and the quality of domestic stone is not inferior to imported analogues.

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

Application of marble chips

Marble chips are used to decorate surfaces due to their variety of colors and ease of processing. Crumbs are used to produce materials such as ceramics and porcelain. The color shades of the material vary from naturally colored colors to man-made colors according to demand.

It is approved for use without any restrictions, due to its environmental friendliness and very low background radiation, 12-15 times less than the average values ​​for cities. The composition of the elements does not include foreign inclusions and impurities.

The useful properties of the material include:

• Attractive appearance and variety of shades.
• Environmental friendliness. When crushed, the crumb dust does not harm the environment.
• Heat resistance. Temperature changes do not cause destruction.
• Fire safety. In case of spontaneous fires on the ground, a layer of crumbs extinguishes the fire line.
• Used for mulching and drainage of plants, it retains moisture in the soil.
• Long period of operation.
• Color constancy, does not fade.
• Compatibility with building materials.
• Resistance to mechanical damage.
• Antistatic, does not conduct or accumulate electricity.
• Toxic neutrality. When heated and evaporated at high humidity, the mineral does not produce harmful emissions for living organisms and plants.
• Bactericidal properties, natural antiseptic material.

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.

Life in the wild

Modern scientific observations of a rare species of felines are taking shape literally bit by bit. A lot of valuable data was obtained when a special chip was implanted in a wild-caught marbled cat in 2000. Episodic information is also obtained from video cameras that are installed in many reserves and record the life of the animals living there.

Rare footage from a surveillance camera

Where does the marbled cat live?

The favorite habitats of Pardofelis marmorata are impenetrable tropical forests, away from human paths and dwellings. But some small populations willingly settle in high mountainous rocky areas, where any vegetation is practically absent. The territory that one animal “superses” is about six square kilometers.

The marbled cat spends most of its life in trees

Lifestyle and character

Marbled cats are unsurpassed steeplejacks; they move much less often on the ground than on the branches of tall trees, flying up their trunks with lightning speed at the first need. Here, in the tree crowns, under the cover of dense foliage, a significant part of the marbled cat’s life takes place. She leads an exclusively nocturnal lifestyle, and during daylight hours she sleeps, sitting comfortably on the branches.

She kind of looks like a squirrel, doesn't she?

Hunting is the main essence of the marbled cat; both its strong body and its entire way of existence are ideally suited for this activity. This ideal huntress can lie motionless for hours, like a statue, waiting for her prey to appear. But as soon as the right moment comes, the predator makes a killer throw - lightning fast and accurate; Almost all of her attacks are effective.

The marbled cat is also excellent at tracking down prey - here its excellent sense of smell and acute vision become its faithful assistants: the animal sees well in the dark.

Video: marbled cat walks through the forest

Nutrition

The diet of the marbled cat is very varied, and it supplements its menu by mainly hunting in the crowns of trees. Here, tree squirrels, bats, and, of course, various birds can become predator trophies. On occasion, she will not refuse to feast on other small prey: rodents, amphibians, reptiles and even large insects, which are found in abundance in the tropics.

The marbled cat hunts not only in the crowns of trees, but also in reed thickets

These cats have a good appetite - the daily diet of the predator reaches up to 0.8 kilograms in weight, which is approximately a sixth of the live weight of an adult animal.

Reproduction

These animals spend most of their lives alone: ​​controlling the borders of their territory and protecting them from the invasion of strangers. But once a year, a marble cat and a female cat meet to indulge in the joys of love. And in this most important intimate matter, they also differ from most of their relatives. This species does not have a mating season determined by the time of year - a couple is formed when a mutual desire arises.

The season of love for marbled cats occurs at any time of the year.

In preparation for giving birth, the expectant mother cat begins to arrange a den in advance in which she will raise her offspring. The most inaccessible place for the nest is selected: in the hollow of an old tree or a cave hidden in dense grass thickets.

Pregnancy in a female lasts slightly longer than in other representatives of the cat family - up to 85 days. At the time prescribed by nature, blind, deaf and helpless kittens will be born - there are rarely more than four of them in a litter, and at first they look completely unmarbled. At birth, babies weigh no more than one hundred grams. And the first fur of newborn cubs has a uniform brownish tint; beautiful dark stains will appear on it much later, by four months.

By four months, the kitten's baby fur has completely changed to that of an adult.

Main threats

The main risks for the existence of the marbled cat are human economic activity - deforestation and the development of the ancestral territories of the wild species.

The marbled cat's natural enemies are larger predators, mainly its fellow cats living in the same region. The wild Bengal cat, whose habitats often overlap in the marble cat, could compete in terms of food supply. But the first of the small predators hunts only on the ground, and the second - mainly on the upper tier of the tropical forest.

The masterly ability to climb trees helps not only to hunt, but also to escape from other predators.

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

Existing colors of cats and cats

The variety of colors in cats depends on the breed and the work of breeders, who cross animals to highlight the rarest colors. Several genes are responsible for the formation of the palette.

In different combinations, under the influence of alleles, they create numerous variations of shades and patterns on the pet’s coat.

Solid

Solid color – it is characterized by uniform coloring along the entire length of the hair. In this form, there are animals with black, blue, chocolate, tortoiseshell, red and cream fur.

Solid white color. The dominant W gene suppresses all others and prevents them from appearing on the hair. Another variety of white is spotted (S). In this case, the canvas breaks up into separate white areas, but does not cover the entire surface of the body.

But the spots come in all sizes, sometimes so dense that they create the illusion of a solid color.

Albinos whose genotype contains the recessive trait c. When he takes the form of a sa, cats with blue eyes are born.

Tabby

The tabby pattern is expressed as a pattern on the coat (in the form of stripes or spots). It can be clear, contrasty or blurry. The latter option causes a marble effect. Gene A (agouti) is responsible for the tabby color. In the recessive state, the aa allele is suppressed and the pattern on the coat is not visible.

Beautiful tabby colors in cats are regulated by the T gene, which can appear in several variants:

1. Pure T – tiger stripes, the traditional cat “outfit”.
2. Ticked Ta, which is called “Abyssinian”, stands out in the form of a small rowan on the surface of the hair.
3. Marble TbTb (classic) - blurry striped pattern.
4. Spotted TsTs - there are suggestions that genes that have not yet been studied are responsible for the appearance of the “leopard effect”.

The designation of tabby cat colors is fixed in the names of some breeds (Asian tabby). In fact, such forethought is not needed - all animals have the A gene and can give birth to offspring with a spotted-striped pattern.

Color point

One of the unusual colors of cats is acromelanic, which belongs to the albino group. The color is notable because it depends on the cat’s body temperature. The most striking representative of this trend is the Siamese cat with a characteristic mask on its face and darkening on the ears, paws and tail.

Color point can be divided according to the color spectrum:

• almost black seal point;
• in gray-blue shades - blue point;
• lilac point - a mixture of gray and pinkish-red;
• a variety of red mask - red point;
• chocolate point;
• striped tabby masks;
• tortoiseshell acromelanic color-point;
• cream point.

Tortoiseshells

The group includes two-color cats, in which spots of two shades (except white) appear on their fur to an arbitrary degree of distinguishability. Most often we are talking about combinations of black and red, cream and blue, as well as lilac, fawn and cinnamon (cinnamon) in any combination.

The O gene is responsible for the color, which is combined in the dominant and recessive form Oo (red is not red). Tortoiseshell cats are found in almost all breeds and types of color: solid, tabby, color-point and others.

Colors with white

The most commonly considered cat color is tortoiseshell with the addition of white. Such animals are called patchwork or tricolor, and white dominates over other shades. As with “pure turtles,” the vast majority of this group are cats, and male cats are extremely rare.

Other combinations with white color are possible only if the spotting gene is present in the set of Ss alleles. In this case, the shades are mixed in random order, and the shape of the color and the location of the spots cannot be predicted in advance.

Silver

Very impressive color. The lower root part is bleached, and pigmentation appears only closer to the tip of the hair. This palette of shades is formed by gene I (inhibitor). The coloring of different areas of the hair depends on the activity of I.

1. In the chinchilla color, the pigment appears only on 1/8 of the end of the hair.
2. Shaded tones – 1/3 of the color.
3. Among smoky ones, this ratio is 50x50.
4. In the tabby group, the main coat color is white, with a silver pattern on top.

The processes of formation of the silver color have not been fully studied. Scientists suggest that additional genes are involved, which affect the individual coloring of each individual hair.

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

Tabby drawing: cat breeds that have it

In some cats, patterned coloring is the only one, while in others it is one of the possible ones.

Abyssinian cat

In this breed, the standard allows only one-color ticked color. The color of the short coat can be bright orange, copper, blue, etc. White spots on the chest and chin are allowed. The abdomen and limbs are lighter on the inside. There is a dark stripe running along the ridge to the very tip of the tail. The eyes are hazel, golden, sometimes green. The shade of the nose and feet corresponds to the basic tone. The color of the iris is often yellowish-orange, sometimes greenish.

Abyssinian cats have only one-color ticked fur

Video: Abyssinian beauties

https://youtube.com/watch?v=UQE0cZ-1a30

Singapura cat

The only permitted and acceptable color according to the standard is sepia agouti. The main background is close in color to ivory, with clear dark brown ticking. A dark stripe runs along the spine and to the tip of the tail. The chest, chin and belly are a warm, lighter, brownish shade. Residual pale stripes occur on the knees of the hind legs and on the inside of the forelimbs. The pads of the paws are brownish-pinkish, the shade of the nose is from delicate light salmon to rich dark. The iris of the eyes is colored in green, yellow and greenish-yellowish shades.

All Singaporeans are painted the same

Somali cat

The palette of ticked colors is quite wide (wild, sorrel, blue, black silver, fawn). Wools of a basic tone (red, blue, cream, white, etc.) with contrasting tips. A dark shade is observed along the entire spine and tail. The inside of the limbs and belly are a shade lighter. The color of the nose and paw pads varies from pink and bluish-gray to black. Eyes in bluish-green or yellowish-green tones.

The Somali cat has a dark stripe running down its back and tail.

Ocicat

Wild spotted coloring, in which darker contrasting spots are scattered against the main agouti background (beige, pale blue, red, etc.), with intermittent stripes along the ridge. On the sides and on the belly, the markings are slightly lighter and spaced a little less frequently. The skin on the nose is brick red or pink, the feet and tip of the tail are in contrasting tone. Eyes can be painted in any color, excluding blue and blue.

The Ocicat has a wild spotted coloration

Video: Ocicat cats

Pixie bob

Soft ticked wool of light warm brown tones, with a darker, distinct pattern of spots, small stripes or rosettes. The tip of the tail is almost black. The fur on the belly is spotted and lighter. Eye color ranges from light gold to brown or greenish gooseberry. The paw pads are dark brown or black, the nose is brick.

Pixie bobs have short tails

Video: pixie bob cats

The patterned tabby pattern is a classic cat coloration; it can be possessed by both outbred yard cats and purebred purebred animals bred through long-term selection.

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.

Security status

Hunting of this species is prohibited in the following countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China (Yunnan only), India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand. The marbled cat is listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which prohibits international trade in the species. Marbled cats are rarely found in zoos and do not breed well in captivity.

The marbled cat is an incredibly beautiful wild cat of Southeast Asia. Inhabits tropical and subtropical forests of Nepal, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo and India.

Based on DNA results, zoologists determined that this species, despite its small size, should be classified as a big cat (Pantherinae), although previously it was mistakenly considered a representative of the subfamily Felinae.

The size of the marbled cat is slightly larger than that of domestic pets. The length of their graceful body is about fifty-five centimeters. Moreover, the thick tail has approximately the same dimensions. Such a massive part of the body is simply necessary for a cat to live in the forest, because it is responsible for the balancing function. The body weight of the marbled beauty ranges from four to eight kilograms.

The graceful body of the animal is covered with soft thick fur. Against the background of yellow-golden fur there are large, unevenly outlined black spots. On the sides of the cat the pattern is paler, and the belly and chest have a lighter background. Visually, this marble pattern is similar to the color of another feline representative -.

The cat's head is small and round. The back of the ears is black with characteristic large white spots. The upper fangs are long, this is especially noticeable when the animal grins. Eyes the color of walnut shells. Powerful short legs and tail are completely dotted with black spots, and on the tail they are noticeably larger. Marbled cats live up to twelve years.

The marbled cat spends most of its life in trees. It is not difficult for her to move along the branches. Like many cats, they lead an active lifestyle at night. They prefer privacy. Each individual has its own territory for hunting, an area of ​​approximately six square meters. kilometers. The cat's diet consists of bats, tree squirrels, birds, small reptiles, amphibians and insects. The marbled cat has excellent hearing. She can pick up the sounds made by the prey before it comes into the cat's field of view.

Marbled cats become sexually mature at the age of twenty-one weeks. Mating in marbled cats occurs once a year, regardless of the season. After about eighty days, one to four kittens are born, weighing about one hundred grams. Babies are born blind, deaf and with a uniform coat color. On the fifth day, the cubs develop hearing, and after two weeks they acquire vision. Already at the age of four months, the kittens' fur coat acquires a traditional marble pattern. Babies feed on mother's milk for up to three to four months, then they are ready to move on to solid food.

The marbled cat is a small animal, the size of a domestic cat. But, despite its modest size, the marbled cat is a harsh beast, because its closest relatives are pumas and leopards. And due to the fact that it lives in my favorite region - Southeast Asia, I could not pass by and not write about this rare representative of the cat family.

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.

Shaded and veiled colors (“chinchillas”)

Silver and golden “chinchillas” are very beautiful, highly valued colors of the British. The name of the color is given because the cats' fur coloring resembles chinchilla animals.

Silvers have a snow-white undercoat, and at the tip of the guard hairs there is a black or blue “spraying”. Yellowness is not allowed. Eyes are green. According to the degree of coloring of the guard fur there are:

• Silver shaded. Only the upper ⅓ of the guard hair is colored, which creates the impression of a “sprayed” color. The undercoat is completely white.
• Silver veiled. The upper ⅛ of the guard hair is colored. It gives the impression of a white cat in a light silver “veil”.

Golden chinchillas have a soft apricot undercoat and a black or blue-gray coat. The brighter the “gold” glows, the more valuable the kitten. Gray inclusions are not allowed. The color of the iris is green. Golden chinchillas are also divided according to the degree of coloring of the guard hairs:

• Golden shaded. The undercoat is peach to apricot in color. The guard hair is colored ⅓ at the tip.
• Golden veiled. The undercoat is peach. The guard hair is colored ⅛ at the apex.

Photos of British silver chinchillas:

Photos of British golden chinchillas:

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.

Products made from marble chips

In the production of products for which cast marble is used, crumbs are one of the main components. Products made from marble chips are used in fire and explosive areas because... they do not generate sparks during operation.

Thanks to its qualities:

• easy polishing and excellent grinding,
• rich color palette,
• environmental cleanliness,
• and efficiency

The material is used in many sectors of construction. It has a unique ability to be combined with other building materials. Resistance to frost allows this material to be used both in interior and exterior decoration without thinking about temperature changes and precipitation, snow or rain.

For facade finishing, white material is most often used. The use of such materials makes it possible to refine the exterior of the building and improve the landscape of the area.

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.

Diet

A balanced diet forms the basis for a long and healthy life for your pet. The Scottish tabby cat is not picky about food, but is prone to obesity. A proper diet includes:

1. Premium dry food containing vitamins and healthy additives. It is recommended to choose food marked “for the Scottish breed”.
2. Natural food, which makes up 20% of the total diet;
3. Constant access to clean water;
4. Vitamin complexes as prescribed by a veterinarian once a year;

Natural food contains:

1. Lean cooked meat (turkey, chicken, veal)
2. Boiled vegetables and cereals
3. Low-fat fermented milk products

The calcium content in the Scottish Fold cat’s body should be monitored: its excess can “lift” the animal’s ears

Strictly excluded:

1. Vegetables: beans, potatoes, mushrooms, onions
2. River fish
3. Pure milk
4. Fat meat
5. Sausages
6. Smoked meats
7. Fruits
8. Seasonings
9. Sweets: chocolate, candies, pastries
10. Drinks: tea, coffee, soda

Photo gallery: British merle coats

It is better to purchase Marbled Britons from trusted nurseries. Marbled Britons 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 need to be crossed only among themselves The main thing in caring for the coat of the Marbled Briton is regular brushing. Marbled Britons are unpretentious in grooming

The British merle is difficult to breed. The British merle became popular after advertising cat food with a similar kitten. Cream merle is a rarity among the British.
The merle British cat is a true decoration of the home interior, and its purring character 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.

Captivity

Due to the complexity of research in the natural habitat, most data on the marbled cat is based on observations of those representatives of the species that are kept in zoos.
For example, we know nothing about the life expectancy of these animals in nature - in captivity it is no more than twelve years. The marbled cat takes root well in zoos

A little more than a dozen marbled cats live in zoos around the world; under good conditions, they often give birth to offspring in captivity. They prefer spacious enclosures with complex landscapes and plenty of hiding places. Animals are difficult to exhibit because they come out of their hiding places mainly in the dark, when there are no longer any visitors to the zoo.

Is it possible to tame a marbled cat?

In the homeland of the wild predator, local residents sometimes bring small forest kittens into their homes to tame them. There is also information about hybrids obtained from crossing this wild species with domestic animals - such individuals are quite viable, but extremely rarely produce offspring. Marble cat cubs can be tamed quite well, but when they grow up, they can demonstrate their aggressive nature, or even run away from home into their native jungle.

A marble cat kitten will never become a cute and docile pet.

Despite the strict ban on the export of marbled cats abroad, some individuals are periodically smuggled into Europe, where there is a demand for exotic predatory animals. According to some reports, rare wild cats are also kept in private menageries in Russia. Such a stay is illegal and therefore not particularly advertised.

Even if you have an almost incredible opportunity to own a marble cat, don’t risk it. A wild animal will remain so forever, its place is in its natural habitat, in the tropical forest. But certainly not in a human apartment - such attempts always end in failure.

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.