AND now I will take a general glance over . the other short-haired breeds commonly called English or British cats. As regards points, these are the same as in the long-haired varieties. I give a list as drawn up by a sub-committee of the Cat Club for the use of fanciers and judges

Short-Haired Tabby Kittens {Photo: C. Reid, Wishaw.)

Short-Haired Cats

White

Colour, pure white. Eyes, blue.

Black

Colour, pure and rich black ; no white. Eyes, orange.

Tortoiseshell

Colour, patched yellow, orange and black ; no stripes ; no white. Eyes, orange.

Tortoiseshell And White

Colour, white, patched with yellow, orange and black ; no stripes. Eyes, orange.

Silver Tabby

Colour, silver grey, marked with rich black stripes or bars; no pure white. Eyes, green or orange.

Spotted Tabby

Colour, any shade of light colour, evenly marked with spots of a darker shade or black ; no stripes ; no pure white. Eyes, orange, yellow or green.

Brown Tabby

Colour, golden brown, marked with rich black stripes or bars ; no white. Eyes, orange or green.

Orange Or Red Tabby

Colour, light orange or red, with darker stripes or bars ; no white. Eyes, hazel, or golden brown.

Tabby And White

Colour, any shade of tabby with white. Eyes, orange or green.

N.B

Where more than one colour is given for the eyes, the first one is to be preferred to the second or third.

The Sub-Committee, Frances Simpson.

Gambier Bolton.

It will therefore be seen that texture and length of coat are really the distinguishing points between the two varieties. It is just as grave a mistake for a Persian cat to have a short, close coat as it is for one of British type to possess any of that woolliness or length of fur which denotes a mesalliance. The commonest species of all short-haired cats may be said to be represented by broken-coloured specimens - that is, orange-and-white, tabby-and-white, and black-and-white. These sorts of cats we most frequently see about our public streets and in the homes of country cottagers. At our shows this type of cat - which would be classed as "any other colour" - is fast disappearing from our midst. In America I observe that a class is still specially reserved for orange-and-white cats, and it would seem that this is rather a favourite breed with our cousins over the water.

A good black, with rich glossy coat and deep amber eyes, is, to my mind, one of the choicest of our short-haired breeds. These cats are often marred by the white spot at the throat, and, of course, green eyes predominate to a very great extent. As in the long-haired cats, blue-eyed whites are coming much more to the fore, and on the show bench, at least, we do not see many other specimens with yellow or green eyes.

Our British tabbies - orange, brown, and silver - are always well represented at the principal shows, and of late years competition has been much keener in these classes. It is when we come to markings that the longhaired breeds must take a back seat, so to speak; and the British puss has an easy walkover. In the short, close coat, the broad or narrow bands of the darker colour show up in grand relief on the ground-work of a rich, though paler, shade. The rings round the neck and tail, and the bars on the legs are seen to great perfection. It will be easily understood, therefore, that markings in short-haired tabbies claim the first and greatest consideration, and that these should be sharp and distinct, great care is needed in mating and breeding.

A serious and rather common defect amongst silver tabbies is a tinge of brown about the face - generally on the nose. Orange-tabby females are rarer than males. The peculiar species known as spotted tabbies is becoming very rare, and whereas formerly some of this breed were generally exhibited at large shows, we now seldom see them. Spotted tabbies are usually brown or silver. I do not recollect having heard of an orange-spotted tabby. The spots should be spread uniformly over the body, feet, and tail, and if on the face so much the better. A perfect specimen should not have a suspicion of a stripe or bar anywhere. Harrison Weir considers that the spotted tabby is a much nearer approach to the wild English cat and some other wild cats in the way of colour than the ordinary broad-banded tabby.

Another View Of Lady Decies' Cattery (Photo: Cassell & Company, Limited.)

Lady Decies' " Champion Xenophon." (Photo : E. Landor, Ealing.)

Amongst writers on cats - such as Harrison Weir and Mr. Jennings - priority of place is given to the tortoiseshell cat, and this breed heads their list of short-haired breeds. So also formerly in the Crystal Palace catalogue, to which I have before alluded, tortoiseshells lead the way. Here, again, the patchy nature of the three colours-is - or, at least, ought to be - the distinguishing feature, and the long-haired cat of the same variety loses some of its individuality by reason of the length of fur, causing a mingling or blurring of the colours.

It is a strange fact in natural history, which no one has attempted to explain, that the tortoiseshell torn is a most rare and uncommon animal. A number of clever fanciers and breeders have used their best endeavours and patiently persevered in the fruitless attempt to breed tortoiseshell male cats. In my long experience I have never known of anyone who has succeeded, and those specimens that have been exhibited from time to time have been picked up quite by chance. I recollect, many years ago, at the Crystal Palace show, seeing the pen of a short-haired cat smothered with prize cards, and the owner of the puss standing proudly by, informing inquirers that it was a tortoiseshell torn that lay hidden behind his awards. This man had been paid a shilling by a London cook to take away the troublesome beast out of her area! He had taken it away to some purpose, and his surprise at finding himself and his cat famous was amusing to behold.