The history of the breed Color-Point
The History Of The Breed
Often the origin of breed cats are surrounded by glamour of sagas and legends, stories about temples of far Asia or about goddesses of ancient Egypt. From this point of view Color-Point is an exception, because this breed was bred by breeders artificially. Many long years selectionists, going in for breeding of Persian cats, dreamed to grow such breed, which would save all typical signs of Persian type, at this animal would have acromelanial marks as Siamese cats have. First attempts of breeding Siamo-Persians, as they were called at that times, were made in America in 1931. Then collaborator of Harvard Medical School Clyde E. Killer and famous at that time selectionist of Siamese cats from Boston Virginia Cobb crossed Siamese cat-female with black Persian cat for the first time. The color of cat was chosen not accidentally, because exactly animals with black and blue colors better give their type. The goal of experiment was breeding exactly Persian with Siamese color, but not Siamese with Persian hair. As it was expected, all litter of kittens consisted of black shorthaired kittens. Then they crossed black Persian she-cat with Siamese cat and again there were black shorthaired kittens, among which there was one pussy-cat. By further crossing kittens from these litters only in 1936 it succeeded to get first Siamo-Persian she-cat, who was called Debutant.
Parallel such experiments were realized in Great Britain since 1935. But all works were interrupted by the World War II and recommenced only at the end of 40-ies. It needed more long 8 years of painstaking work to "go away" from long noses and big ears of Siamese cats and fasten Siamese color , blue eyes and peculiarities of Persian type. In 1955 the breed was accepted by GCCF as variety of breeds of longhaired cats - longhaired Color-Point (color-point - light spot). In 70-ies Color-Points were added to Persian group of cats, as at that time type of animals was received, which corresponded to Persian breed. In Germany these cats were called "khmer" (from the ancient kampuchean empire Khmer) for a long time, but gradually they came to the name "Persian Color-Point".
In Nothern America selectionists also continued works for perfection of Siamo-Persians or "himalayan" cats as they were begun to call. (Name came from the name of gene - himalayan, which was studied on the himalayan breed of rabbits for the first time). In 18. XII. 1957 the breed was accepted by CFA as new longhaired breed - himalayan, and in 1984 Committee of directors of CFA included Himalayans in the staff of Persian breed. With recognition of the breed the work of selectionists didn't stop. For the improvement of Persian type Color-Points were regular crossed with Persians of traditional colors, and the best results of such crossings were used in further work. At present time Persian Color-Points don't differ from usual Persians and compete with them for prize places successfully.
Peculiarities Of Behaviour
Temper of Color-Points is extensively borrowed from ancestry. They represent pleasant combination of behaviour of Siamese cat - quickness of wit, inquisitiveness and of Persian - completely domestic animal. Cats of this breed like when you pay attention on them and can gain their end, at that every cat do it in her own way. They are more mobile and active than usual Persians, but not so emotional as Siameses. Persian Color-Points are "people-oriented" they will actively try to help you in all your cases: wether you read, make your bad or work with computer. They are always in the centre of your work and "talking" to you with great melodious voice. All that they want from you instead is your full devotion.
Peculiarities Of Breeding
And Color-Points, and Himalayan cats are bred by Persians' standards. As Himalayan cats are american line of Color-Points, the diferences between them are the same as between american and European lines of Persians of any other color, that is minimal. Himalayan cats differs with more extreme type of the head and lighter color of tail. And also in the majority Himalayans are tenderer and sociable that is also the service of american selectionists.
The dream of every selectionists, working with Colors, is to receive the dark blue color of eyes, but it is difficult to achieve. That's why in most cases Persian Color-Points have at best intensive blue color, and at worst - light blue or greyish.
At crossing of Color-Point with Color-Point there are only Color-Points in the set. But at the long breeding of Color-Points "within themselves" Persian type becomes worse, that's why it is recommended one in 3-4 generation to cross them with Persians of traditional colors. Most often color carriers are used for it, i. e. animals, received from crossing Persians Color-Points or Himalayan with one-colored Persians. In the result kittens of usual Persian colors, having color gene, are received. These carriers of color gene are very important for any breeder of Color-Points. For the further work color carriers of good quality and that blood lines that combine with the program of breeding, chosen by breeder, are selected. That's why many nurseries breed their own carriers for inner using.
By choosing color partners it is desirable to keep the same rules as by crossing one-colored Persians, namely: not to cross intensive and dilute colors, i. e. for example, Red-Point with Cream-Point, or Seal-Point with Blue-Point, as at this the quality of color of Points can become worse - "hot" cream, pale red and so on. As partner for crossing it is better to choose animals with more clarified hair on the body.
The rushing of chocoloate gene gives a good result for
Seal-Points. Even chocolate carriers, not to
mention Chocolate-Points, have very clarified, not darken hair for a long time. But at this it would be good not to lose the intension of Points' color. As Persian of traditional color, being used for improvement of type, it is not desirable to use Bicolors, because in the result of the crossing Bicolors with clor gene can be received, and they can not be used ion the breeding of Color-Points. Many of clubs consider such crossings not ot be accepted and don't register received kittens. The number of kittens in the set of Color-Points is not big, usually 2-3 kittens, and 4 kittens are considered to be ideal number. There is an opinion that the increase of number of kittens is connected with domestication, i. e. with degeneration of type.
Kittens of Color-Points are born absolutely white. Their future color can be only supposed by the light tint on the hair. Beige tint is a sign of Seal- or Seal-Torti-Points. Blue-Points have a little bit bluish tint, and Red and Cream-points are snow-white. Colors of points show in few days at first on the edge of ears and on the tail, and then on the lobe of the nose and pads. Earlier of all color on the Seal-Points show, later of all - on the Cream-Points.
Little Lynx-Points by month differ from their brothers with white edgings along the edge of ears and around eyes and with white triangle under the tail (so called "tail of doe"). Then stripes on the face appear, but on Red- and Cream-Points they are feebly marked. Besides, there is a possibility that this is a residual picture as on any red or cream color, and it will disappear with age. That's why it is possible with certainly to identify Red-Lynx-Points and Cream-Lynx-Points only with following control crossing. In conclusion it would like to notice that no one nursery can't breed kittens only high quality in every set, and it is almost unpossible to receive the set, in which all kittens without exception are fit for pedigree breeding. And kittens of exhibition class, shoe-class are big rarity at al! That's why exhibition cat can be very expensive, and kittens, not quite meeting the requirements, are sold by lower price, but inspite of it, they grow in the same beautiful and charming animals.
Persian Color-Points are very popular now. Absence of specific diseases and genetic mistakes gives grounds to suppose that they will be still popular and still healthy in future. And it in many respects depends on conscientiousness and responsibility of breeders. We must hand down to the future selectionists health, variety and harmony and that is why it is necessary to do severe selection of pedigree animals by these parameters.