MATING. loi 



would prefer patches of colour not in any way barred. The 

 gray tabby will throw barred, spotted, or banded kittens, 

 mixed with tortoiseshell, which is the very worst form of 

 mottling, and is very difficult to eradicate. A gray *' ticking" 

 will most likely appear between the dark colour, as it does 

 between the black bars of the tabby. 



BLACK 



The best black, undoubtedly, are those bred from tortoise- 

 shell mothers or females. The black is generally more dense, 

 and less liable to show any signs of spots, bands, or bars, when 

 the animal is in the sun or a bright light; when this is so, it 

 is fatal to a black as regards its chance of a prize, or even 

 notice, and it comes under the denomination of a black 

 tabby. 



If a black and a white cat are mated, let the black be the 

 male, blacks having more stamina, the issue will probably be 

 either white or black ; and also when you wish the black 

 to be perpetuated, the black male must be younger. In 

 1884, a black female cat was exhibited with five white 

 kittens. I have just seen a beautiful black Persian whose 

 mother was a clear white ; this, and the foregoing example, 

 prove either colour represents the same for the purpose of 

 breeding to colour. 



For breeding black with white, take care that the white 

 is the gray-white, and not the yellow-white ; the first generally 

 has orange or yellow eyes, and this is one of the required 

 qualities in the black cat. If a yellow-white with blue eyes, 

 this type of eye would be detrimental, and most likely the 

 eyes of the offspring would have a green stain, or possibly be 

 of odd colours. 



It should be borne in mind, that black kittens are seldom 

 or ever so rich in colour when newly born, as they afterwards 

 become ; therefore, if without spots or bars, and of a deep 

 self brown-black, they will in all possibility be fine in 



