THE SHORT-HAIRED CAT 179 



do not receive much encouragement, as at very few shows 

 indeed do they have classes provided for them, and even 

 then nearly always have to be shown all together. 



The title of each depends on the ground colour of the 

 coat. There are Brown, Grey, Silver and Red- Spotted 

 Tabbies, of which I fancy the last is most often seen, but 

 generally fails in the brightness and distinctness of its 

 spots, and the ground is often a washy pale yellow, which 

 gives a blurred look to the coat. 



A really well-marked Spotted Tabby, especially that 

 called Silver, is a very pretty animal, but too rarely seen. 



The head should be small, medium in size, neither 

 short in face nor pinched in muzzle. 



The ears standing well open to the front, rounded at 

 tips and not too wide at base. 



The eyes round, full, and intelligent-looking, and in 

 colour follow the rules laid down for the several Tabbies. 



The body rather long and flat-sided, not heavy 

 limbed, but light and active in build. 



The legs rather long than short, the feet small and 

 compact. 



The tail long and gracefully carried, tapering to the 

 end, but not thin or skinny-looking. 



The coat should be short, fine, close lying and glossy 

 in appearance and feeling soft to the touch. 



The condition should be firm, moderately muscular, 

 and the general aspect elegant and graceful in outlines. 



The size of males may average ten pounds, and of 

 females about eight pounds, but I do not object to a little 

 more in each, provided type and quality are present. 



