i8o RABBITS, CATS, AND CAVIES 



The colour is of course very important ; whatever the 

 ground may be, all the markings everywhere should be 

 mainly composed of distinct and well-defined spots, which, 

 except in the case of the Spotted Red Tabby, when they 

 are a deep rich red, should be nearly black, and the more 

 they approach this shade the better will be the general 

 effect. 



A great many specimens may be seen with stripes and 

 spots, but these are not what are wanted, and probably 

 arise from the inter-breeding of striped with spotted cats. 

 The only approach to a line or stripe of colour in a 

 Spotted Tabby is the trace running along the back, and 

 even this, to be quite in order, should be made up of a 

 number of spots from the back of the neck to the root of 

 the tail, which should also be marked with spots from one 

 end to the other. 



I have usually found this variety of a placid and 

 amiable disposition, perhaps not so playful as some, but 

 with no disagreeable characteristics. 



Of course the colour is a matter of taste, but to my 

 mind the Silver Spotted Tabby, with dense black spots 

 on a pale lavender ground, which shows them off well, is 

 the prettiest of all. 



STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR JUDGING 

 SPOTTED TABBY SHORT-HAIRED CATS 



Head ....... 10 Points 



Ears . 5 



Eyes to follow ground colour . . .10 ,, 



