201 



CHAPTER XVI. 



CREAM OR FAWN PERSIANS. 



T 



MRS. CLINTON LOCKE S CREAM 

 KITTEN. 



VHIS may be 

 said to be 

 the very 

 latest variety in 

 Persian breeds, 

 and one which 

 bids fair to be- 

 come very fash- 

 ionable. The 

 term " cream " 

 describes exactly 

 what is the de- 

 sired tint of these 

 cats, but few and 

 far between are 

 the specimens 



which are pale and even enough in colour to 

 be correctly described as creams. No doubt, 

 in times past now and again a cream cat 

 would be seen exhibited in the " any variety " 

 class, but then they might be designated as 

 freaks or flukes. Now, however, fanciers of 

 these cats have a system in their matings, and 

 therefore, as a result, there is a breed of cats 

 established which until late years were not 

 recognised or classified. 



It is true that the cream Persians seen in the 

 show pens are often much darker than is implied 

 by the name, and, indeed, are really fawn- 

 coloured. The great thing, however, is to 

 obtain an even tint throughout, whether dark 

 or light, and to avoid any patches, streaks, or 

 tabby markings. I think the very pale creams 

 are more dainty and fascinating than the darker 

 cats, but the lighter the coat the more difficult 

 it is to obtain perfect uniformity of colour. Of 

 course, there will always be a certain amount 

 of shading in cream cats that is, the spine-line 

 will be slightly darker, shading off on the sides 

 and under the stomach and tail. I think that 

 creams are making more rapid strides towards 

 attaining the " almost unmarked " stage than 



are silvers. Certainly, good creams of to-day 

 are very slightly barred on head or legs or tail, 

 and this cannot be said as regards some of 

 our best silver cats. This is probably to be 

 accountgd_for by the cautious and wise dis- 

 crimination used in mating creams by selecting 

 blues or tortoiseshells, and thus avoiding 

 tabby-marked cats. It is a peculiarity of 

 cream cats that the eyes are generally almond- 

 shaped, and are set rather slanting in the head. 

 It is rare and a great treat to see bold, round, 

 owl-like eyes in cream cats. These in colour 

 should be golden or hazel, the brighter the 

 colour the better. I will here give the points 

 of cream or fawn cats, as drawn up by the 

 specialist society : 



CREAM OR FAWN. 



Colour. To be as pure as possible without marking 

 or shading, either paler or darker, dulness and white 

 to be particularly avoided. All shades from the 

 palest fawn to be allowable. 25. 



Coat. To be very long and fluffy. 25. 



Size and shape. To be large not coarse, but 

 massive, with plenty of bone and substance ; short 

 legs. 20. 



Head. To be round and broad, with short nose, 

 ears small and well opened. 15. 



Eyes. To be large and full, and bright orange or 

 hazel in colour. 5. 



Condition. 10. 



Much has 

 been done 

 by this en- 

 ergetic spe- 

 cialist so- 

 ciety to get 

 a better 

 classifica- 

 t i o n f o r 

 creams at 

 our shows ; 

 and p e r- 

 haps,astime A CREAMY SMILE. 



