SHORT-HAIRED CATS. 



283 



of cats we most frequently see about our 

 public streets and in the homes of country 

 cottagers. At our shows this type of cat 

 which would be classed as " any other 

 colour " is fast disappearing from our midst. 

 In America I observe that a class is still 

 specially reserved for orange-and-white cats, 

 and it would seem that this is rather a favourite 

 breed with our cousins over the water. 



A good black, with rich glossy coat and deep 

 amber eyes, is, to my mind, one of the choicest 

 of our short-haired breeds. These cats are 

 often marred by the white spot at the throat, 

 and, of course, green eyes predominate to a 

 very great extent. As in the long-haired cats, 

 blue-eyed whites are coming much more to the 

 fore, and on the show bench, at least, we do 

 not see many other specimens with yellow or 

 green eyes. 



Our British tabbies orange, brown, and 



silver are always well represented at the 

 principal shows, and of late years competition 

 has been much keener in these classes. It is 

 when we come to markings that the long- 

 haired breeds must take a back seat, so to 

 speak ; and the British puss has an easy walk- 

 over. In the short, close coat, the broad or 

 narrow bands of the darker colour show up in 

 grand relief on the ground-work of a rich, 

 though paler, shade. The rings round the 

 neck and_tail, and the bars on the legs are seen 

 to great perfection. It will be easily under- 

 stood, therefore, that markings in short- 

 haired tabbies claim the first and greatest 

 consideration, and that these should be sharp 

 and distinct, great care is needed in mating and 

 breeding. 



A serious and rather common defect amongst 

 silver tabbies is a tinge of brown about the 

 face generally on the nose. Orange-tabby 



ANOTHER VIEW OF LADY DECIES' CATTERY. 



(Pfcoto: Cassell & Company, Limited.) 



