Concerning Varieties of Cats 



red, or yellow, the self-colored cat should have a lich 

 deep tint. Of course the short-haired white cat is 

 the handsomest of all. One of the peculiarities of 

 this white cat is that it is apt to be deaf. The most 

 valuable white cats, whether long or short haired, have 

 blue eyes. Sometimes they have one blue eye and 

 one green or yellow, which gives a comical effect, 

 and detracts from their value. By the way, cross- 

 eyed cats are not unknown. The best white cats 

 have a yellowish white tint instead of grayish white, 

 as the latter have a coarser quality of fur. 



The Jet-black cat is thought by many to be the 

 most desirable. The true black cat should have a 

 uniform, intensely black coat, velvety and extremely 

 glossy ; the eyes should be round and full, and of a 

 brilliant amber ; the nose and pads of the feet should 

 be jet-black, and the tail long and tapering. It is 

 difficult to find a black cat without a white hair, as 

 usually there are a few under the chin or on the 

 belly. 



The blue cat is the one ordinarily known in this 

 country as the dark maltese. There is a tradition 

 that it came from the Island of Malta. Many people 

 do not consider it a distinct breed, but think it a 

 light-colored variety of the black cat. It is known 

 sometimes as the Archangel, sometimes as the Rus- 

 sian blue, the Spanish blue, the Chartreuse blue, but 

 more commonly in this country as the maltese. When 

 it is of a deep bluish color, or of the soft silver-gray 



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