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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

1410.0. "SILVER TABBY" by --UnknownUser-- () Thu May 26 1988 20:59

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1410.1If you find one, can I have a picture?58205::GERRYGo Ahead, make me PURRRR...Fri May 27 1988 17:299
    Gee, I have never seen a silver tabby British Shorthair!!!  Must
    be a striking cat.  I saw some brown tabby and red tabby british
    kittens that were bred by Carol Petell.  Her address is:  741 St
    James Ave, Springfield MA  01104
    
    Good luck....
    
    cin
    
1410.2CHEFS::TUDORKIsis & Tarot - the moggie mafiaTue May 31 1988 12:384
    Isis is a silver tabby British shorthair (non pedigree).  I think
    (and Isis agrees with me) that they are the most beautiful cats
    ever (together with shorthaired British blacks) particularly when
    they are the striped variety.
1410.3If you can't get a Brit and want an American,EDUC8::TRACHMANTue May 31 1988 14:135
    Linda, if you can't get a Brit - I have a silver/american
    Jane Perkins also breed great silvers - let me know if
    you are interested.  Her cats are very sweet and loving.
    
    Elaine
1410.4questionCGVAX2::WEISMANFri Jun 03 1988 23:489
    
    
	
    What does a silver tabby look like?  When I sent Tasha Marie's
    picture out, I was asked if she was one and I didn't know.
    I never met her parents so I have no idea about her background.


                                       Donna
1410.5CIRCUS::KOLLINGKaren, Sweetie, & Holly; in Calif.Sat Jun 04 1988 00:179
    The silver tabbies I've seen have very defined black tabby markings
    against a grey background -- very striking.  I don't actually know
    what the technical standard is.  Lovely Tasha Marie might be a silver
    mackerel tabby?  I am thinking perhaps her tabby markings are not
    strong enough, but it's hard to tell from the pictures.  All the
    silver tabbies I've seen have also been "sturdy" looking cats, not
    so elegant as Tasha Marie, but maybe I've just seen males.... Maybe a
    breeder can enter the "real truth".
    
1410.6SUBURB::TUDORKIsis & Tarot - the moggie mafiaMon Jun 06 1988 11:3122
    Isis is a silver tabby - heaven knows what her forebears were because
    she was the 'sport' in a litter of black kittens.
    
    Mum we know was a pure bred burmese but Dad is anonymous (and 'wanted'
    by Mum's owners).  So Isis and Tarot (her brother) have the burmese
    shape - looong legs, narrow heads and long bodies.
    
    Tarot's black all over but Isis has medium length silver grey fur
    with strong black markings in stripes.  Long black stripe down spine
    and black-ringed tail.  She also has the classic Mahomet's fingers
    on her head.  (Apparently the legend goes that the prophet Mahomet
    loved cats and stroked one - running his fingers from the forehead
    over the top of the head and down to the back of the skull - this
    left a permanent marking of five black stripes) - charming story.
    Tabbies also have an M marking in the centre of the forehead.
    
    The fur at the back of Isis's paws is black so that when she lies
    on her back and waves her legs in the air she looks as though she
    has long black gloves and stockings on.  She uses this to maximum
    effect on all visitors.
    
    She's probably not classically marked - but she is beautiful.
1410.7MYVAX::LUBYlove them furry terroristsMon Jun 06 1988 13:548
    
    Re: .4,.5
    
        
    I was told that T.K. appears to have some Black and Silver Tabby
    in him.  You both have his picture.  Maybe that will help.
    
    Karen
1410.8smoke to add silverCGOO01::LMILLERhasten slowlyMon Jun 17 1991 16:4835
    Now that I have a Silver Tabby (British) - She cuter than - oh well I
    guess I haven't had a kitten for a while.  Anyway - I looked - in the
    notes (2932) regarding tarnishing and I found out that breeding to a
    smoke is what "helps" the get rid of the tarnish.  My little girl - is 
    starting to tarnish - I guess that is why British Silvers are hard to 
    come by, most judges have never seen one.  I was verbally attacked by a
    judge at the last show for showing an inferior British and that I
    should contact her breeder etc.  I am not known for my shyness but I
    bit my tongue, even when she tried to get me disqualified for poor
    colour - I know that you can't.  She did not want to place me but she
    had no choice.  It is odd how one bad experience can really sour your
    outlook.  I have no problem with other cats winning - I just don't like
    being told my child is ugly and my grandmother wears army boots, at
    least unsolicited.  Then that judge had the gall to clerk for another
    judge the next day and say something to that judge about my cat.  I
    couldn't bring myself to put the cat in that ring , so I got a friend
    to take her up and watch.  I know it's not allowed but unless you
    actually hear what is being said - there's not much you can do.
    
    Anyway - I am in a dilema now - do I have her spay - not only because
    of her colour - she is a trifle petite for a British in North America,
    or do I show her at the local show to get her championship, if I can,
    she just has to final once and we're okay.  Then I will under take the
    mammoth task of finding a British Smoke, that has substance and breed
    her - to see if I can get a less tarnished colour.  By the way her
    contrast black is fine and she is very well marked.  It really brought
    it home how small she was when I compared her to an American Silver who
    is only 6 months and twice as big!  I don't really care about showing
    her, I only bought her for fun and possibly to introduce the colour to
    this part of the world.  In fact having her spay, should stop the
    squeeks and chirrups that disrupt our sleep and the rest of the
    household (3 others - who are no longer spring chickens) once every so
    often!
    
    Linda
1410.9can you find the ideal mate?FORTSC::WILDEwhy am I not yet a dragon?Mon Jun 17 1991 17:5422
perhaps you need to determine whether you CAN find the male to breed to
that MIGHT correct your cat's "flaws"....if one is not easily located,
then the only options are to breed kittens that might elicit criticism
from judges and/or other breeders or to spay.  

You don't sound as if you will be heartbroken if you cannot breed kittens.
As such, there are many advantages to NOT keeping a breedable female cat,
including improved health of the cat.  There are prices to be paid for
keeping a cat breedable - prices that may be minimized by optimum care,
and which may be well worth it when dealing with a superior example of
the breed, but prices nonetheless.

Your kitten sounds very petite to the standard for her breed (if your
comparison to others is correct), and there is no guarentee that
the male you might breed her to can correct the size and color
discrepancies...there is still a bit of a gamble when dealing with
the laws of genetics - you are not only breeding to the male in front
of you, but to his whole genetic line...some or all of which might
thwart your attempts at correcting your kitten's shortcomings.

Only you can decide what you really need to do.  Whatever it is, enjoy
your kitten and let her enjoy life.
1410.10you're right of courseCGOO01::LMILLERhasten slowlyMon Jun 17 1991 19:4419
    Thank you.  	
    
    Everything you said is true, another option is Black - of which there is 
    one at least within 500 miles.  It's not her petitness which I see as a
    huge problem - (no pun intended) - it seems that in most of North
    America - at least for British and Americans - bigger is better.  I
    judge I know from Europe couldn't believe the size compared to British
    in Europe.  I bought her knowing she was small - in fact the breeder
    reduced the price because of her size.  I also know that if I spay her
    she will "chunk out".  I guess it's the disappointment, when she did so
    well as a kitten and now that she is championship cat - the competition
    is tougher.  Such is life - still we adore her anyway - now if spaying
    would keep her of the counter tops - she would have been long since
    done!  (I still pursue all conventional/unconventional methods for this
    trait - I just have to start sounding like a spray bottle).
    
    
    
    
1410.11USDEV1::NDCPutiput Scottish Folds DTN:297-2313Wed Jun 19 1991 10:3922
    I am becoming an expert in the disadvantages to keeping whole cats
    ;^)  But I won't go into that here.
    
    It is a common myth that if you spay a cat they get fat.  That's
    NOT NECESSARILY TRUE.  Mao has been spayed since she was 6 months
    old and Bumpy since I got her at age 2 and both of them are perfect
    weights.  Isis is slightly chunky but not bad.  I can't keep enough
    weight on Dundee (who was neutered at 9 months).  
    
    I have a couple of gorgeous silver tabbies and would be interested
    in seeing a true-to-color picture of your girl.  I also know a
    couple of Brit breeders who might be able to give you a good assess-
    ment of your cat and whether you can breed her.
    
    Also, if you spay her you can still show her in the Alter classes
    and they are more fun than the whole cat classes, believe me.  I've
    experience in all classes but HHP and that's for the future.
    
    Give me a ring or contact me via VAXMAIL and we'll chat.  Some
    Judges need lessons in tact.
      Nancy DC