Colorpoint Shorthair Breeders and other related Links
History
Colorpoint Shorthairs are the scintillating relatives of the Siamese. This breed flaunts its stylized elegance in "point" colors beyond the basic Siamese colors of blue, seal, chocolate and lilac point. Half-siblings to Siamese by virtue of the initial Siamese/red domestic shorthair/Abyssinian foundation crosses, Colorpoints have progressed in leaps and bounds since the early hybrid experiments by British fanciers. Colorpoints, c. 1947-48, were a far cry from their angular, leggy descendants of today.
In the first quarter-century, breeders concentrated on hybridizing and line-breeding (offspring to parents; grand-offspring to grandparents, etc.) cats with red and cream restricted to the points (face, legs, ears and tail), and Siamese type. Their diligence developed handsome red, cream, and parti-color points.
Solid color and all over patterned cats, the opposite end of the genetic spectrum, which were also produced in these initial breedings to the domestic shorthairs and Abyssinians, contained the potential for still another breed: but the future Orientals, also half-siblings to Siamese, were disregarded for the moment. Their day would come eventually.
Type and characteristics
Body
The Colorpoint Shorthair is a medium sized, svelte, refined cat with long tapering lines, very lithe, but muscular. Males may be proportionately larger. Excellent physical condition, neither flabby nor bony. Not fat. Shoulders and hips continue same sleek lines of tubular body. The hips should never wider than shoulders. Abdomen should be tight
The ideal is a cat with type identical to the Siamese, but with its own distinct and unique colors. While the color differences set it apart as a unique breed, the purpose of the hybridization was to establish cats identical in type to the Siamese but with separate colors. The Colorpoint Shorthair standard reflects this objective and preserves it's unique colors. The legs are long and slim. The hind legs higher than front. In good proportion to body.
Tail
The tail is long, thin, tapering to a fine point.
Head
The head should be medium in size in proportion to body. The wedge starts at the nose and flares out in straight lines to the tips of the ears forming a triangle, with no break at the whiskers. No less than the width of an eye between the eyes. When the whiskers are smoothed back, the underlying bone structure is apparent. Allowance must be made for jowls in the stud cat. The chin and jaw is medium in size. Tip of chin lines with tip of nose in the same vertical plane. Neither receding nor excessively massive
Ears
The ears should be strikingly large, pointed, wide at base, continuing the lines of the wedge.
Eyes
Eyes should be clear, almond shaped and medium in size. Neither protruding nor recessed. Slanted towards the nose in harmony with lines of wedge and ears. Uncrossed.
Coat
The coat short, fine textured, glossy. Lying close to body.
Colorpoint Shorthair Breeders and other related Links
More Breed Descriptions on the Net
CFA Breed Profile Colorpoint Shorthair
www.cfainc.org//breeds/profiles/colorpoint.html
CFA Standard Colorpoint Shorthair
www.cfainc.org//breeds/standards/cpsh.html
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