Black British cat - characteristics and genetics of color, breeding, coat care, interesting facts and signs

Cats of the English breed are characterized by solid colors. Most often you can find British gray-blue shades. But even a black cat doesn’t look like a “black sheep” against their background. His thick and evenly colored coat looks very impressive.

Let's find out whether there are any peculiarities in the breeding and character of black cats, as well as what signs are associated with these animals.

Origin story

British cats are one of the oldest breeds. There are two legends about how the animals got to the island: according to one version, Roman legionnaires brought them to Foggy Albion; according to another, the cats sailed with French sailors, on whose ships they exterminated rodents. Be that as it may, the furry animals settled in England and became its full-fledged inhabitants. For a long time, they were ordinary street cats, selected only by Mother Nature. Due to the lack of an influx of new blood into the British population, genetic characteristics characteristic only of this breed have formed. The result was large animals with a massive body, charming round eyes and plush, densely stuffed fur that had water-repellent properties.

Due to living in a humid climate for a long time, the British have developed a dense, moisture-repellent fur coat.

Thanks to their intelligence, cleanliness and intelligence, British cats have gained the love and recognition of local residents. Then the work of specialists began on the formation of breed standards.

History of breeding

The British breed was first registered in 1898. Animals were very popular among English bohemians. But British cats of that time were mostly blue, which significantly reduced interest in the breed. At the beginning of the 20th century, people wanted something exotic, and they preferred Persians with a rich range of colors. Breeders, in order to restore the fading interest in the British breed, decided to diversify the color range of the British coat.

Animals of various colors began to be bred to increase interest in the breed

At first, selection work was carried out between new representatives of the breed, but the cats most often turned out were spotted forest colors or there were white spots, inclusions and medallions on the coat. Thus, it was not possible to escape from the basic genotype. Then felinologists began crossing British cats with Persians and individuals of other breeds similar in phenotype, due to which the color range of the British cats increased. In addition to the classic blue and smoky colors, the British have appeared in the most unusual color variations. In 1992, basic breed standards were established, which have remained virtually unchanged since then.

The modern British cat has more than 200 types of colors.

Kinds

There are 4 types of Scottish cats, two of which are fold-eared. These are the Scottish Fold and Highland Fold subspecies.

A subspecies of the Scottish Fold breed is a short-haired, fold-eared Scottish cat. Its distinctive feature is ears that wrap around the head, large eyes, a round muzzle and head. Most people prefer this type of lop-eared cat because it produces less fur throughout the house.

The character of the Scottish Fold is another parameter for which this breed is adored by millions of cat lovers around the world. The fold-eared cat is absolutely not aggressive, soft and affectionate. She gets along easily with both humans and pets.

Unfortunately, the lop ear gene leads to many diseases, especially joint diseases. The future owner of the cat must be aware of this feature and properly care for the pet.

The Highland Fold is the second variety of the Scottish Fold cat, only with long hair. Some representatives of the breed can be so fluffy that they look like a big furry ball without ears.

The Highland Fold's character is the same as its short-haired counterpart - calm, non-conflicting and compliant.

Pedigree features of the British cat

In order not to confuse a British cat with another breed, you should know its main distinguishing features.

Shiny raven-colored fur and sparkling amber eyes make the black Briton simply irresistible.

Table: external features of the breed

Price

Purebred kittens with documents and a decent pedigree cost about ten thousand rubles. There are many advertisements on the Internet in which they are willing to give you a kitten even for a thousand rubles, but no one can guarantee that you are buying a truly purebred animal. Just like no one will give you documents.

Therefore, we can say that the price depends on what exactly you want to purchase. If you only need a cat with the appearance of a Scottish Fold, then you can look through advertisements on the Internet. But if the breed and its purebredness are important to you, then it is best to go directly to the nursery.

Genetics of color inheritance

There are so many colors of British cats that it’s easy to get confused among them. To organize the diversity of the color range, colors are divided into groups according to coat pattern, color and pigmentation. There are two basic colors that are directly involved in the formation of others:

• black;
• red.

Each color is formed due to a special substance - melanin. The pigment is found in a cat's hair in the form of microscopic granules that vary in shape, size and quantity. Melanin is divided into two chemical subtypes:

• zumelamine (gene B) - spherical granules that absorb light and form a black color (responsible for the black color and its derivatives);
• pheomelamin (gene A) - ellipsoidal granules that reflect light in the red range (producer of all shades of red).

The genes responsible for the offspring being red (O - orange) or black (o - not orange) are located on the X chromosome. The color of the future offspring is directly related to the gender of the parents. Females have two X chromosomes, and males have one, therefore, cats are responsible for three basic colors:

• OO - red;
• oo - black;
• Oo - tortoiseshell (red-black).

Genes located on the X chromosome are passed from mother to children. Accordingly, a red cat will not be able to give birth to black offspring, and a black cat will not produce red kittens. In cats, the color of the offspring depends on which gene is carried on the only chromosome (O or o), the choice is small - red or black. Tortoiseshell cats appear only in cases of pathology and are almost always infertile.

Cats can only be tricolor as a result of mutation.

If a cat has a tortoiseshell coloring, it means there is an extra X chromosome in his code. Characteristic gene mutations occur 1 time in 3 thousand individuals.

British black color

The dominant (dense) gene D and its companion, the recessive (diluted) gene d, are responsible for the color intensity. In order for the B gene (zumelamine) to appear and give a coal-black color, the cat must have the saturation gene D. Thus, for the formation of an intensely colored black color, dominant genes B and D must be present in the pet’s body. The recessive gene d dilutes the black color, makes it is washed out and gives lighter shades.

British black cats differ from their counterparts not only in color, but also in the quality of their coat - it is stiffer and has a characteristic, pronounced shine. This is due to the fact that the guard hair of black animals is more densely saturated with pigmentation. The signature plush coat is not typical for black individuals, but this is not considered a disadvantage.

Black British fur coats are denser and less plush.

The gene responsible for black color (zumelanin) is one of the ancient genes. Black color, along with tabby color, was often found in wild, undomesticated cats. This is why black and striped animals have a number of similar characteristics.

Shorthair

Black shorthaired British cats and cats, as befits the breed, have a large body, a large head, a cute face with wide-set round eyes, as well as dense and water-repellent fur, but not soft, velvety, but rather harsh, giving off an anthracite shine. This gives a mystical mystery and bewitching appeal.

Coal Britons, affectionate but independent animals, easily tolerate loneliness. They can find entertainment themselves in the form of a toy or their own tail. They are clean, from childhood they are accustomed to the toilet and other rules of behavior in the house. They are distinguished by intelligence and intelligence.

They quickly get used to their owner and remain loyal. It is believed that such cats relieve tension with affection and purring, and help with pain and hypertension. They treat strangers with caution and keep their distance.

Black color standards

Black color belongs to the group of solid shades, which are also called solid. The name comes from the English solid - solid, solid. Solid colors are divided into seven main groups, each of which has its own code according to European standards.

Table: coding of the main solid colors of the British cat

Black representatives of the British breed are incredibly beautiful and attractive, but quite difficult to obtain the ideal color.

A black British cat's nose and paw pads should be the same color as their fur.

Expert requirements for black color:

• wool - evenly dyed to the very root, thick charcoal color; the undercoat should blend in with the main tone of the coat, shine is allowed;
• paw pads are black or charcoal in color;
• nose mirror - black;
• eyes: copper;
• orange;
• golden.

How to choose a British dog with black coat

When buying a black British kitten, even from the most professional breeders, you cannot be sure that it will grow into a pet with high-quality black fur. The main problem is that small “emers” tend to fade. The pre-blooming stage lasts until the age of sexual maturity. During this period, kittens may have blurry patterns, brown undercoat, or so-called gray hair. Only at six to seven months can you be sure that the animal’s color has acquired a rich coal-black color.

Felinologists believe that smoky kittens during puberty have every chance of becoming the owner of luxurious raven-colored fur.

Don't panic if you find single, unpainted spots on your kitten's fur. Gradually, these hairs will fall out on their own, but sometimes they stay in the neck area for a long time and finally leave the animal’s coat after the first mating.

Only during puberty can you understand whether the British fur coat will be a rich charcoal color

In order not to make a mistake with the color and to be sure to become the owner of a black British cat, it is better to take an already grown-up kitten whose fur is sufficiently formed.

Black British eye color

All British cats are born with blue eyes, but at the age of three to four months they change color, acquiring their final color. Eye saturation is determined differently for everyone. Blue-eyed, black-colored Britons do not exist in nature, since the recessive blue tint cannot appear in combination with the dominant black coat.

The eyes of a black British cat at the age of three to four months lose their blue tint and acquire their final color

Breeders believe that the brighter the kittens' eyes, the less intense the color will be when they grow up. Conversely, an iris of gray shades suggests the most intense color, which is so valued in the British breed.

The most preferred eye color of a black Briton is a rich orange tint.

Character

Black British cats behave like real aristocrats. This manifests itself in all pets’ habits. They do not like to impose their society, they are self-sufficient, and have their own opinion on everything. These cats are slow, seem phlegmatic, sleepy, but they think quickly and, if necessary, react instantly. Black Britons have a strong sense of self-worth and do not tolerate familiarity. They do not seek affection; they even allow themselves to be stroked with great condescension.

Children and strangers are not welcomed and kept at a distance, although they do not show aggression, they leave and hide, preventing a possible conflict. They get along well with other animals in the house, as long as they do not try to dominate the British. However, they do not feel the need for constant communication and keep to themselves, preferring loneliness to society. They are smart and highly intelligent.

The black British cat was in second place in the top after blue colors - due to its chic appearance and royal behavior. It is better for families without children to have such a pet, as the pet requires peace in the house.

Breeding British black kittens

Even for experienced breeders, it is very difficult to obtain high-quality black offspring, so it is best to carefully think through the breeding program in advance. Choosing the right parent pair is the main issue in breeding work. It is desirable that manufacturers meet certain requirements:

• both had a solid black color;
• in their pedigree there were as few ancestors with lightened colors as possible;
• Dominant and recessive color genes of British breeds were taken into account.

It is better not to breed black and blue cats with the same “rust” color. Cats with warm chocolate and lilac colors, as well as tabby colors in warm or “golden” tones, are undesirable for mating with black individuals, since these mating options are fraught with the appearance of reddish tones in black offspring.

I. Shustrova

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Another necessary condition for the appearance of high-quality offspring is that both sires must be healthy at the time of mating, vaccinated on time and treated for parasites.

Perhaps one of these kittens will become the owner of a luxurious plain coat of jet black color

In order not to get the opposite result to the desired one, it is best to contact a felinologist. They will make a high-quality genetic calculation of the animal and select a suitable match for it. These tests are carried out taking into account the pedigrees of the potential parents.

Special compatibility tables for producers of different colors compiled in Russian nurseries will help you avoid getting a defective litter:

• when mating animals of a solid color with bicolors (tricolors), the offspring consists of 50% kittens of a solid color and 50% of bicolors (tricolors);
• when mating two bicolors (bicolor and tricolor), the litter will consist of: 50% bicolors (tricolors);
• 25% of kittens are solid color;
• 25% harlequin (5/6 part of the body is white).

Table: results of colors of black kittens from parents without agouti factor (uneven coloring of hairs)

My blue British girl has a blue mother and a black father. The litter included one girl (my pet) and two black cats. When we arrived to pick up our cat, I saw her father for the first time. I couldn't even imagine how beautiful black British people are. These are graceful cats with incredible energy. It was simply impossible to take my eyes off my Tsili’s father. Shiny fur, bright eyes the color of freshly collected buckwheat honey. Mars (that’s the cat’s name) watched carefully as we put Tsilya in the carrier and accompanied us all the way to the door. He was probably assessing the new parents. Right at the exit, I risked petting the cat, and he didn’t resist. The hostess was even surprised, saying that Marsyusha was reluctant to make contact with strangers. The fur coat of a black cat is indeed tougher and denser than that of relatives of other colors. Our Tsili’s fur resembles a soft tsigeya, while Mars’s is like a natural carpet, but very well-groomed and pleasant to the touch. We also communicate with the owner of a cat from the same litter as our pet. Steve is a black, imposing cat, a real copy of his father, only with lemon-colored eyes. By nature, our brother Tsili is softer and more flexible. He calmly goes to communicate with everyone who enters the house and really loves tactile contact with the owners, which cannot be said about our too independent girl.

Black British coat care

The coat of a black British cat will look perfect if you follow some rules:

1. Black Britons, like everyone else, need proper nutrition. The diet should be balanced and varied. There are two feeding options: natural food or ready-made food (super premium line). Breeders do not recommend mixing dry food and natural products, as this can lead to gastrointestinal diseases in the animal. If a cat eats natural products, then its menu should include the following products:
   chilled lean meat or poultry breast;
2. boiled sea fish;
3. dairy products;
4. vegetables and finely chopped greens;
5. poultry eggs;
6. kelp algae, which maintains the black color of the coat.

   Algae maintains the black color of the British coat

7. Since the coat of the black representative of the British breed is darker and coarser than that of its relatives, it gets dirty less and is easier to clean. Therefore, you should bathe your pet no more than once every six months. The Briton should be washed with special shampoos, preferably premium ones. Reasons for giving your pet an emergency bath:
   participation in exhibitions and competitions;
8. severe contamination of the wool with something sticky, sticky or toxic;
9. independent visit to the street;

   The British are very clean animals, so they should not be bathed often.

10. getting rid of tangles;
11. removal of stuck impurities.
12. The Black Briton needs to be brushed once a week with a slicker brush or a special fine-toothed comb. During molting, the animal needs to be scratched more often - about once every two to three days. A cat should be taught hygiene procedures from a very young age, otherwise the pet will be reluctant to accept them.
13. For large British dogs, you should choose a spacious and comfortable tray and filler that does not stick to the animal’s fur.
14. The Black British cat, like any domestic cat, needs annual vaccination and prevention of parasites.

British cats are prone to obesity, so you need to carefully ensure that they do not overeat. The slightest disruption in health can lead to a deterioration in the quality of the coat and loss of natural shine.

When we took our British cat from the breeders, they warned us that it was better to feed the animal natural products. The diet must include raw lean meat. The breeder advised us to immediately cut the purchased veal into long pieces and package it in portions. Before eating, the meat must be doused with boiling water. When chewing long bars, British children develop a correct bite and plump, as if stuffed cheeks, forming a unique “Cheshire smile.”

Feeding

British cats are not picky when it comes to nutrition and will eat almost anything that is offered to them. Therefore, it is necessary to create the right diet and feed your pet natural and high-quality food in order for him to be healthy, beautiful and active. Many people mistakenly believe that there is nothing better for cats than fish. Such a diet will not bring the necessary nutrients and vitamins to the animal’s body.

Pet stores offer a large number of types of food, both dry and wet. Some companies develop a special balanced diet intended only for this breed. Preference should be given to more expensive products; they contain more natural meat, fresh vegetables and nutrients.

If you are a supporter of natural products, you need to prepare daily portions yourself. Your cat should receive the necessary proteins from meat, natural fiber from vegetables and herbs, and you can sometimes add eggs and dairy products. From time to time, your pet needs to buy vitamins, which a veterinarian can recommend after an examination. Also, fresh water should always be freely available in the house.

Features of participation in the exhibition

Any British cat that meets the stated standards can take part in the exhibition. It is important that the animal is healthy, has no external physical defects and has a calm emotional background. A pet that is aggressive or very frightened will most likely face disqualification.

Preparing the appearance

It is best to start preparing your pet for the exhibition in advance:

1. If a Black British cat's coat feels greasy to the touch or has lost its characteristic shine, you should bathe the cat with a special shampoo a few days before the event. For animals with dark fur, the Royal Groom Black Pearl cosmetics line and similar ones are ideal. To improve the quality of the fur coat, it is recommended to use conditioners of the same brands.
2. To get rid of tail fat, it is better to clean the animal’s anal glands in advance.
3. The cat's eyes and ears should be perfectly clean, without discharge, scabs or suppuration.
4. Nails need to be trimmed carefully.

   Nails will need to be trimmed before the show.

5. Brush your teeth at least three days before the exhibition.
6. It is strictly prohibited to tint or tint the animal.
7. If there are single white hairs on the fur, they need to be removed.
8. To avoid fading of the fur, show animals should not be allowed to sunbathe.

   The cat will have to be banned from sunbathing before the exhibition

At the show, cats are evaluated on a 100-point system.

Table: scoring system according to association standards

The judges place the main emphasis on the type of head, quality of color and texture of the animal's coat.

Black Britons not only participate in exhibitions, but also quite often take prizes

Disqualification of a black British man

Reasons why a black British cat is disqualified:

• white hairs, medallions, brown or gray undercoat;
• pale, inappropriate eye color or greenish rim around the iris in adults;
• non-black color of paw pads or nose;
• non-standard number of fingers;
• defects and pathologies of the tail, including kinks and kinks;
• long or fluffy coat, too long or light undercoat;
• significant violations of the dental system;
• overshot or undershot exceeding 2 mm.

At the exhibition you can not only receive well-deserved awards, but also find out the opinion of experts about the animal, get the necessary recommendations, and also find a worthy pair for mating. But if the judges did not rate the cat very highly, there is no reason to be upset, because for a loving owner, his pet has practically no shortcomings.