Appearance, behavior and features of keeping the British Silver Chinchilla cat breed

5292Administration

The silver chinchilla is a unique cat. She is distinguished not only by her chic appearance, but also by her “golden” character. It is difficult to find a smarter and more intelligent animal. Many people think that chinchilla is a breed. Actually, not quite like that.

We are talking about a specific color that is found among the British, Persians, and also (albeit much less frequently) among the Scots. It is on this basis that cats are grouped into one group, the representatives of which, in addition to the color of their fur coat, have some other common features.

© shutterstock

Maintenance and care

1. Fur care. Representatives of any variety should be combed a couple of times a week using a furminator according to hair growth and in the opposite direction. When tangles appear in the Persian species, they are cut off.
2. Proper care of the face, for which a damp cloth is used. The eyes require daily rubbing with clean boiled water or chamomile infusion, and the ears require cleaning with a cotton swab and Vaseline oil.
3. Perform a manicure a couple of times a month and have your own place with a scratching post.
4. Providing water treatments. The best option is to use dry shampoo.
5. Dental hygiene using special cleaning products and special dry food to remove plaque.
6. Conclusions for a walk. It is ideal to accustom this cat to a harness from childhood and wear a collar against ticks and fleas, which will ensure both a pleasant process and safety.

A well-thought-out diet, which necessarily includes elite-class cat food.
In addition, an important component is the consumption of ordinary products:

• meat by-products,
• low-fat fermented milk products,
• boiled sea fish,
• scrambled eggs,
• vegetables and herbs in combination with protein foods.

It is necessary to keep your pet healthy and visit the veterinarian regularly. There are some diseases that require immediate treatment - retinal atrophy, problems with the kidneys and the cardiovascular system.

With careful attention from the owners, representatives of the golden chinchilla breed will live up to 15 years at home.

Care and maintenance of the British chinchilla

In order for your pet to delight you with its extraordinary beauty for many years, it needs proper care, including grooming, eye, oral, claw and ear hygiene. In no case should we forget about proper nutrition of animals with a balanced diet.

Grooming

Regular coat care mainly consists of brushing, as frequent bathing of British chinchillas is not recommended. This can dry out the skin and ruin the quality of the coat. And not all cats like the bathing procedure itself.

Animals are bathed no more than 2 times a year. Many breeders do this immediately before the show, presenting the soft and shiny coat of their pets to the judges. For the procedure, it is best to use a specialized shampoo designed for light and/or white coat colors (silver British chinchillas) or shampoo for dark coat tones when it comes to bathing a golden chinchilla.

Cats of this breed are brushed several times a week with soft, non-discomforting brushes. If your pet likes the procedure, you can repeat it daily. You must first brush the cat according to the growth of the fur, and then carefully turn the brush in the opposite direction. During shedding, you can brush your chinchilla more often. This will not only save the animal from excess hair, but also you from having to vacuum the house again.

Britons need to be brushed twice a week

Hygiene of ears, eyes, oral cavity, claw care

There is no need to clean your ears often. The procedure is performed when there is noticeable contamination. You can clean your ears with cotton wool or a cotton pad applying a special spray, sold at any pet store.

Cats that eat natural food more often need to have their teeth brushed. This procedure will prevent the formation of plaque and tooth decay. A special paste purchased from a veterinary pharmacy is applied to a soft brush. You need to brush your teeth once every two weeks.

If small clots are detected in front of the eyes (most often they appear after the animal has slept), they are removed using a cotton pad moistened with warm water. If the discharge from the eyes is purulent, a visit to the veterinarian is necessary.

To prevent your chinchilla from damaging furniture and flooring, it is necessary to take care of its claws. Cats are very fond of scratching posts, near which they spend their leisure time with pleasure. Once a month, the claws are trimmed with a special nail clipper, which does not cause any discomfort to the animal.

In order for the animal to calmly accept all of the above procedures, it must be accustomed to them from infancy.

British chinchilla nutrition

There is no consensus on what is the best way to feed British chinchillas. In this matter, all breeders are divided into two camps: one prefers ready-made food and canned food, the other prefers natural food prepared for the cat with their own hands.

Ready-made food and canned food

A budget food option for British chinchillas is absolutely not suitable. Therefore, you should take into account that they will have to be fed with expensive super premium food. High-quality and balanced food contains:

• vegetables;
• meat;
• vitamins;
• minerals and trace elements.

To prevent your cat from getting tired of the food, you need to periodically change its taste and replace dry food with canned food. The main thing is that all products are represented by one brand.

Natural nutrition

Good quality and balanced natural nutrition will also be quite expensive. British chinchillas are recommended lean meat. It's best if it's:

• turkey;
• chicken;
• rabbit;
• young ram;
• calf.

The meat should be given boiled. The bird - previously frozen for at least 12 hours - is doused with boiling water before serving. For adult cats, the meat is cut into small pieces; for chinchilla kittens, it is ground in a meat grinder or crushed in a blender.

The British also eat offal. They can be fed boiled liver, heart and kidneys. Sea fish, cleaned of bones, is required in the diet (with the exception of sterilized animals). Under no circumstances should you feed your chinchillas poultry bones; they are not digestible by cats.

In addition to the meat component of their pets' diet, they need fermented milk products (kefir, yogurt, low-fat cottage cheese), chicken or quail egg yolks, carrots and zucchini. Pets will not refuse boiled buckwheat, rice and oatmeal.

For the British, sprouted grains or special grass act as vitamins, which can be purchased without any problems in pet stores.

British chinchilla is wary of strangers

Persian chinchilla cat

Royal appearance and noble manners make animals of this breed aristocratic in comparison with other felines. The Persian chinchilla has large green eyes and a special color. The majestic animal has a calm disposition and extraordinary intelligence.

It is curious, active, independent - if the owner does not have time to pay attention to the pet, the pet will occupy itself with important cat matters.

The breed has its own characteristics:

1. Dark-lined eyes, lips, tip of the nose.
2. Long, soft coat with a unique color.
3. Luxurious bushy tail.
4. Various coat colors.

Choosing a kitten

There are quite a lot of advertisements from private owners on websites and electronic boards with offers to choose a chinchilla cat. They offer to buy a British shorthair chinchilla cat for almost pennies: from 1-2 thousand rubles. Usually for this price you get a pet without documents or pedigree.

The buyer cannot be sure of the baby’s excellent health and does not know in what conditions the kitten grew up before the sale. Unscrupulous sellers breed incompatible samples and do not monitor the breed standard. All this leads to disastrous consequences: illness and death of animals.

At a young age, it is not clear what color a cat will have. The seller will try to assure the presence of this or that breed, and on an older ward it will be difficult to see the supposed promised signs of the animal’s standard. The formation of the animal is completed by 1 year and 6 months of life.

Therefore, it is necessary to contact nurseries and clubs, experienced breeders. Advantages of a kitten purchased from a nursery:

• a metric is provided;
• you can see the baby’s parents: in the nursery or from a photograph, evaluate their appearance and behavior;
• the animal will receive all vaccinations strictly according to age;
• the pet will be treated for helminths;
• the baby is trained to the tray;
• the baby is trained in hygiene skills;

British chinchillas quickly get used to going to the toilet in a designated place.

The price of a kitten from an experienced breeder consists of the cost of caring for the animal, purchasing medications and household products. Owners travel abroad for some representatives of the breed: travel plus hotel accommodation require considerable expenses. Participation in exhibitions and mating, selection of a partner for crossing - all this involves costs, sometimes not only material, but also emotional. Every baby is loved and the fate of every member of the nursery worries the owner.

At what age is it better to adopt a kitten?

Before 2 months, professional clubs do not offer kittens for sale. Until this time, the baby should be with the mother. The best food for a newborn kitten is cat's milk. A baby who was taken away from a cat prematurely is not psychologically ready for independent life. Nursery staff jealously monitor the date of the expected departure of the ward to a new habitat. To prevent painful situations, it is unacceptable to take animals away immediately after birth: this will lead to the death of the pet.

It is not difficult to find a silver British chinchilla kitty in a nursery at a cost of 25-35 thousand rubles. Adult cats that do not participate in exhibitions due to age and have completed their breeding career are offered for a symbolic amount, sometimes in the region of one thousand or two thousand rubles. But it will be a well-groomed, vaccinated, healthy animal.

Criterias of choice

Before purchasing British chinchillas, you need to decide for what purpose a person wants to buy a pet. They are looking for kids to breed the breed and make a profit from the sale. Or they take kittens without considering their participation in a breeding career, or for castration or sterilization.

On the club website, you choose a pet based on a photo. Often the staff will offer pictures and information about the kittens before the sale. Having contacted the nursery, they clarify the cost of the animals and discuss the conditions for keeping the animals under their care at home.

Breeders are ready to provide not only documents and pedigrees, but also reserve the right for the new owner to find out the answers to future questions about the care and nutrition of chinchilla cats.

When arriving to pick up a kitten, pay attention to the external characteristics of the animal:

• coat condition;
• compliance with the breed standard;
• absence of signs indicating marriage.

It is also necessary to observe the future ward: a sick animal will not be active and energetic. A weakened pet can be easily recognized by its sparse, dull fur and cloudy eyes. This option is likely to be offered by unscrupulous private sellers.

When purchasing a red British chinchilla, or another variety of the breed, it is important not to forget: we are responsible for those we have tamed. The health, life and mood of a pet depends on the care, knowledge of the behavior and mood of the animal owner

https://youtube.com/watch?v=MS2OcZMqxOY%3F

Character traits

British chinchillas are very balanced, but wayward animals. They can safely be called aristocrats of the cat world: they are very independent. They get used to and become attached to the owner and other family members very quickly, but at the same time they always consider themselves equal to both humans and other animals in the house.

British chinchillas lead a measured lifestyle, play moderately, rest more, love to be looked after and given attention. At the same time, they do not interfere in many household affairs, preferring to calmly look at them from the outside

When the British are not in a good mood, not even a toy mouse or their favorite treat will budge them. British chinchillas are quite picky when it comes to food.

Even though British chinchillas look like plush toys, they are not. Therefore, you should not allow children to handle them carelessly. Animals have an extremely negative attitude towards all kinds of cuddles, and therefore can change their habits to negative ones if treated poorly.

From childhood, British chinchillas can be easily accustomed to a litter tray, habitat and food. But it is useless to force these cats to do something or play: they will remain cool, although they are very well-mannered.

The British are capricious and freedom-loving; they do not always prefer to be the center of attention when they live in a house without other animals. British chinchillas learn very quickly, especially when they have the desire, or during the learning process the owner gives them treats to encourage them. The British love order in their home. They must have their own place to sleep. It can be either a pillow or a whole house in which animals can not only relax, but also play.

The British never create a mess in the house, even when they are alone. Moreover, they do not like fuss. Therefore, sometimes they prefer to relax imposingly while there is silence in the house or apartment. Of course, until they get tired of it.

They are always happy to see the owner. Proud chinchillas rarely beg for food, especially from the table. They are more accustomed to waiting for the owner to treat them himself. If animals eat according to a certain diet and schedule, then they will not beg for treats at all.

If they are pissed off too much, they may hide. British chinchillas are essentially non-aggressive; they quickly forget an insult. But if the offense is serious, then the animal will prefer to proudly retire for a long time until it is called.

British chinchillas like to rest immediately after eating. Lying around is their favorite pastime. Sometimes, when going out into society, they can lazily chase a ball or a mouse, but they prefer to play with the owner, especially adult individuals. Even at 6–7 years old, the British do not become overly phlegmatic.

It is worth noting that British chinchillas practically do not meow. Experts differ in their opinions as to what this is connected with. Some say that this is beyond their cat's dignity. These animals are among the most silent and reserved, even when very hungry.

They meow in extremely rare cases, for example, in a veterinarian's office or when they find themselves in an unfamiliar environment. However, British chinchillas have a very melodic voice. Some of them are very talkative. When petted, they can purr and make peculiar sounds of joy.

The British don't have the habit of waking everyone up in the morning if they haven't been fed. They will wait tactfully, although it is best not to disturb their schedule. They easily get used to any regime of their owner.

Character

British chinchilla cats are distinguished by aristocratic manners, calmness, and a good nervous system. Up to a year old, babies are very active and love to play. Adult pets are most often balanced and treat their owner as a friend. The British do not like to sit on their hands; they prefer to approach them themselves for a portion of affection.

Animals understand the situation very well and are able to manipulate the owner and family members. Plush beauties most often cannot stand strangers; there are known cases of hostility towards drunken visitors to the house. But by purchasing a British chinchilla cat, a person receives a devoted companion. The pet is attached to the house and can resort to tricks if the owner is forced to say goodbye to it. Sometimes they hide or pretend to be sick when strangers appear.

British Chinchillas get along well with other pets indoors. But the arrival of a new pet must be planned. It is necessary to separate the arriving baby from the old friend. Gradually allow animals to be together. If you do not provide for the behavior of pets, you can get sick and sick in cats.

British chinchillas are prone to depression. They buy toys and mazes for the animal. A mobile, active pet eats well and looks great.

The description of the breed and character of the British chinchilla shows: pets get along well with children. But you should not allow your child to squeeze and knead the baby immediately after coming into the house. The furry baby is given time to get used to the new home, food, smells and sounds.

Chinchilla - breed or color

The chinchilla cat received its unusual name due to its external similarity with the South American rodent. Chinchillas are not a separate breed, but an unusual color that turns the fur of Persian, Scottish and British cats into a golden or silver coat with a smoky tint.

Genetics of color

Scientists began to study the genetics of chinchilla color quite recently.

1. This color belongs to the category of ticked ones. In them, the root part of the hair is bleached and contains almost (or no) pigment.
2. The lower segment can be of two shades: white or yellow. In the first case, the chinchilla will be silver, and in the second, golden.
3. The ends of the hairs are dyed to 1/8 or 1/3 of the length. In nature, such an ideal option practically does not occur, but the closer to the standard, the better. It is in this gradient distribution of colors that the light most effectively plays with the wool and makes it shimmer in all shades.

The silver chinchilla cat can bear both red (pheomelanin) and black (eumelanin) pigments. But the effect of gold is given only by black genes.

The formation of color in cats is influenced by the A gene (agouti), which is responsible for the presence of patterns (stripes, spots). Dominant A can produce 3 variants of silver wool:

• shaded silver;
• silver tabby;
• chinchilla.

In the first two options, there are residual stripes, completely dyed hairs, or vice versa, only the ends of the hairs are pigmented. To the untrained eye, they may all seem the same, although only the silver chinchilla shimmers evenly. The recessive agouti factor produces a smoky color.

Gene A acts in exactly the same way with a golden shade - it gives shaded, tabby and golden chinchilla. Only smoky cats no longer exist in a recessive form.

And all silver cats have common genetic flaws. They may appear as yellowish or marbled spots on the surface of the coat.

British chinchilla, or the whim of chinchilla kitties

The chinchilla color of British cats is compared to the now fashionable black pearl beads. However, they often write “silver chinchilla”, which is why I would like to compare this color of British cats with the noble metal - silver. But not just with a bar of silver, but with a piece of high-quality jewelry - an old one, made by a real master.

But here's what's surprising. It would seem that such a precious, or, as is often called, “delightful, spectacular color” has a wide road, but in reality you can hardly find a narrow path that will lead to a dozen breeders specializing in “chinchillas themselves,” and not in silver shaded .

From the dark past of chinchillas or the history of chinchilla color

Chinchilla is perhaps the first of the cat colors not just discovered, but deliberately created and fixed by breeders. The first cat, named Chinnie, whose color marked the beginning of this breeding work, was discovered in 1882 in Mrs. Hart's cattery in England. Of course, from a modern point of view, it is difficult to call the cats of the “long-haired breed” of that time purebred. For example, the colors of Chinnie's parents remain unknown. But it is known that her mother came from famous prize-winners and cat shows. With the father's origins, not everything is so 'pure' - it is assumed that Chinnie's grandfather was a mongrel cat, brought to England from nowhere.

Chinnie was purchased by another English breeder, Mrs. Vallance, who was undoubtedly interested in the unusual color. Ms. Vallance tried to find a cat for Chinnie, if not the same, then at least a similar color. And such a cat really was found! This was Mrs Acland's Fluffy I, born in 1883, again from unknown imported parents! However, his origin did not prevent him from subsequently winning English cat shows. The color of Chinnie and Fluffy was described by contemporaries as “very pure silver, with a vague tabby pattern” (most likely, this is the pattern now called “shadow” or “ghost”).

This couple produced two litters of silver kittens. Although two of them, males, were successfully exhibited over the next two years, they did not have time to get offspring from them: the cats disappeared, perhaps died or were stolen. The successor of the family was a cat named Beauty. From the smoke cat Champion Perso she produced the legendary Silver Lambkin - the first officially recognized chinchilla cat. In fact, it was for Silver Lambkin that the chinchilla show class was founded in 1894.

At the beginning of the 20th century, chinchillas were so few in number that breeders had to “mix” silver tabbies, smoky, and blue cats into them. That is why the requirements for color, although officially recognized, could not be called established. In our current opinion, chinchillas in photographs of that time look too dark, unevenly colored, with overly bright patterns on the limbs, tails and faces. Only by 1930 did the chinchilla population increase so much that targeted color improvement became possible.

Towards a bright future for chinchillas

Initially, the color had one name - chinchilla - and existed only in the long-haired (later called Persian) breed. In fact, the term 'chinchilla' meant both the color and the breed of the cat. Subsequently, the color was divided into lighter ones, 'chinchillas proper', and darker ones, 'silver shaded'. And only in the late 70s these colors began to be 'introduced' into other breeds, primarily British and exotic. Naturally, Persian cats acted as color 'donors'.

At the same time, another color name appeared, introduced by English felinologists specifically for non-Persian chinchillas - tipped , that is, literally 'with tips' (with colored ends of the hair). Currently, both names are actually used as synonyms and mean only the color, but not the breed of the cat.

The colors of this group are assessed according to the indicators of uniformity and uniformity of tipping and the quality of 'silver'.

For an ideal chinchilla, the ends of the hair should be dyed 1/8 of the total length of the hair; chest, belly, inner legs, chin - white. The hind legs up to the hock are also usually white. There are no signs of pattern on the body, tail or limbs.

The paw pads are of a primary color (black chinchillas have black or seal pads, blue chinchillas have pinkish-gray, etc.). The eyes and pink nose are edged with the main color. The silver-shaded color is distinguished by a greater depth of tipping: the guard hairs are dyed 1/3, and the outer hairs on the back, along the ridge, are somewhat deeper. There may be a residual pattern in the form of open stripes on the limbs.

The name of the ancestor of silver chinchillas - and nothing more

It is not known how the ancestor of silver chinchillas, Chinnie, got her nickname, and whether this nickname was somehow connected with the name of the color that was later established. But it is likely that Chinnie’s owners noticed the similarity of her color with the color of the fur of either a valuable fur-bearing rodent, a chinchilla, or a breed of silver rabbits (named so “in honor” of the same rodent). But the similarity between the color of chinchilla cats and “chinchillas themselves” is very superficial.

If in cats only the ends of their hair are dyed, then in rodents white (bleached) and dark stripes alternate on their hair. The color of rodents is formed due to a mutation in the albinism gene. This gene is responsible for the structure and activity of the enzyme tyrosinase, without which the formation of pigment is impossible. As a result of the chinchilla mutation, the tyrosinase gene has cyclic activity instead of constantly working.

In other words, the enzyme protein based on it is formed at intervals of 2-3 days, which is why either colored areas containing pigment or bleached areas appear in the growing hair. This is how the zonal color is determined in the chinchilla rodents themselves, in mice, rabbits, and even in dogs. But not in chinchilla cats!

The triune essence of chinchillaness

One of the main genes that determines a cat's chinchilla-ness is the so-called melanin inhibitor. The question of which gene is responsible for the difference between silver tabbies and chinchillas has been haunting felinologists for almost half a century. The American breeder K. Johnson managed to prove this. In her nursery, a silver-shaded cat and a marbled cat produced kittens with patterns on the legs, tail, neck and no pattern or with an extremely weak ('shadow') pattern on the body. After backcrossing these animals with each other, THREE variants of tabbies (both parents) were observed: marbled, “without a pattern,” which is quite expected, and brindle kittens that also appeared from somewhere.

Consequently, three alleles were present in the genotypes of the parents - marbled, brindle and striped tabby. But these three alleles cannot belong to the same Tabby gene! Therefore, the allele that 'blurs' the pattern and causes the 'overall ticked' color is not included in the Tabby locus. K. Johnson called this gene Unpatterned. Thus, for the appearance of chinchilla color, a combination of three alleles from different loci is necessary: ​​A - I - U -.

Quality at the ends of your hair

The coloring of the ends of the hair is never completely uniform. It does not happen that all the guard hairs on the back, rump and sides of a cat are exactly 1/3 or 1/8 colored, however, the closer the color of the animal is to this ideal, the higher it is valued. In chinchillas, the uniformity of tipping is, as a rule, better expressed than in shaded individuals. A thorough examination of the hair of the latter often shows that on some hairs the very tip is colored, others have two dark stripes, and others are dyed almost halfway.

There are even pure white and pure black hairs. The presence of ticked hairs is occasionally noted. Often there is mixed hair type, ticked and tipped at the same time - with a white base and a ticked top part. Animals with pronounced uneven tipping appear 'dirty'.

Residual stripes on the legs and tail are another common problem with shaded colors. While the shaded color standard allows open stripes on the limbs, the presence of rings on the tail is considered a significant fault. About 15-20 years ago, such a color defect could have been grounds for deprivation of the title. Recently, the attitude towards this type of residual pattern on the part of the majority of judges has become softer, which, however, has not benefited the quality of the color.

As for the inheritance of this trait, some authors (for example, K. Galfo) suggest that it does not depend on genes that “erase the pattern” on the body. The majority of felinologists are of the opinion that the pattern on the body and on the limbs “erases” the same gene, and the whole point is only in its active “work”.

The quality of 'silver', determined primarily by the activity of the melanin inhibitor gene, is closely related to the uniformity of tipping. With weakly expressed 'silver', the uneven coloring of the hairs becomes an obvious 'crime', and the presence of a yellow ticking strip in the colored areas of the hairs gives the silver color the so-called 'rust'. If insufficient activity of the inhibitor gene is combined with rufism modifier genes, then yellow and reddish shades appear on the animal’s face, limbs, and chest - which, of course, is also not approved by the standard. This phenomenon is especially often observed in offspring from matings of silver and golden chinchillas.

But sometimes the “rust” effect unexpectedly appears in the descendants of a pair of silver chinchillas (or, rather, shaded individuals) that do not have these defects. The point here is that the silver parents, although they look similar in appearance, are genetically different.

Breeding selection strategy and tactics

The strategy for breeding selection of animals in nurseries, aimed at improving the quality of silver-tipped colors, can be structured in different ways. Most often, the breeder selects to increase depigmentation (that is, to increase the activity of the inhibitor gene), thus, the increased depigmented (white) zone 'overlaps' the excess ticking stripes on the hair. In fact, tipping with this variant of chinchilla color is simply hidden ticking: all of its color zones, except the very top, are masked, although the genes that determine them continue to be present.

In another case, when color is improved, selection is carried out for the narrowing and, ultimately, the disappearance of the lower ticking stripes - until the only upper black stripe remains, that is, the black tip of the hair. With this selection option, the breeder actually selects to increase the activity of the agouti gene (A-).

Errors in the selection of breeding pairs of sires are fraught with the appearance of offspring with a combined, ticked-tipped color. Let’s say that the shaded color of a cat is determined by a reduced number of i stripes, and the color of a cat that looks exactly the same is determined by increased depigmentation. In descendants, the frequency of bands will be determined by the 'normal' maternal alleles of zonation modifier genes, and the degree of depigmentation will be reduced due to the low activity of the paternal inhibitor gene. As a result, in these kittens the previously hidden yellow ticking zones will appear clearly.

The complex hereditary basis of color makes it difficult for the morphological progress of typed individuals in any breed. After all, every breed (no matter what) is constantly developing, and the characteristic features of the breed type in the best individuals achieve greater and greater expressiveness. The faster this process goes, the more the breed quality of the typed individuals “lags behind” the rest - just differently colored - representatives of the same breed.

The fact is that attempts to quickly improve the morphological type of chinchillas by crossing with cats of a different color most often end in failure: the descendants of the first generation usually have an unintelligible color, too dark, “contaminated” with ticking for a shaded one, with a residual low-contrast pattern. It takes two or even three generations to restore the quality of color, but during this time almost all the progressive traits of the breed type introduced by crossing are lost.

Another serious obstacle to such crosses is the standardized eye color for typed colors. Initially, the only eye color recognized for chinchilla cats was green, and not just green, but with a turquoise tint. This did not mean that typed animals could not have a different eye color. A tipped color variation with orange or bright yellow eyes was recognized much later under the additional name 'pewter'. If the color is stated on the score sheet simply as 'chinchilla' or 'silver shaded', this, by default, means that the animal has green-turquoise eyes.

The offspring of green-eyed chinchillas and orange-eyed animals of other colors have neither green nor orange eyes - they are most often pale yellow, with a green rim around the pupil. It usually takes not two, but at least three or four generations to restore clear eye color. Is this why recently owners of typed cats (primarily British ones), when submitting them for examination, do not indicate eye color at all?

It seems like they are leaving its definition to the judge - whatever it seems to him, let him be listed as such. This may be justified at the first exhibition, but this is how animals are declared in the highest titles! It often turns out that the cat received some of its titles as a silver-shaded green-eyed cat, and some as a silver-shaded pewter. The question is: what color cat are champion certificates issued for and how will the color of this animal be recorded in the pedigrees of its descendants?

And yet, despite all the difficulties associated with the genetics of typed color, thanks to the hard work of breeders, the breed type of chinchillas - Persians, exotics, British, Burmillas - is steadily improving. One hundred and eleven years of selection were not in vain!

Despite all the difficulties associated with the genetics of typed color, thanks to the hard work of breeders, the breed type of chinchillas - Persians, exotics, British, Burmillas - is steadily improving. One hundred and eleven years of selection were not in vain!

Chinchilla breeder advice

Keeping a chinchilla in excellent shape is not easy. Any omission in grooming is immediately noticeable: yellowing on the paws, whiteness disappears from the collar and muzzle. There are few chinchillas, and some have a good type, but the color is defective, then breeders pluck or even shave problem areas of the coat. The most difficult thing is the immediate preparation of the coat before the exhibition, but even in the intervals between exhibitions the animal must correspond to the breed and color. A chinchilla should always look like a king.

I can’t remember without smiling how difficult it was (through trial and error) for me to select cosmetics and detergents for my first cats. For example, with a red Persian cat we started with 'Fairy' for washing dishes, then 'Shauma - sea power', then we used almost brewed tea to brighten the color...

We had better luck with the chinchilla. They immediately told me what to buy and how to wash it. But it turned out that buying branded, very expensive cosmetics is half the battle, but choosing the right 'doses' and washing methods is quite difficult. During the non-exhibition season, the cat was bathed almost twice a week. Sometimes the wool is too heavy, sometimes it’s dry, sometimes it’s oily, sometimes the whiteness is lost and a gray tint appears. Illanius sat patiently in the bathroom for 40-50 minutes while he was treated twice with branded shampoo, then whitening or texturizing, then lightening (chinchillas have yellowing spots on their paws, chest, under the tail), then stabilizer, and also silk conditioner and, finally, volumizing shampoo. Each of these products was kept for 3-5 minutes, massaging or combing the fur and rinsing off very well with plenty of water. After such a wash, they dried it with a hairdryer and combed it, which took twice as long. And so every time.

Now we wash the cat faster and in exactly the same way. whatever he needs at the moment, we don’t touch him for 2-3 weeks, only brush his belly occasionally. The wool looks perfect at this time - even take it to the exhibition. But how long have we been trying to achieve this?

It is necessary to take into account that the quality of wool is influenced by both nutrition and vitamin preparations. For example, from an excess of seaweed, the coat darkens, the color of the eyes changes, a little more vitamin A - the coat acquires a yellowish tint.

Larisa Novikova, Pushkin

Breeders about chinchillas

One day the day comes when the house without the Queen Cat becomes empty and uncomfortable and you need to find and choose her, the one and only. The choice has been made: the living embodiment of our dreams - a silver chinchilla. The sophisticated and aristocratic silver chinchilla aesthetically combines black and white colors, creating the effect of silver, elegant black rims of green eyes, a 'zest' of the nose and a mysterious smile. We were only at the beginning of a long and difficult path, moving along which we had to not only make sure that our choice was correct, but also learn a lot about the unique ones that exist as a “state within a state” within the British breed of British chinchillas.

Tatyana and Elena Perezhogin, Dnepropetrovsk (Ukraine)

In our country, only 5-6 breeders are engaged in silver chinchillas. I first saw this breed 7 years ago at an exhibition, and it captivated me at first sight. The more I study this breed, the more I want as many people as possible to know about these beautiful animals with attractive green eyes and flowing silver fur.

Most silver chinchillas are late-developing cats. For example, in the first litter I received, the quality of the kittens became visible only at 7-8 months.

In Spain, silver chinchillas are not popular; silver chinchillas very rarely win at FIFe shows. I hope that the situation will change in the future.

Elizabeth Boisan, Barcelona (Spain)

Chinchilla facts

In the 1960s, the English company Kosset Carpets, a manufacturer of luxury carpets, chose the chinchilla to advertise its products. The cat appeared in the company's registered trademark, as well as in television advertising. The first buyers were given chinchilla kittens.

The Silver Lambkin cat was the very first registered representative of the breed. Since 1880, all chinchillas have descended from him. In 1888 he became the best at the exhibition at the Crystal Palace. After his death at the age of 17, a stuffed cat was exhibited at the Natural History Museum in London.

Princess Victoria, granddaughter of Queen Victoria of England, bred and exhibited chinchillas. Her interest in the breed made these cats popular in the early 1900s.

In 1903, in her work 'The Book of the Cat', English breeder and judge Frances Simpson described the chinchilla's coat as 'bluish-purple to the very tips', and 'the tips are silvery blue'. Other breeders of the time described these cats as 'pale silver, with a slight lilac tint and almost white hair at the roots', 'a pure silver of a bluish tint'. In 1907, chinchilla fur was often compared to 'pure silver'. 'The coat is almost white at the roots, along the entire length as if with a touch of shadow, and the tips are slightly gray. It's a shade of silver, more like old-fashioned silver candlesticks than new silver spoons. An ideal 'sterling silver' should not have black on the tips of the coat or any other black markings.' It was not until 1930 that the standard began to describe the tipping as 'black'.

History also included the champion of the most significant English show 'Supreme', grand champion Snowbloom Ja'bin bred by Mrs. Evans. He became the first longhair cat to win overall Best in Show at the GCCF's main show 'Supreme' in 1977.

Chinchillas in movies

In the film 'You Only Live Twice' (1967), the chinchilla cat was the pet of Blofeld, the head of the secret organization SPECTER and the main enemy of agent James Bond. The villain's cat was played by Solomon, who also starred in the film 'Orange Clock' and in an advertisement for Kosset Carpet carpets.

In the famous American film 'Stuart Little' (1999), five chinchillas were starred in the role of a cat named Snowbell, which trainer Boone Narr found in shelters. All cats were very similar in appearance, but had different talents and abilities.

4.6 / 5 ( 10 votes)

Catering

The tendency towards obesity and kidney pathologies suggests that the menu for your pet should be prepared with special care. If you feed him too much fatty food or too much protein, he will become lazy and quickly gain weight. And this is a direct path to disease.

You can feed the Persian chinchilla both natural and commercial food. But for each type there are certain rules that you should follow.

Natural products

The following foods can be included in the Persian diet:

• Lean meat: veal, beef, poultry (chicken, turkey), rabbit. Before serving, the meat is doused with boiling water to destroy parasite eggs.
• Offal: raw chicken hearts, boiled liver, finely chopped necks.
• Sea fish, shrimp, squid.
• Eggs: chicken and quail. Quail can be given raw, chicken is boiled and only the yolk is given.
• Fermented milk products: cottage cheese, sour cream, natural yogurt without preservatives and dyes, cream, fermented baked milk, kefir, unsalted cheese.
• Cereals: buckwheat, oatmeal, millet, rice. Porridge is boiled in water, a little milk is added for taste. Liquid semolina porridge is fed to kittens up to 3 months.
• Vegetables: pumpkin, carrots, zucchini, asparagus, herbs (dill, parsley, green salad), cucumbers.
• Sprouted wheat.

The cat's bowl should always be filled with clean water at a comfortable temperature. Bottled or settled - it doesn’t matter, but pouring from the tap is not recommended. Change it twice a day: morning and evening.

It is forbidden to give cats:

• Alcohol, sparkling water, juices, coffee, tea.
• Avocado, eggplant, grapes.
• Dried fruits.
• Peas, chickpeas, lentils.
• Sausage, wieners, frankfurters.
• Offal, bones, fat, lard.
• Whole milk.
• Sweets, baked goods, flour, fried.
• Smoked, salted, fatty.
• Human canned food.
• Spices, sauces, mayonnaise, seasonings.

Expert opinion

Dusheba Vera Ivanovna

In 2010, she graduated from the Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine named after K.I. Scriabin with honors, specializing in veterinary medicine. I regularly attend veterinary conferences, congresses, and webinars.

Since Persians are prone to urolithiasis, you should not pamper your cat with fish more than once a month.

Recommended food

Industrial food (both dry and wet) can save a lot of time if you don’t like or can’t prepare your cat’s food yourself. Modern holistic and super-premium foods have a balanced composition and a sufficient amount of vitamins and microelements necessary for the development of a cat.

In the photo there are kittens of the Persian chinchilla breed

List of holistic foods: Savarra, Applaws, Farmina N&D, Gina Elite, Naturea, One&Only, PureLuxe, Gather, Grandorf, Fitmin Purity, Go Natural, Power of Nature.

Expert opinion

Dusheba Vera Ivanovna

In 2010, she graduated from the Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine named after K.I. Scriabin with honors, specializing in veterinary medicine. I regularly attend veterinary conferences, congresses, and webinars.

Forget about economy-class food: they contain practically no useful additives or meat. And without these components, the product turns into empty “chewing gum.” In addition, they often cause allergies.

Super premium food: 1st Choice, Airi, Arden Grange, Naturea, Pronature Life, Meowing Heads, Pronature Original, ProSeries, Leonardo.

Breed defects

The health of cats depends not only on the attention of the owner, but also on heredity. Most often, a pet inherits the immunity of its parents.

Tendency to diseases

Chinchillas are healthy and hardy animals, but they are susceptible to some diseases, most often these are:

1. Polycystic kidney disease is a disease of the excretory system of cats, in which most of the renal parenchyma is replaced by cysts. They put a lot of pressure on the kidneys, which reduces their functionality and can lead to nephritis and nephrosis. Unfortunately, at the initial stage, it is almost impossible to identify this disease with ordinary eyes. The first symptoms can be noticed only when the formations become too large, pain appears and the abdominal cavity enlarges. When cysts can be detected by simple palpation of the abdominal cavity, it is no longer possible to save the animal; there is practically nothing left of the kidneys; they cannot function normally. A special diet prescribed by a veterinarian can help your pet; it will ease the suffering. In the initial stages of the disease, surgical intervention can be used; the affected area of ​​the organ is cut off along with the cyst. At later stages, the operation no longer makes sense; it is easier to completely remove the kidneys than to try to remove multiple formations. The only way out is drug therapy prescribed by a veterinarian, which will slightly extend the pet’s life.
2. Hypertrophied cardiopathy is a thickening of the wall of the ventricle of the cat’s heart. It can lead to heart failure, thromboembolism and even sudden death of the pet. This disease can be detected using ultrasound. In the early stages of the disease, the animal most often develops shortness of breath and fatigue. Cardiomyopathy is most often treated with beta blockers (for example, atenolol or propranolol), diltiazem, and ACE inhibitors. The earlier treatment is started, the higher the chances of a favorable outcome.
3. Retinal atrophy is the death of light-sensitive receptors in the retina of the eye. The first symptom is sudden onset of night blindness, often and greatly dilated pupils. The eyes themselves sparkle. If the case is mild, the cat may stop seeing in the dark; in more severe cases, the animal becomes completely blind. There is currently no effective treatment.

You need to brush your pet’s teeth as often as possible, as they are prone to caries. At the slightest sign of caries, contact your veterinarian immediately!

Cats need to have their teeth brushed, and if they suspect caries, take them to the veterinarian

The cat must have all vaccinations. Kittens are vaccinated from about 1.5–2 months. The animal is vaccinated against the following types of diseases:

• calicivirus;
• rhinotracheitis;
• rabies;
• feline distemper.

The protective properties of the injections are secured by repeating the procedure at the age of 2.5–3 months. The cats are then vaccinated throughout their lives, once a year.

Appearance defects

The main defects in appearance that exclude chinchillas from participating in exhibitions are:

• the presence of kinks in the tail;
• incorrect number of fingers;
• asymmetry of the head and muzzle;
• strabismus;
• white spots in the form of stars on the chest, under the front legs, chin, in the groin, if their presence is not part of the color.

Breed card

Types of British chinchillas

According to the breed standard, pets' fur should be shiny and elastic. Very soft or too close-fitting fur is considered a fault. Depending on the length of the coat, the following types of chinchilla cats are distinguished:

• short-haired;
• long-haired;
• lop-eared

Shorthair

The representative of the species has a short type of coat with a dense, thick undercoat. The chinchilla cat has all the characteristics of a British Shorthair.

Longhair

Not all felinological organizations and clubs recognize the British with long fur. Some breeders express the opinion that it is undesirable to separate these individuals into a separate species. Since the experts sought precisely to breed “beaver” fur, springy, plush.

The British long-haired chinchilla cat got the size of its fur from mating with Persians. Such experiments were abandoned to preserve the purity of the breed, but the distinctive gene remained. You should not be surprised if, as a result of crossing two short-haired cats, a long-haired pet is born.

Fold

At the age of 20-23 days, the ears of the babies are not formed, but closer to 1 month of life it is clearly visible whether they are pressed to the head or not. The British received drooping ear tassels from Scottish descendants. There is an opinion that there are no lop-eared Britons.

How to choose a chinchilla kitten

It is best to buy a purebred kitten from a specialized nursery. It is necessary to read the documents and inspect the conditions of detention. Then proceed directly to choosing your future pet.

To make sure the kitten belongs to the breed, you need to meet the baby’s parents. You also need to inquire about the living conditions and diet of the future pet. When meeting kittens, you should carefully study their behavior.

Chinchilla kitten

First of all, you need to pay attention to the kitten’s reaction to a stranger. If a baby trembles with fear and tries to run away, he will grow into an extremely independent person.

It is also worth taking the kitten some distance from the other babies and observing its reaction. If a kitten is exploring unfamiliar territory, it is worth calling it and observing its reaction. A baby who is trying to run away or hide in the future will not be a very sociable cat.

The British Chinchilla cat breed combines the beauty of a plush toy and the independence of a British character. Such a pet is perfect for people who not only love muroks, but also respect their rich inner world. Only in conditions of equality of interests will this cat feel comfortable and confident.

A pet for those who respect cats

Breeding

Breeding chinchillas in Russia is accompanied by certain difficulties. Due to the difficulties in caring for the coat and maintaining color, there are few specialized nurseries.

Britons of silver or golden color can participate in mating, but choosing a pair for your pet is quite difficult.

If a partner is found, prepare your cat (or cat) for mating. Check with your veterinarian to make sure both animals are healthy. Perform deworming procedure. These measures will minimize the risk of sick or non-standard offspring.

History of origin

The name “golden chinchilla” does not mean a breed at all, as many might think, but a color that can be found in more than one breed. Chinchilla animals have a similar color, after which the name appeared.

Chinchilla color - light tone with dark tips

The first kitten was born in the 1880s in England and was silver in color. They called the cat Shinny. The grayish color changed from roots to tips. The roots were light in tone, and the tips were almost black. Parents - domestic cats - had a silver tabby and smoky color. The unique color combined both light and dark notes.

By the middle of the 20th century, kittens with a golden hue began to appear. The color was obtained by mating a “golden” Persian cat and a silver British cat.

The breed received official recognition at the end of the twentieth century.

The Persians and the British took part in breeding new individuals, so the colors come in different colors. Currently, the three main types of the breed are British, Scottish and Persian chinchillas.

One version says that the roots of chinchillas come from Ancient Rome. And the British are a very ancient breed of cats.

BRITISH CAT GOLDEN CHINCHILLA: A JEWEL IN EMERALDS

British golden chinchillas have a bright apricot undercoat; any shade of gray is rejected. The gold tone is soft and rich.

Paw pads, nose mirror - according to the main color (black, blue - according to the color of the tips of the hairs).

The eyes of the British golden chinchilla cat have an outline corresponding to the color of the coat, the fur is lightened at the edges, and the eyes themselves are green (with the exception of the color point color). Any others are rejected.

The British golden chinchilla cat comes in a black and blue color combination. Both options cause delight, since the color is so interesting, both even and iridescent, contrasting and soft, that no expert can pass by such a beautiful animal.

British golden chinchilla kittens appear only from chinchilla parents; mating should be planned taking into account the genetic predispositions to the color on both sides of the parents and at least four generations. British golden chinchilla kittens are already born with a well-defined golden color, and over time they can slightly change the shades of their coat. By the age of one year, British golden chinchilla kittens should have a permanent, even, beautiful real golden chinchilla color of the British type.

British golden chinchillas are considered truly royal cats; it is not for nothing that this color is called the “precious color of the British.”

The origin story of the plush cat

Great Britain is considered the birthplace of the cute chinchilla cat. It was there that the first kitten of an unknown color at that time was born.

In 1882, in one of the nurseries, a certain cat Shinny gave birth to offspring. One of the babies had an unusual color: against a light background there was a smooth transition into dark tones, which was considered a real rarity at that time.

The kitten instantly gained popularity and, as he grew up, won many awards and medals at various exhibitions. It is this cat that is considered to be the progenitor of the chinchilla cat breed.

Later, breeders crossed Persian chinchillas with representatives of other breeds. A prerequisite was that the cats had a uniform color. The best match for the Persians turned out to be British smoky-colored cats.

This is how a variety of chinchillas was created, called Silver. Over time, thanks to the already stable genotype, a new species was created - the Golden Chinchilla.

These pets gained enormous popularity thanks to the Swedish Princess Victoria. Cats took pride of place in the palace, and a kind of “fashion” for the breed, adored by the government, spread among the people. Thus began the worldwide adoration of “teddy” cats.

Where to buy a kitten?

British chinchillas are considered quite rare, and therefore cannot be purchased from a dubious breeder that you found in an ad or in the first nursery you come across.

As a rule, silver and golden chinchillas are bred only in specialized nurseries that have the appropriate license. Such nurseries are mainly monobreeds; other kittens are not bred in them. Moreover, it is worth understanding that such kittens cannot cost several thousand rubles. The average price for a British chinchilla with documents and pedigree (for sterilization or castration) varies from 20 to 40 thousand rubles. Animals for breeding cost many times more.

The price of a kitten may also depend on its color, possible defects on it, eye color and some other factors. Kittens whose parents are champions and have corresponding titles are even more expensive.

For more information about the British chinchilla breed, see the following video.

Content

1. History of the origin of the breed
2. Description of the breed Appearance
3. Genetics of chinchilla color and its varieties
4. Character
5. Possible breed defects

Description of the chinchilla cat breed

Outwardly, these animals are attractive - a round-shaped muzzle, a neat heart-shaped nose, large and expressive green eyes. Representatives of this breed have fluffy, thick hair, and its color is dark at the base and light at the tips. It seems that it shimmers with a silver or golden color, as if it is shimmering. This effect is called "veil". The breed is also distinguished by the following characteristics:

1. A chinchilla cat can be large – weighing up to 7 kg, and a cat of this breed – up to 4 kg.
2. Animals have a proportional body, but the illusion can be created that their legs are short compared to their body. This visual effect occurs due to the thick long hair on them.
3. The pride of a chinchilla cat is its bushy tail, the hair on which is approximately 1.5 cm longer than on the body.
4. If you are interested in whether a chinchilla cat is hypoallergenic or not, then you should know that representatives of this breed do not cause problems for allergy sufferers.

History of the chinchilla cat breed

The birthplace of this breed is America, where in 1880 the first kitten with the original silver-smoky coloring was accidentally born. Breeders could not resist the idea of ​​artificially breeding a breed with this color. To obtain beautiful colors in kittens, felines were crossed with Persian or British cats. The idea of ​​the breeders to combine these breeds with green-eyed tabbies, and the offspring of the first generation with “Persians” brought the desired result. The chinchilla cat as a breed was formed in the 80s of the 20th century.

Chinchilla cat - character

It will be interesting to figure out what owners can expect from a pet of this breed:

1. He is inquisitive, playful and restless. It will be easier for owners who have the same character traits to make friends with him. If a pet does not receive support in its interests and fun, there is a risk that laziness, lethargy and apathy will become its companions.
2. The golden chinchilla is a cat with a patient character, so she will make friends with children in her owners’ house, but she will not allow herself to be offended.
3. The animal, affectionate towards people, does not tolerate competition, living in the same territory with other felines. Having noticed that the “enemy” plans to take a leading position, the chinchilla cat will show who is boss.
4. The British representative of this breed will delight his owners with his intelligence and intelligence.
5. The chinchilla cat is sensitive to its personal space. She will allow herself to be stroked, but pinching, tight hugs and other intense manifestations of the owner's affection will be suppressed.
6. Don't be surprised if your pet acts proudly. Intuitively, he understands how beautiful he is, so he has the right to emphasize his dignity.
7. The chinchilla cat skillfully plays with intonations, pronouncing “meow” and “mur”, and therefore the “interlocutor” is understanding and understandable.

How long does a chinchilla cat live?

The lifespan of a pet largely depends on how well it is cared for. The chinchilla cat breed is an animal that can delight its owners for many years with its playful disposition if it is properly maintained. On average, their lifespan is 11-15 years, but many factors influence this indicator:

1. Genetics
   .
2. Nutrition
   .
3. Body structure
   . The smaller the animal, the greater its chances of joining the ranks of long-livers. There is no need to allow a chinchilla cat to become obese - it causes problems with the heart, stomach, and liver, reducing life expectancy.
4. Diseases
   . Timely veterinary care and disease prevention will help extend the life of a pet.

Reproduction and lifespan

Selecting a suitable partner for cats of this breed, if you want to get offspring with the required hair quality, is not an easy task and requires a lot of knowledge in the field of animal breeding.

The silver type color is divided into several groups:

• darkened silver (the colored tip of the hair is no more than an eighth of the length);
• ticked (with alternating several light and at least three dark zones on the hair);
• silver shaded (colored at the tip for a third of the length).

Errors in selecting pairs for mating can result in the appearance of silver chinchilla kittens with undesirable hair color. This makes it difficult for the breed to develop. And restoration of the necessary qualities takes two, or even three generations. At the same time, the progressive features of purebred chinchillas may be completely lost.

The problem is also the eye color of these cats. Initially, it was believed that in purebred representatives it must be turquoise (greenish-blue). Later, bright yellow and orange eyes were accepted as acceptable.

But although there are more than enough difficulties, however, thanks to the efforts of breeders and the hard work of breeders, the chinchilla breed is constantly being improved. And even if the kitten does not become a prize-winner at exhibitions, it still pleases its owner.

Such a sublime creature, captivating hearts at first sight, will decorate any home and easily make friends with its inhabitants. The approximate lifespan of such pets, which are naturally in good health, is approximately 15 years.

Character and behavior

Persian chinchillas are real phlegmatic people: calm, measured, imperturbable, but sociable and friendly. A turbulent life with endless bustle and the search for adventure is alien to representatives of this breed. The sweetest thing for them is to find themselves a cozy, warm place, on a soft sofa or windowsill, and hum a song to themselves while watching what is happening next to them.

But it is a mistake to think that little Persians are not able to play! Like any cats, “chinchillas” love to play with strings, chase a ball rolled out of paper, and hunt around the corner for a bow on their owner’s slipper.

However, all this is the innocent fun of a cute animal and will never develop into wild races throughout the apartment with overturning floor vases, hanging on curtains and scratching the owner’s furniture while meowing victoriously. “Chinchillas” rarely speak, preferring to communicate with their eyes (therefore, owners of breeding females should carefully monitor the onset of estrus themselves).

Persians get along with both adults and children. And of all ages. You can safely leave even very young children with them: Persians do not use their claws and teeth, preferring to resolve conflicts quietly and peacefully. In extreme cases, they will simply run away to some secluded place where the child cannot reach him.

What breeds do you prefer?

ShorthairLonghair

The Persians are too flexible to be the first to go into conflict, and too lazy to hunt. And it would seem that there are no obstacles to the appearance of other animals in the house. Yes, there are no obstacles, and you can easily get a couple of rodents or parrots.

But other dogs and cats make Persians nervous: large animals give them a sense of danger, small animals make them jealous. And if you get an active animal that won’t give your “chinchilla” peace, it will begin to turn into an unsociable person and may even get sick and start fighting with it! Therefore, remember: placing someone with adult Persians is fraught with a lot of problems. If your dog and cat grew up together, there will be no problems.

This does not apply to cats of the same breed. Persians get along well side by side, probably due to their 100% similarity in character. By the way, breeders recommend getting your Persian a girlfriend or boyfriend even if you are a busy person and cannot pay enough attention to your pet, or often leave home.

Persians quickly get used to their new home and easily tolerate moving and changing surroundings. Leaving them at home, you can be sure that when you return, you will not find any damage. The main thing is not to forget to leave the cat a few toys. Kittens do not need company, while adults rarely play on their own, preferring to lie in the sun and doze.

Persians are not averse to taking a walk in a park or other quiet place where grass grows. Therefore, immediately accustom your kitten to a harness.

These cats are touchy and very sensitive. Do not raise your voice at them, even if they do something wrong, otherwise they will get scared and stop trusting you.

Persian chinchillas are not the most expensive breed, but the cost depends on the pedigree, litter and other factors. The average cost of a kitten is 20,000 rubles.

British grooming

Despite the thick coat, it does not shed much. Daily brushing will prevent tangles from appearing on carpets and furniture. For this procedure, it is recommended to purchase a special brush, and to add shine, you need to purchase the appropriate shampoo recommended by the breeder.

Cats usually have good health, but they are prone to eye problems due to the structure of their tear glands. It is recommended to monitor this carefully. Eyes need to be wiped to prevent unsightly smudges. If pus appears, you can use tetracycline ointment.

Cats' teeth also require proper attention. They need to be cleaned periodically. If difficulties arise with this procedure, you can contact a veterinarian, who will also examine the teeth for the presence of caries.

History of the origin of the breed

The British chinchilla cat was the result of crossings carried out by English breeders. Its ancestors are considered to be cats of the British and Persian breeds of smoky color. It is known that the first chinchilla kittens were born by accident, as a result of crossing smoky and marbled silver animals.

The breeders were so impressed by the unique color of the babies that they began to work purposefully to fix it. Over time, this led to the appearance of a unique cat's coat, the tips of the white hairs of which were colored black. Thus, the British chinchilla cat breed, which first appeared in the 80s of the last century, was approved in the standard and became everyone’s favorite. Over the years, breeders have been able to purposefully achieve the appearance of stable lines of cats with chinchilla color.

After breeders from the USA got involved in the work, silver chinchillas received “brothers” with a golden color. The fur of these cats is colored apricot or golden, and the tip of each hair is a darker shade.

British chinchilla with golden color

Personality of the silver chinchilla

The silver chinchilla is calm, silent and strong. The character traits of British cats are well reflected not only in the appearance of the animal, but also in its behavior. The cat demonstrates its purebred English origin with its entire appearance.

Having patience allows the animal to calmly and easily endure loneliness. When the owner of the house, the silver cat will gladly show him her love and devotion.

In addition to their excellent ability to adapt, representatives are distinguished by their intelligence, and not only simply and easily learn habits in a new family, but can also show high intelligence, expressed in their “golden” behavior and not damaging the surrounding furniture.