Silver chinchilla cat is the height of beauty and aristocracy

You are familiar with a creature that does not need weeks and months to get used to the house; the very next day it considers you a member of the family. A gentle, affectionate bear cub, when hungry, can imitate the cry of a child, manipulating its owner. In Great Britain, a charming friend is especially loved and revered. You won't be forgiven if you sit down on a chair and chase away the animal. The manners of a pet of an aristocratic breed are worthy of the behavior of an English lord. Meet the beautiful chinchilla cat in the photo in all her glory.

Until now, lovers, experts and breeders have not agreed on a single opinion: chinchillas are a separate breed of the cat family, or a modification of the color of Persians.

The first time we heard about the unusual kitten was at the end of the 19th century. An ordinary Persian cat gave birth to unusual offspring. The little one born, named Sheena, had an unusual color. The breeders were surprised. They liked the unusual baby so much that they started breeding a new breed of pets.

It was not immediately possible to replicate the beautiful color of the chinchillas. Felinologists in England and followers of the pet industry in European countries crossed a Briton with a Persian: a chinchilla cat was born, an analogue of Shina, a representative of the original breed. The experiment was a success. The cub was born wearing an unusually long iridescent coat.

At the initial stage of work, kittens with a dark shade of fur appeared: in appearance they resembled British cats with a smoky color. Later, luck smiled on the breeders. The light was seen by chinchilla kittens with mother-of-pearl fur with silvery tints.

The first specimen of a chinchilla cat was an individual from a litter of Persian and British breeds, with a gray color. The mustachioed four-legged progenitor in 1889. named Silver Lambkin. The breed standard was officially adopted in 1980.

How did chinchilla cats appear?

England is the homeland of fluffy beauties. It is believed that these cats were born back in 1882 as a result of an accidental crossing of an outbred domestic cat and a Persian cat.

Chinni, as the baby was named, received a non-standard smoky color from her parents, which interested the owner. Subsequently, the breeder crossed Chinny and a gray striped cat, but the result was unsatisfactory: there was no unusual haze in the color of the kittens’ fur.

A few years later, the descendants acquired the desired chinchilla color, and appeared at London exhibitions at the Crystal Palace in 1894. The apricot color appeared much later among American breeders.

For about 30 years, the breed was small in number, despite the efforts of breeders. The 30s of the 20th century changed the situation, and the population increased significantly, thanks to which the first breed standard appeared in 1952.

Registration

The British breed was first registered in 1980 by the CFA or Cat Fanciers' Association. Later, the British were recognized by a number of other international felinological organizations:

• WCF - World Cat Federation;
• FIFe - International Cat Federation;
• TICA - International Cat Association;
• IFA - International Felinological Association (Russia and CIS countries).

When trying to recognize Chinchillas as an independent line, breeders encountered difficulties. Their differences from British cats were only in color and coat, which is why not all organizations rushed to register the new breed. Officially, British Chinchillas are an intra-breed variety and felinologists, when registering nurseries, indicate the breed - British Shorthair.

Appearance of chinchillas

Outwardly, they are similar to their “relatives” of Persian cats, which are characterized by white fur with small dark patches, thanks to which a shimmer of silvery shine is visible. Emerald green eyes edged with black. The chinchilla was the first breed whose color was obtained through deliberate selective breeding. It was first presented in 1894 at the World Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in London.

There are several groups of characteristic colors for chinchillas. The first group includes dark shades: chocolate, cinnamon, silver tint. The second includes, based on the red tone: red and cream chinchilla cat. The third category includes tortoiseshell colors: silver and chocolate tortoiseshell. And in the last one - these are diluted tortoiseshells: lilac-cream, fawn and cream with a blue tint.

Origin story

The origins of the chinchilla breed begin with a cat named Chinnie. The kitten had a darker color than modern representatives of this breed. It took the ingenuity of the breeders of that time to give her coat the current light iridescent color.

To obtain a new unique breed, Sheenie was crossed with a purebred classic British. Further, during the crossing process, a problem arose with the fact that it was not possible to obtain the required eye color. In descendants it acquired a yellow-green tint.

The silver tabby with which this breed was later bred gave the eyes some blurriness. A blue shorthaired breed also participated in this process. The final stage was the addition of Persian blood. The classic chinchilla color in cats originated from a representative named Beauty.

Breed standards

It identifies characteristics inherent in animals. The standard maintains the purity of the breed and is a document that allows participation in breeding and exhibitions.

It is used by breeders, judges and breeders. One might say that this is the “basic law” of felinology. In essence, this is a description of the breed in strict order. Standard for Chinchilla Persians:

1. rounded and soft lines of a small head with a convex skull and a squat, compact body.
2. Males in adulthood reach a weight of 7 kg, and females 3.5-4.5 kg.
3. Widely spaced ears with rounded ends.
4. Bright, wide-set, large eyes with black rims.
5. Pale pink or brick red short nose.
6. Short stocky paws with dark pads.
7. Short straight tail.

Thick long hair. Kittens of this breed are born with short hair, but over time it becomes longer.

Buying a kitten

When buying a British chinchilla, you need to pay attention to the cat's parents. If the color of their coat does not meet the standard, then, most likely, the kittens from them will have an even more non-standard color.

You should definitely ask the breeder if the kitten’s parents have hereditary or chronic diseases.

The cost of such a miracle will depend on the conditions of detention, the presence of a pedigree and the purpose for which the kitten is purchased. In a nursery you can find such a kitten for 2,000 rubles, and if you need a show kitten with an excellent pedigree and the best nutrition, then the price for it will be approximately 25,000 rubles.

Character of chinchilla cats

They have a soft and friendly character. Thanks to their high intelligence, chinchilla cats get along well in an apartment; with proper training, they use a scratching post, so furniture and walls will not be damaged by sharp claws.

They carefully examine the home and every corner without causing problems to the owner. Representatives of this breed are a little phlegmatic, so pranks are not inherent in them.

Chinchillas are great companions for people who live alone because cats do not become overly sad when their owner is away.

Cats get along quite well with other animals and are friendly, but this breed is not among the best for contact with children, although each pet is individual. The best option is when both animals live together since childhood, then there will be no aggressive relationship between them. If different ages or genders are combined, conflicts may arise.

Interesting Facts

Chinchillas gained modern popularity thanks to the British Princess Victoria. Fascinated by the color of the cat, she spread the fashion for the breed among the nobility of the royal court.

The exhibition at the National History Museum in London includes a stuffed chinchilla cat. This representative of the breed was the owner of a record number of awards and titles at cat shows.

Chinchillas are rightfully considered one of the most beautiful and unusual cats. They are sociable, friendly, do not spoil things, and love their owner very much. But, before purchasing such a beauty, you need to soberly assess your capabilities. These aristocratic creatures deserve full care and maintenance.

Diseases inherent in chinchillas

Despite good health, during breeding and selection of certain traits, diseases at the genetic level were practically not established in the breed, this is due to the fact that breeders mixed different breeds of cats and less often resorted to inbreeding, i.e. breeding a breed by crossing close relatives to consolidate signs.

Due to the anatomical features of the skull, Persian chinchillas have increased tear production. To prevent possible eye problems, you need daily eye care. To do this, you need a napkin moistened with water. We take it and wipe the eyes and the area around them until the wool is clean. Then treat the area with grooming paste and comb it with a special brush, which can be bought at a pet store. The final stage is sprinkling with special powder.

Chinchillas are classified as Persians, and since they are a genus of long-haired cats. Accordingly, they have typical problems for owners of long hair.

When washing, the cat's rough tongue collects excess hair and swallows it. This is fraught with regurgitation of lumps and diseases of the digestive system and gastrointestinal tract. For this reason, they need regular combing of dead hairs.

Due to the small head and flat muzzle, the jaw may become deformed. Eating may be difficult if the food and water bowls are not suitable, for example, they are too small for the head to fit through. Due to the distortion of the airways, chinchillas may experience breathing problems.

At the genetic level, some cats have a gene that causes kidney failure. In the 1990s, a study found that more than 30% of shorthaired Persians had polycystic kidney disease, but it was less common in chinchilla cats.

About castration

A sensitive topic among cat lovers: sterilization should not be regretted. Each owner decides for himself, but what do experts think about this? Opponents rely on myths that it is “good for health” and has a beneficial effect on the animal’s psyche.

In fact, there is no concept of “sexual dissatisfaction” for a pet. If behavior changes for the worse, then the problem may be hormonal changes or hidden diseases. An examination by a veterinarian will answer this question.

For example, unsterilized cats that have not become pregnant may develop cystic degeneration of the ovaries and uterus, and mastopathy. Prostate lesions are common in cats. Veterinary clinics are unanimous: if the animal is not involved in breeding, castrate it.

About vaccinations

The mother cat transmits immune bodies through milk that support the protection of babies from diseases, so vaccinations are given no earlier than two months of age. Vaccination is carried out according to age according to the preventive calendar:

1. Upon reaching 8 weeks, they are vaccinated against panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, chlamydia, microsporia and calcivirosis.
2. The next stage is 10-12 weeks. At this time, a repeat vaccine is administered, plus one against rabies.
3. At 16 weeks - viral peritonitis, and again after 4 weeks.
4. The final stage is revaccination every year.

The procedure can be carried out safely by a doctor only for healthy animals after a preliminary examination.

Education and training

Chinchillas need to be raised and trained using the same methods as all cats, but taking into account the individual characteristics of each breed. Mandatory skills and abilities that the animal must master by the age of one year:

• the ability to respond to one’s own nickname;
• go to the toilet and sharpen your claws in a strictly designated place;
• observe the sleeping and feeding schedule, do not wake the owner at night;
• sit calmly in the owner's arms;
• adequately perceive the need for transportation: traveling in a carrier bag, traveling by car.

Owners of show pets will also have to work on the technique of displaying the animal at an exhibition. Since both the British, the Persians, and the Scottish have a compact body, in the ring they are not exhibited “stretched” like Orientals, but in a grouped state. Preparation for this action is considered to be the development in the cat of the habit of sitting on the laps and hands of the owner, as well as patiently accepting changes in posture at the insistence of the person.

Persian chinchillas are intelligent and highly intelligent cats, grasping basic cat wisdom on the fly. For example, by 1-1.5 months, kittens go to the litter tray quite carefully. Often, if babies live with their mother or another adult cat, they don’t even need to be taught this skill - the furballs independently copy the behavior of the older pet.

Young and even slightly mature chinchillopers retain a lively interest and curiosity in things they see for the first time, so at first you will have to hide indoor plants, toxic detergents and cleaners, as well as the wires of household appliances from the animal. The breed does not produce any destructive actions - chinchillas do not scratch furniture (provided that there is a normal scratching post in the house), they do not rummage through the owner’s plates, and they do not take away piece by piece a newspaper forgotten by the bed.

At the beginning of socialization, it is important for a kitten in a new home to create a peaceful atmosphere, so try to make less noise in the presence of the baby and warn your household about this. Classes should be carried out taking into account the chinchilla’s biorhythms: in the mornings and afternoons, cats are inactive and prefer to take a nap. And of course, keep in mind that not a single pet is capable of multitasking, so if you decide to practice one command, finish what you started without switching to teaching your furry other useful skills.

Chinchillas from the British and Scottish clans are hampered in their studies by natural shyness and timidity. These comrades are generally frightened by everything new and unknown, so during lessons, talk more with your pet in an even, calm voice. A chinchilla doing dirty tricks is such a rare phenomenon that not every owner of the breed manages to see it. If, nevertheless, the pet is drawn to the “scratchers” or the dining table, influence the animal with its own fears. Suddenly clap your hands or secretly splash water on the furry criminal - then you can only watch how the chinchilla coward quickly runs away from the crime scene, turning into a quiet good boy.

How to choose a cat?

There are several rules that can protect you from unscrupulous scammers. It should be remembered that this breed is not common in the CIS, there are few qualified nurseries, so the average price tag is quite high.

For this reason, do not buy kittens from the market. An animal can only look like a chinchilla, but not be one. In addition, responsible breeders sell offspring through clubs and subsequently monitor their fate. This does not mean that the cat will be bad; while maintaining the demand for such kittens, sellers will continue to be interested in unscrupulous business.

Kittens are very curious, so a healthy pet will be interested in meeting the future owner. If he is shy, aggressive or looks lethargic, then this indicates poor living conditions.

If you want to know how a kitten will grow up, then look at its parents. If the mother cat is near the children, then the father can be seen in copies of his documents or photographs.

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.

How to care for a chinchilla cat?

Caring for pets begins even before they are born. Proper nutrition of the expectant mother is the key to healthy offspring. A balanced diet consists of raw meat products and offal, as well as fermented milk in small quantities. Vegetables and fruits are added to balance microelements. For proper intrauterine development of kittens, the mother does not set up a den in a quiet place.

Vaccinations

Good health is an integral part of a long and happy pet's life. To maintain it, the animal must be vaccinated.

Vaccination begins at an early age. The first vaccinations are given at the age of one and a half to two months. Injections are given against rabies, rhinotracheitis, feline distemper and calcivirosis. Then, after two and a half to three months, revaccination occurs. Then vaccinations are given annually, once a year. The selection of a quality drug should be entrusted to a veterinarian.

Ten days before vaccination, the animal must be dewormed.

From the first days of life

Complementary feeding and litter box training begin when kittens reach 4-5 weeks of age. When raising one, it should be taken into account that a cat is not a person; it is not characterized by associative thinking and understanding of human behavior. If you set a ban for her, then it is forever.

Toilet training is taught from the first steps, for this:

1. fence off the space for 2-3 weeks;
2. put two small trays;
3. fill with filler with small granules.

This is necessary so that the kitten remembers its smell and subsequently goes to only one place. If the baby has done “big” things bypassed, then put it in the litter with a scoop and do not remove it.

Psychological picture

Let's move on from the description of external data to the character of chinchilla cats. Here are its main features :

• unobtrusiveness;
• love of freedom;
• sensitivity;
• calm;
• friendliness;
• self-sufficiency.

Silver British chinchilla, Persian and fold are real aristocrats. They will decorate any home, even if we are talking about royal apartments. It’s not for nothing that chinchillas constantly lived with Princess Victoria, thanks to which, by the way, they gained such wild popularity.

An aristocrat cat knows his own worth, but at the same time respects others. He will never allow himself such “plebeian” antics, such as, for example, waking up a sleeping owner with a heart-rending scream demanding food, or jumping on him from a running start, wanting to play. No, it’s the yard Vaska who can behave this way, and the silver Marquise will sit quietly on the sidelines and patiently wait for her to wake up.

Chinchilla cats are quite self-sufficient and are able to entertain themselves. However, they will not refuse the owner’s attention and will happily curl up in a ball on his lap, exposing their luxurious fur for stroking. They will respond to affection with a pleasant purr. Another important advantage of chinchillas for many is their silence. Cats will not meow with or without reason.

Silver beauties do not like it when their freedom is limited and forced to do what they do not want . In the house, these cats should have a personal space that no one can encroach on. If you fulfill these simple requirements, your chinchilla will delight you with friendliness or, at least, tolerance.

She will be patient with children's pranks. She will not release her claws if she is pulled by the tail, but will simply try to carefully free herself and walk away. He will find a common language even with a dog. The only thing he won't tolerate around him is other cats. Such is her psychological peculiarity.

© shutterstock

With the appearance of a silver chinchilla, the house immediately becomes somehow cozier and calmer. This cat is simply the embodiment of regularity, unhurriedness, and impressiveness. At the same time, she doesn’t even mind playing. She just does everything in moderation, without excesses; after all, she is a true aristocrat and one of the most intelligent creatures on the planet.

Adult pets

For pet chinchillas that do not participate in exhibitions, care will not be difficult. The owner of the “Show Dream” nursery in an interview shared advice on caring for a cat’s fur: once a month, using specialized shampoos, you need to bathe an adult cat, and kittens twice, and after the bath, dry it with a hairdryer to completely remove fallen hairs. She also explained that it is advisable to comb the cat once every 1.5-2 weeks to prevent the formation of tangles.

Nutrition can be provided in two ways: make a diet from fresh food or buy premium or super-premium food, for example, Brit, Brit care. When it comes to dry food, holistic foods, such as Acana, are considered the best. There are separate lines for pets with urolithiasis.

If one food suits the animal, the stool is in good condition, the eyes are shiny and the coat is in good condition, then there is no need to mix different tastes, it is enough to feed one type.

Differences in feeding

It is not the best option to take a one-month-old kitten away from its mother cat. However, if this happens, you will have to follow a lot of rules and recommendations in caring for him and in particular in feeding. Read about this in a separate, specialized article.

Then everything will be easier, since Chinchilla kittens are perfectly suited to the general rules of feeding kittens according to the appropriate age.

The pet's diet must be balanced. If the owner prefers to buy finished products, then the food should only be of high quality. Natural food includes meat, fish, vegetables and dairy products. British breed cats are fed 2-3 times a day. Periodically, the pet is given vitamin and mineral supplements.

In both cases, an automatic cat feeder will help you a lot, as it accurately measures the required amount of food, dispenses it on time, and notifies you about it on your smartphone.

In addition, it comes with an automatic drinking fountain. It provides your pet with clean, filtered water enriched with oxygen.

You should not implement the idea of ​​mixed feeding. Chinchillas' digestive organs will not have time to “readjust” to the next diet, which can lead to overload on the gastrointestinal tract. The consequences will be serious diseases, deficiency of some vitamins and excess of others.

Warning! Chinchilla cats are prone to obesity and food allergies. Therefore, it is highly undesirable to offer them food of questionable quality. Chinchilla cats are prone to obesity and food allergies. Therefore, it is highly undesirable to offer them food of questionable quality.

Long-lived domestic cats

The record holder for life expectancy is a cat named Lucy, who lives in the UK. According to official data, she is 43 years old. Translating to our human age, it turns out that the cat is almost 175 years old. In second place is the cute cat Cream Puff, originally from the USA, who lived a happy life at the age of 38, leaving this world in 2005.

Well, in third place among long-livers among mustachioed fluffy pets is a cat who once lived in Devon (England). He lived happily until his 36th birthday, after which he calmly passed away. By the way, the mentioned animals are Guinness Book record holders in the section of long-livers among domestic cats.

Scottish

The Scottish chinchilla cat has the same color as the British one. She has a plush coat, a dense undercoat of a warm shade, dark lining of the eyelids, lips and nose, and brown paw pads.

The eyes are most often green, but can also be blue. These animals have soft, rounded body shapes, which provide developed muscles and thick hair.

Persian

Persian chinchillas are slightly smaller than their counterparts. They are harmoniously built, distinguished by fine bones and elegance, but at the same time strong and resilient. In the USA, larger cats are bred, which are very similar in size and build to standard Persians.

The coat of Persian golden chinchillas is long and dense. The fur shimmers beautifully in the light. The cat may have emerald or bluish eyes with a brown rim. The soft pink nose is small and neat.

Predisposition to diseases

The British Shorthair has a long history, and one of the results of meticulous selection is that these animals have excellent health and excellent disposition. This is a long-lived breed. However, due to crossbreeding with Persian cats, some members of the chinchilla variety sometimes have kidney disease, although this is not common.

Polycystic kidney disease and blood type B

In the 20th century, British Shorthair breeders used Persian cats to create a chinchilla line.
Persians are prone to an inherited kidney disease called polycystic kidney disease. Since then, outbreaks of this disease have been periodically reported in the UK. A more common problem for British cats is the rare blood type that some of these cats have. British Shorthairs can be Type A or Type B. Most have Type A blood. Some have Type B. It is not a blood disorder, and Type B cats are just as healthy as Type A cats. But for breeding purposes or if blood transfusions are needed this must be taken into account. Type A blood will kill a cat with type B blood and vice versa. British shorthair breeders are worried about blood type due to "fading kitten" syndrome. When the mother cat has type B blood and the father of the kittens has type A blood, their kittens can have both type A and type B blood. Mother's milk contains antibodies to type A, which will kill type A kittens within 72 hours. Fortunately, there is now a DNA test to check the blood type before breeding a cat.