Colours
Seal Points – the original Siamese. Until the 1930's nearly all Siamese were Seal Points. It is not known exactly when they were first brought to Britain, but they started to appear in cat shows in the 1870's.
|
|
Blue Points, Chocolate Points, Lilac Points – the few Blues and Chocolates which appeared in very early litters were considered 'poor Seals'. Blues were first officially recognised by the GCCF as a colour in their own right in 1936, and subsequently given the breed no 24a. It wasn't until 1950 that Chocolates were recognised, and given the breed no 24b. Lilacs also must have cropped up in early litters since we know that both blue and chocolate did, the colour lilac being produced by a combination of both. They were not recognised by the GCCF in Britain until 1960, when they were granted breed no 24c – however by then they had already been officially recognised in the USA in 1954/5, and called 'Frost Points.'
|
|
|
|
|
Caramel Points, Apricot Points - regarded as the 'new colours', and not officially recognised by the GCCF until 1993. However there is evidence that the colour Caramel was first seen in a litter in 1974, and Apricot in 1975.
|
Cinnamon Points, Fawn Points - the cinnamon colour has been known since the early 1900's in the Abyssinian breed. The first Cinnamons of Oriental type in the 1960's were known as Pavanes (pale Havanas). Cinnamon Point Siamese were finally granted Championship status in 2009 – the Fawn Points not until 2013.
Red Points, Tortie Points, Cream Points - in 1934 two cats were on exhibition at our show which had white body colour, red points and blue eyes. During the 40's the breeding of Reds and Torties was established by several dedicated breeders, but their attempts to get them recognised as Siamese was refused by the GCCF. It wasn't until 1966 that Red Points were granted breed no 32a, and Seal Tortie Points 32b. Blue, Chocolate and Lilac Tortie Points + Cream Points were all originally given the breed no 32c. Cinnamon, Fawn and Caramel Torties came later in 1993.
Red Points, Tortie Points, Cream Points - in 1934 two cats were on exhibition at our show which had white body colour, red points and blue eyes. During the 40's the breeding of Reds and Torties was established by several dedicated breeders, but their attempts to get them recognised as Siamese was refused by the GCCF. It wasn't until 1966 that Red Points were granted breed no 32a, and Seal Tortie Points 32b. Blue, Chocolate and Lilac Tortie Points + Cream Points were all originally given the breed no 32c. Cinnamon, Fawn and Caramel Torties came later in 1993.
|
|
|
The Tabbies - although there is mention of them very early on, and evidence that they were bred in Scotland during the 1940's, the first serious breeding of them started in the early 60's. They were first known as Shadow or Lynx Points, and registered as Breed 26, AOV. The GCCF officially allocated them their own breed no in 1966. To distinguish between the 24 (solid) series, they were given breed no 32 regardless of their colour points. Tortie Tabbies are registered as Tabbies.
|
|