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Breed evolution

Updated: Feb 6


Greetings everyone! Here I would like to touch upon such theme as an evolution of breed standards and as you might guess the talk will be about colors of our feline friends.

I want to present you with one of these colors for your attention, but before I do, I want to teach you a little about it.

As you know, breed standards are determined by each Cat association separately, but in principle, these standards are quite similar in different associations. Cat association is designed to unite breeders, but breeders are engaged in selecting and breeding cats with new qualities in color or any other parameters of the breed. And here we often face the question of accepting these new qualities within the breed standard. If such quality is not accepted by the association, this new quality is a defect of the breed, and such a cat cannot count on high evaluation, and sometimes can even be disqualified. In some cases, associations forbid to use of such animals for further breeding. And now, having stipulated that I want to present you one of the new colors of British cats. It is "Golden Light" or "Akita" or "ny13". I want to point out right away that all these color names are ultimately determined by the association and are legitimate only after they are entered into the registry of the association. Here we will call this color "Golden Light". And so, this color was described by two breeders from Russia Alexandra Shaura (breeder Cattery Galeksy), Marina Bessergeneva (breeder Cattery from MariBessa) back in 2014 and since then there have been disputes for color recognition in associations. The recognition process is quite well known in the breeder field, it is a long and complicated process, especially in the leading associations of the world, such as WCF, TICA, and other equally large associations. An association can reject such a cat at a show, and sometimes can mark a cat "not for breeding", but all this regulation can take place only within the framework of a particular association. No one can forbid a breeder to register a cat in another association, where, for example, this color is accepted in the standards of the association. In this case, the market is saturating with such cats, and as a result, associations cannot ignore a great number of cats of such color and as a result, accept them to the standard. According to some information "Golden Light" was included in the WCF registry under the code nv "flaxen golden". Yes, it is not color ny13, which breeders have determined when working with a new color, but already the animal with this color can be highly appreciated at the show. Why do I say so? The point is our cattery is very interested in animals with this color, and we know this color is not in TICA standard yet, but never mind, we are waiting for this happy day.

I will tell the main thing for the breeder the main recognition, is not an assessment of the jury at the show (although I do not argue, it is pleasant to win), not an opinion of the association (although I wish they coincided), the main thing for the breeder, it is love and support of our customers. If the association evaluates an animal with a grade at a show, our customer evaluates them with their hard-earned dollar. What do you think, is it worth for a breeder to work on new colors of the breed, even if the association does not accept it into its registry?

Thank you!

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