Cat Breeds 101: Colorpoint Shorthair

Cat Breeds 101: Colorpoint Shorthair
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Colorpoint Shorthairs are the first cousins of Siamese cats and are distinguished by their sixteen different ‘point’ colors beyond the four Siamese colors. Depending on the cat registry, they may be considered as a separate cat breed or a variant of an existing one. The Cat Fanciers’ Association and the World Cat Federation are the only major registries that recognize them as a stand-alone breed. In other registries, they are considered as part of the Siamese or Oriental Shorthair breed. ^[1]

The Colorpoint Shorthair was produced in the 1940’s when Siamese breeders wanted to create a new cat that has the same features as the Siamese but with additional point colors. Abyssinians were bred with Siamese cats as well as red tabby Domestic Shorthairs. Eventually, the Colorpoint Shorthair was created. However, despite the color variations from this new breed, these cats are still much like the Siamese breed in both looks and personality. ^[2]

The beauty of the Colorpoint is obvious in its striking blue eyes, its slender muscled body and the contrast between the light body color and the darker extremities. This contrast is called “color restriction” or more commonly known as “pointing”. The color of the fur on the ears, tail, and paws is significantly different from the body. The Colorpoint Shorthair, unlike most Siamese, may show tabby striping as well as tortoiseshell patterns limited to the points. ^[3]

They are one of the most talkative of all the cat breeds. They tend to follow their humans around the house like a loyal companion. They will meow loudly and sometimes incessantly to get their owners’ attention so these cats are only good for families that can tolerate a vocal pet. These cats are highly intelligent, playful with a lot of energy, fun loving, social, outgoing and quite needy. They should be allowed to release their energy throughout the day and will also benefit from playtime sessions with their owners because they thrive on the interaction they have with people. ^[2]

References:

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorpoint_Shorthair

[2] http://www.petguide.com/breeds/cat/colorpoint-shorthair/

[3] http://www.hillspet.com/en/us/cat-breeds/colorpoint-shorthair

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