Colorpoint Shorthair
The colorpoint shorthair is a medium sized, refined cat with long tapering lines. They are the first cousins of the Siamese and are frequently distinguished by their elegance in sixteen different point colors beyond the normal Siamese colors. The colorpoint shorthair is a hybrid of the Siamese.
A short history
In the first quarter century breeders concentrated solely on hybridizing and breeding cats with red and cream restricted to the points and Siamese type. From this devotion came handsome red, cream, and parti-color points. By concentrating on the Siamese gene with the red gene they were able to produce the first Colorpoint Shorthair. To distinguish the new breed from its ancestor the Siamese, the CFA breeders adopted the name Colorpoint Shorthair for registration purposes. The breed was finally recognized in 1964.
Some Colorpoints have dog-like qualities.
As the Colorpoint Shorthair became more popular the tabby versions of the Siamese were introduced into the Colorpoint Shorthair programs in the four different Siamese colors. In the Cat Fanciers Association these tabby cats were called lynx points, and are exhibited in several different classes and colors.
Another of the Colorpoint shorthairs, the tortie, or parti-colors is also an interesting phenomenon. The process of hybridization of the red gene has amazed many cat fanciers as well as judges. The Colorpoint breed is well known for their loving and independent attitudes. The parti-colors are a result of the red gene and can be found in four different Siamese colors. They also have what is called a "blaze" or a symmetrical split of the red and cream on one side of the face and a Siamese color on the other half.
The ideal Colorpoint Shorthair is identical to its cousin the Siamese but with its own distinct colors. The purpose of breeding the Colorpoint Shorthair was to establish a cat breed identical with the Siamese, but with separate and unique colors. The colorpoint shorthair standard reflects this objective.
Grooming and Health
Much like their Siamese cousins, Colorpoint Shorthairs do not require extensive grooming and are actually great cats to have in households with allergies as they produce little dander. An occasional bath is always recommended to keep them clean and tidy, but there is no need to blow dry; only brush the coat to remove loose hair and make the coat lie smooth.
Like most other animals a balanced diet is recommended. One that is high in protein is recommended for the Colorpoint Shorthair since part of their natural beauty is the glistening, muscular body.
Personality of a Colorpoint Shorthair
Colorpoint shorthairs are an active and busy breed of cat. They are known for their exceptional athletic abilities and for being extremely agile. They are not your average lap cat or lounging animal. They want to be active and out doing things. They have been known to get into things if they are not given something to do, so an extra box of toys and a climbing tree just for this particular cat breed is a good idea. Some colorpoints have been known to have dog-like qualities and have been trained to "shake paws" with their owner. They love human attention, are graceful and very playful. They make fairly good cats for young families as they like being active and young children can keep them running for quite some time.
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