DEVELOPMENT

GC Fairisles Citation of Shadedknoll Chinchilla Silver Persian At Five Months of Age

Silver Persians undergo a tremendous amount change from the time they are born until full maturity at three years of age. Silver kittens are born with clear Tabby markings either Mackerel (spotted) or Classic (stripes), As their undercoat grows out the Tabby markings disperse and give way to even tipping known as shading giving the Silver that special sparkling appearance. Many experienced breeders assess their kittens at six weeks as to whether the kitten is "pet" quality (thus should not be shown or bred), "breeder" quality (meets the CFA standard) or has possible "show" quality. Kittens often go "off" for a period of time, which can be years, until they mature and again reflect the quality the breeder first recognized at six weeks.

Many wise breeders wait until kittens are four months old and have the opportunity to take that special kitten to a local show to see how it fares in the ring to more fully assess their actual quality. A kitten must not only meet the written standard, it must also have that extra bit of flash and dash that is a hallmark of a show cat. A true show kitten/cat must also possess a "show personality," which means the kitten/cat is not afraid or intimidated by of all the hullabaloo around them in the show hall and stands confidently on the judge's table and plays when the judges offers it a toy. Sometimes the most gorgeous kitten would rather be at home playing with his or her siblings and a wise exhibitor will retire that kitten then and there. A true "show quality" kitten is a rare jewel and most often kept by the exhibitor.

GC Fairisles Citation of Shadedknoll Chinchilla Silver Persian At Two Years of Age

I have digressed a bit, but want to underscore how dramatically a Silver kitten can change through every stage of development and how that can be so difficult to predict unless a breeder has had years of experience breeding their line and exhibiting. Many breeders can tell stories about the time they placed a kitten they initially felt did not have promise to be of show quality, only to see the same kitten at three years of age, and find that it is the most beautiful kitty they had ever bred. It is also difficult for experienced breeders to purchase a kitty unless they too are familiar with the development of a particular line, as some lines can go through the most awkward stages only to blossom into the most beautiful adults with great type. Silver and Goldens take about three to four years to mature and reach their full beauty. Colorbred Silver and Golden Persians become more and more beautiful and gain type with age.

For example, the kitten and cat pictured at right is GC Fairisles Citation of Shadedknoll. In the late 1980s, a Franciscan Silver Fanciers meeting was held in Sue Hinkle’s home, and at some point she showed off her most recent litter of six week old kittens to her fellow club members. Dorie Weston of Walnut Hill fame, picked out Citation as being the "pick of the litter." However, Sue felt another was the best GC Fairisles Trademark and offered Citation to Sally Daniels when Citation was 12 weeks old. Sure enough the awkward looking 12 week old developed into gorgeous cat at 16 months old and became not only Sally Daniel's first Grand Champion, but the first Grand Champion for Sue Hinkle and Fairisles. GC Fairisle Citation of Shadedknoll went on to sire many beautiful kittens including CH Shadedknoll Malachi of kittikamir the foundation sire for the Kittikamir line. Dorie Weston's prediction was correct, Citation proved to be "pick of the litter."

One day old kitten with clear Tabby markings Please note this pattern is unusual Pedigree

Same kitten at 5 weeks You can see how the markings have dispersed and will do so further as the kitten ages. Please note this kitten has an unusual coat anomaly,as it's head is Chinchilla and the body Shaded Silver with a golden cast.

GC Wyndcreste Ritzy Bitzy Eight weeks old begining to go through the gawky stage

GC Wyndcreste Ritzy Bitzy Fully mature at three years old Chinchilla Silver Granded as a Shaded Silver

GC Wyndcreste Intrigue One year of age Still most certainly in his gawky stage

GC Wyndcreste Intrigue Fully mature at three years old Chinchilla Silver Persian

GC Wyndcreste Suspense Eight weeks old In a "gawky" stage

GC Wyndcreste Suspense Fully mature at three years old Shaded Silver Persian

CH, GP Wyndcreste Imari Eight months old In a very "tweener" stage

CH, GP Wyndcreste Imari 13 months old This photo shows how dramatically she changed in a few short months. Chinchilla Silver Persian

Shadedknoll Laci Ann three weeks old She is affectionately known as Lolo

Shadedknoll Laci Ann Eight months old Shaded Silver Persian

GC Danpeg Sony of Silverestate, DM Eight weeks old Bred by Peggy Thompson Owner: Kathy Zennaiter

GC Danpeg Sony of Silverestate, DM Eight years old Fully mature Shaded Silver Persian

GC Danpeg Sony of Silverestate, DM Four years old

GC Danpeg Sony of Silverestate, DM Eight months old

CH Limeridge Starry nights of Wyndcreste One year Old

CH Limeridge Starry nights of Wyndcreste Twelve years old

GC, RW Sanmar Ole Born June 13, 1978 Three weeks of age

GC, RW Sanmar Ole Pedigree Three months old and in the "gawks"

GC, RW Sanmar Ole and Judge Bess Higuchi at a Show in Pasadena, CA, circa 1980

GC, RW Sanmar Ole Born June 13, 1978 Fully mature at three years old