WHAT IS A GOLDEN PERSIAN

GC, RW, BW Castlegate BeDazzle of Catschateau Shaded Golden Persian Born September 30, 2001

Golden Persians appeared in Silver Persian litters for many years before this beautiful color was recognized. Golden kittens were quietly sold as pets and breeders tried to pretend that they did not have such a thing in their line! Most were sold as pets without papers. If they were registered, they were usually listed as Brown Tabbies or Shaded Silvers. The Cat Fanciers Association, Inc., (CFA) finally admitted Goldens to championship competition in 1977.

Pictured above right is GC, RW, BW Castlegate BeDazzle of Catschateau, a gorgeous Shaded Golden. A lovely article about this beautiful girl and her many acheivements can be found on Pandecats.

Recognition of the Goldens has been achieved in all the U.S. cat association. Goldens only appear when both parents carry the recessive gene for Gold or when one Golden is bred to another. Goldens have beautiful green or blue-green eyes that provide a striking contrast to their golden-hued coats. They carry the rose nose, dark paw pads and black margin and mascara of silvers. It is believed that Silvers are a genetic mutation from green-eyed Brown Tabbies. Over the years, breeders are conscientiously breeding out the barring and early splotched color. But, even though the markings are being bred out, the recessive brown gene still remains in many silver lines. Silvers and Goldens are technically or rather gentically speaking shaded black cats. Both carry the gene for eumelanin or black/sepia coloring. If you are a silver breeder, Goldens can be used in your breeding program. CFAs standards describe the color as follows:

CHINHILLA GOLDEN: Undercoat pale honey to bright apricot. Coat on back, flanks, head and tail sufficiently tipped with black to enhance a golden appearance. Legs and end of tail may be shaded with tipping. Chin, ear tufts, stomach and chest, consistent dilute color, much lighter in tone that the undercoat color. The general effect is lighter than a shaded golden due to less tipping. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined with black. Nose leather: rose. Paw pads: black. Eye color: green or blue-green. Disqualify for incorrect eye color, incorrect eye color being copper, yellow, gold, amber, or any color other than green or blue green.

SHADED GOLDEN: Undercoat pale honey to bright apricot with a mantle of black tipping shading down from the sides, face, head and tail. Legs are to be the same tone as the face. Ear tufts, chin, chest stomach and underside of the tail, consistent dilute color, much lighter in tone than the undercoat. The general effect is darer than a Chinchilla Golden due to more tipping. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined with black. Nose leather: rose. Paw pads: black. Eye color: green or blue-green. Disqualify for incorrect eye color, incorrect eye color being copper, yellow, gold, amber, or any color other than green or blue green.

This darling logo was created by Herma Wulff a very talented web designer for Ardell Sims of Dazzle M.

Most Goldens are noted for their beautiful eye color. Maybe that is because it shows up so clearly against their apricot colored fur. Chinchilla Goldens are rare, as most born are Shaded Goldens or Golden Tabbies. Kittens are born almost black with mackerel or classic tabby markings. The kittens temple area usually indicates the adult color. The brighter this is, the brighter the adult coat. They also go through a color change and anywhere between six and twelve months, your gorgeous kitten can develop a drab, grey looking coat; be patient and have faith! The true adult coat will eventually appear.

More breeders are devoting their time and efforts toward producing superior Goldens. However, they are not plentiful and obtaining one requires patience and effort.

To view a list of all of 50 Goldens that have attained the title Grand Champion or Grand Premier, please click here:

50 Golden Grands

The following rules apply when breeding for Goldens:

1. Two silvers not carrying the Golden-gene: none of the kittens will be Goldens, nor will they carry the Golden gene.

2. A Silver carrying the Golden gene bred to one not carrying it: all the kittens will be Silver and 50 percent will carry the gene.

3. Two Silvers carrying the Golden gene: 25 percent of the kittens will be golden, 25 percent will be silver and 50 percent will carry the Golden gene.

4. A Golden bred to a Silver not carrying the Golden gene: all kittens will be Silver carrying the Golden gene.

5. A Golden bred to a Silver carrying the Golden gene: 50 percent will be golden and 50 percent will be Silver.

6. A Golden bred to another Golden will produce all Golden kittens.

CH Jade River Summer Rain Shaded Golden Exotic Bred by Elise Scafani

A Silver carrying only the Silver gene is homozygous for Silver, as a Golden is homozygous for Golden. If a Silver carries the Golden gene also, he or she is heterozygous for either gene. Breeders who have purchased a Silver cat get upset when their colorbreed Silver Silver develops a cream spot, thinking they have been sold a Chinchilla or Shaded Silver out of Solid color breeding. If a Silver has Goldens in their pedigree may develop these spots which come and go as the coat changes. This has nothing to do with Solid colors (Blacks, Reds or Tortoiseshell or the dilute Blue, Cream and Blue-cream) Persians, it only means that your Silver may carry the Golden gene, or is heterozygous Silver. Homozygous Silvers carry two genes for Silver and can only produce Silver kittens. Heterozygous Silvers carry one gene for Silver and one gene for Golden. When bred to a Golden or another heterozygous Silver they can produce Golden kittens. It is fun breeding a Silver to a Golden and wondering if a Golden kitten will appear in the litter.

Golden is an accepted color for the EXOTIC breed. Exotics are bred to the same standard as Persians, with the exception f the coat length. The CFA standard describes the coat of an Exotic as follows:

COAT: dense, plush, soft and full of life, standing out from the body due to a rich, thick undercoat, medium in length. Acceptable length depends on proper undercoat. They are easier to groom than Persians.

Pandecats offers a facinating article The Very Early Goldens written by Christopher Bock about his theories on the genesis of Goldens. Christopher has also written an interesting article on the appearance of Blue Silvers and Blue Goldens in his article entitled The Summer of Fire and Ice, which is published online by Pandecats.

Pamela Martin of Castlepaws Silver and Golden Persians has written an excellent article on Blue Silvers and Blue Goldens: Singing the Blues. She has also written a very informative article about Golden Persians in The Colors of Gold.

Please click here for information on the Genetics of Silver and Golden Persians and Exotics.

Dazzle M Golden Kitten Chinchilla Golden Persian Breeder/Owner: Ardell Sims

GC Dee-J Dessert Poppy CFA's first female Golden Persian Grand Champion Breeder: Dee Single Owner: Sue Hinkle

Dazzle M Golden Kitten Shaded Golden Persian Breeder/Owner: Ardell Sims

A cute litter of Dee Single's Golden Kittens Dee published the book Silver and Golden Persians