A silver shaded cat with a harmonious overall proportion, strong and powerful limbs, a round and full head, preferably green eyes, a brick-red nose, dark paw pads, and even fur color is considered to be of superior quality.
How to Determine if a Silver Shaded Cat is Purebred
When assessing a silver shaded cat's purity and quality, several key features should be examined. These include the overall structure, fur color, eye characteristics, nose color, and paw pad color. By looking at these factors, you can get a good idea of a cat's breed quality.
Assessing the Overall Structure
Generally, a good-quality silver shaded cat should have a plump and robust body, strong limbs, and a round head. The base of the tail should be relatively thick, and the end should be rounded. The overall proportions should be harmonious. A cat meeting these criteria is well on its way to being a high-quality specimen. This strong, well-balanced structure is a key indicator of a healthy cat and good breeding.
Evaluating the Fur Color
The most distinctive feature of a silver shaded cat is its tipped fur. A high-quality British Shorthair silver shaded cat should have black tipping on the fur, covering one-eighth to one-sixth of the hair's length, with the rest being white. The overall color of a silver shaded cat varies depending on the extent of the black tipping. The more black tipping, the darker the overall color, and vice versa. This is a crucial factor in determining a silver shaded cat’s value.
Examining the Eyes
The eyes of a normal British Shorthair silver shaded kitten are typically blue-gray or blue. As they mature, their eyes should turn green. They should also be large and round, encircled by a dark eyeliner. Pure yellow eyes are undesirable, and if the eyes are flat or elongated, the cat may not be purebred. The eye color and shape are a critical aspect of breed standard.
Looking at the Nose
A standard silver shaded cat should have a brick-red nose. If the nose has black spots or is entirely black, this may indicate a lower-quality specimen. The nose color is a key feature that should be considered.
Checking the Paw Pads
As silver shaded cats are bred from British Blue Shorthairs, some people may assume they have pink paw pads, like British Shorthairs. However, this is incorrect. Although pink paw pads may be cute, purebred silver shaded cats should have dark paw pads. Dark paw pads are a sign of breed purity and should be looked for when assessing a cat.