The British Cream Shorthair is a very attractive variety, but comparatively rare. The coat should be a pale, even cream with no tabby markings, and in practice this is very difficult to achieve.
Pedigree Cream Shorthairs have never been very numerous. This is partly due to the fact that in the early days of pedigree cat breeding no one knew for sure how to produce these cats to order. They appeared from time to time in Tortoiseshell litters and were usually regarded as 'sports' or freaks. They were not recognized for competition until the late 1920s.
Grooming
Preparing a Cream Shorthair for showing may require a shampoo a few days previously, as any grease or dirt in the coat will mar the colour. It also needs daily combing to remove dead hairs, and lots of hand stroking. No hand cream!
Breeding
To breed good Cream Shorthairs is not easy because, like red, of which cream is a dilute genetically, the colour is sex-linked to produce more males than females. However, they can be produced from Tortoiseshells and from Blue-creams. The Blue-cream with Blue or Cream sires produce the best Creams, and it seems that these matings are of benefit to both Blues and Creams, making the varieties of especially good type.
Kittens
Cream female kittens are obtained by mating a Blue-cream to a Cream sire; Cream males are obtained by mating a Blue-cream to a Blue sire. Creams are very attractive as kittens, although few possess the desired pale coat; many have tabby markings or are too dark to be shown. Nevertheless they make delightful pets and will not be difficult to find homes for.
Pedigree Cream Shorthairs have never been very numerous. This is partly due to the fact that in the early days of pedigree cat breeding no one knew for sure how to produce these cats to order. They appeared from time to time in Tortoiseshell litters and were usually regarded as 'sports' or freaks. They were not recognized for competition until the late 1920s.
Grooming
Preparing a Cream Shorthair for showing may require a shampoo a few days previously, as any grease or dirt in the coat will mar the colour. It also needs daily combing to remove dead hairs, and lots of hand stroking. No hand cream!
Breeding
To breed good Cream Shorthairs is not easy because, like red, of which cream is a dilute genetically, the colour is sex-linked to produce more males than females. However, they can be produced from Tortoiseshells and from Blue-creams. The Blue-cream with Blue or Cream sires produce the best Creams, and it seems that these matings are of benefit to both Blues and Creams, making the varieties of especially good type.
Kittens
Cream female kittens are obtained by mating a Blue-cream to a Cream sire; Cream males are obtained by mating a Blue-cream to a Blue sire. Creams are very attractive as kittens, although few possess the desired pale coat; many have tabby markings or are too dark to be shown. Nevertheless they make delightful pets and will not be difficult to find homes for.
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