British chinchilla: color options for cats, character and content

British chinchillas are among the artificially bred varieties of the British. "Chinchilla" is a luxurious color of British cats and cats, which partly resembles the fur of those very rodents - chinchillas. Chinchilla cats are one of the rarest, exotic and, as a result, expensive for potential owners. British chinchillas have their own character traits, you need to observe the nuances of caring for animals and feeding them.

Today there are several stories about the origin of British chinchillas, many facts to this day remain controversial. Consider one of the most famous and believable versions. British chinchillas, like the British breed itself, were bred in a selective way in England.

The unusual color is considered the result of crossing a Persian cat and a British smoky cat. After that, long-term breeding work was carried out to obtain a stable and clean color in animals.

In 1889, the event was officially documented: the appearance of the first British cat with a uniform color. He received a huge number of awards of that time, and therefore in the future, cats of this type became a symbol of aristocracy and luxury in England, because only wealthy people could afford them. In many respects, the spread of this breed was also facilitated by the European press, in which the external qualities of the chinchilla Briton were praised in every possible way.

Today's British chinchillas have bright emerald eyes, but very few people know how hard it was for breeders at that time to get just such a shade.

Contributed by Persian cats. This is how silver chinchillas with emerald eyes appeared.

A little later, breeders and felinologists were able to breed a golden chinchilla. And we got a new eye color: blue, which is mainly found in silver chinchillas. Getting the gold color for scientists was much easier, since the silver color of the British chinchilla was already stabilized. For a long time, only silver chinchillas were considered purebred, but a little later the situation changed in favor of cats with cats that had a golden color.

And there is also information that British chinchillas were bred by an English breeder who had been crossing short-haired British for a long time. Another version says that American breeders and breeders participated in obtaining such a beautiful color.

Of course, at the moment it is quite difficult and problematic to check the reliability of this or that information about the origin of cats. However, modern experts say such stories do take place. This is due to the fact that there are quite a few genera of British chinchillas and several branches of their origin. That's why it is possible that at the same time as they were brought out in England, they could have been brought out in America.

According to the description and the main characteristics of the chinchilla, it fully corresponds to the short-haired representatives of the British breed. The main difference is the luxurious arctic fox fur of an unusual color and a dense undercoat.

• British chinchillas have a large, muscular body with a broad chest. The physique is quite powerful, especially in cats, cats are more graceful.
• The breed standard is a large, rounded head with wide cheekbones and pronounced fluffy cheeks.
• The nose is wide and small, but not flattened like that of the Persians. It has a pale pink or dark brown color.
• The ears are small, slightly sloping, located at a wide distance from each other.
• The neck is short.
• The eyes are set shallow, while they are rather large in size. The standard eye colors are emerald and blue (cornflower blue).
• The limbs of chinchillas are slightly shorter than those of regular British, but they are very proportional. Sometimes it seems that cats and cats look too short legs, but in reality this is not so. This effect is achieved due to the light coat and muscularity of the limbs.
• British chinchillas have large paws. The tail is not very long and fluffy, with a rounded tip.
• The standard weight of cats is usually no more than 8 kg, in cats it is slightly less: up to 3 or 4 kg. Sterilized animals can gain significant weight if they do not eat properly and move actively.
• The coat of British chinchillas is very dense, but soft, the undercoat is very thick. The coat resembles that of a fox.

Due to these interesting external signs, which are ideally combined with the snow-white-silver or golden coat of cats and cats, British chinchillas look truly luxurious.

British chinchillas are very balanced, but wayward animals. They can be safely called the aristocrats of the feline world: they are very independent. They get used to and become attached to the owner and other family members very quickly, but at the same time they always consider themselves equal to both man and other animals in the house.

British chinchillas lead a measured lifestyle, play in moderation, rest more, love to be looked after and paid attention to. At the same time, they do not interfere in many household chores, preferring to calmly look at them from the outside. When the British are out of sorts, even a toy mouse or favorite treat won't budge them. British chinchillas are rather finicky in food.

Although British chinchillas look like plush toys, they are not. Therefore, do not allow children to treat them casually. Animals have an extremely negative attitude to all kinds of gripping, and therefore can change their habits to negative if mistreated.

From childhood, British chinchillas can be easily accustomed to the tray, habitat and place of food. But forcing these cats to do something or play is useless: they will keep their cool, although they are very well-mannered.

The British are wayward and freedom-loving, they do not always prefer to be the center of attention when they live in a house without the neighborhood with other animals. British chinchillas learn very quickly, especially when they have a desire, or in the process of training, the owner gives them treats to reward. The British love order in their home. They must have their own place to sleep. It can be either a pillow or a whole house in which animals can not only rest, but also play.

The British never make a mess in their home, even when they are alone. Moreover, they do not like vanity. Therefore, sometimes they prefer to relax imposingly, while there is silence in the house or apartment. Until they get tired of it, of course.

They are always glad to see the owner. Proud chinchillas rarely beg for food, especially from the table. They are more accustomed to waiting for the owner to treat them himself. If animals eat according to a certain diet and schedule, then they will not at all beg for treats once again.

If they are pissed off too much, they may hide. British chinchillas are inherently non-aggressive, they quickly forget resentment. But if the offense is serious, then the animal prefers to proudly retire for a long time, until it is called.

British chinchillas love to rest right after eating. Lying around is their favorite pastime. Sometimes, going out into society, they can lazily drive a ball or mouse, but they prefer to play with the owner, especially adults. Even at 6-7 years old, the British do not become overly phlegmatic.

It should be noted that British chinchillas practically do not meow. Experts differ in their opinions on what this is connected with. Some say that this is beyond their feline dignity. These animals are among the most silent and reserved, even when they are very hungry.

They meow in extremely rare cases, for example, in a veterinary office or when they are in an unfamiliar environment. However, the voice of British chinchillas is very melodic. Some of them are very talkative. When they are stroked, they can hum and make peculiar sounds of joy.

The British do not have the habit of waking everyone up in the morning if they are not fed. They will wait tactfully, although it’s best to stay on schedule. They easily get used to any regime of their master.

Today, professional breeders are engaged in breeding silver and gold chinchillas, but besides these, there are other varieties in their colors.

• Silver chinchillas. Their coat tone is pure white, but at the same time, all the hairs at the ends are dyed one-eighth dark in color, which creates an amazing effect of haze and iridescent silver. The entire undercoat is pure white by breed standards.

The chest and abdomen of British chinchillas are practically white, with the main part of the silver being found on the back, ears and tail. The muzzle is usually light. The eyes and nose seem to be outlined with a bright black charcoal pencil.

• Golden british chinchillas have a creamy or light apricot delicate undercoat. At the same time, the tips of their hairs can be painted both black and gray. In the coat, shades of brown, black and gold alternate with smooth transitions without spots. Sometimes it may seem that the color gives off red. As a rule, the ears, tail and sides of the British are darker in comparison with the whole body. The breast and belly are the same color as the undercoat; dark-colored hairs rarely appear on them.

• There are also silvery shaded chinchillas... Compared to ordinary silver cats, their coat looks darker. The coat is dyed one third dark. At the same time, the undercoat, like that of classic silver chinchillas, remains always white. In shaded chinchillas, this color may slightly pass on to the belly and chest. The tail and legs are striped, and the tip of the tail can also be painted black.

It is quite difficult to maintain quality and correct British chinchillas, especially for beginners.

• Combing out. It is recommended to take care of the coat of British chinchillas regularly. Pets should be combed out several times a week. This should be done according to the growth of the coat and gently against it. The procedure is especially important during the molting period. It is best to choose soft brushes for scratching that do not cause discomfort to the animal.

• Bathing. Bathing British chinchillas is best with a specialized shampoo for white or light coat when it comes to silver chinchilla. Or with shampoos for dark colors - for golden chinchillas.

• Walking. If the animal is often walked, especially in summer, special flea drops should be dripped onto the withers. You can use collars, which, in addition to fleas, are also detrimental to ticks. And also in the summer, it is very important to check the ears of pets.

• Ears. Ear cleaning should also be done infrequently. If the ears are noticeably dirty, then they can be wiped with cotton wool and a special spray from the pet store. When cleaning your ears, you do not use ear sticks, only cotton pads.

• Teeth. If the cat or cat is not given food, but regular food, then they are advised to brush their teeth as often as possible to avoid the formation of caries and plaque. To do this, you should purchase a special paste for cleaning cat teeth and a soft brush. Teeth cleaning is done every 1 or 2 weeks. If the animal does not tolerate the procedure, it is possible less often, the main thing is to do it periodically.

• Eyes. British cats do not always clean their own eyes, so the owners have to look after them too.If small clots are found in the eyes, which usually appear after sleep, they can be removed with a cotton pad dipped in warm water. In case of purulent discharge from the eyes, it is best to contact your veterinarian right away. For prophylaxis, veterinary pharmacies have non-aggressive eye drops that can be used every few months, but only if the animal often has eye problems.

• Claws. Caring for your pet's claws is very important, otherwise it will inadvertently damage not only furniture, but also flooring. Usually the nails are trimmed once a month. For this, a special claw cutter is used, which does not cause inconvenience to the animal. Regular scissors will not work. And also British chinchillas are very fond of sharpening their claws on a scratching post, so you should take care of its installation in advance.

• Tray. As for the toilet, chinchillas usually get used to the litter box very quickly. Almost all kittens that are raised in catteries immediately know where their toilet is. Therefore, even when changing the filler, the owner should not have any worries.

It is worth training and raising kittens only when they have already become accustomed to their habitat. It is very important in the process of upbringing not to shout at the animal, otherwise it will not only learn nothing, but will also get angry.

Veterinarians, felinologists and owners of British cats cannot agree on what and how best to feed the animals. There are several feeding options. Let's consider each of them in detail, taking into account all the nuances. British chinchillas are fed:

• natural food prepared by yourself;
• ready-made dry food and canned food.

To choose one or another feeding method, consider their pros and cons. When choosing a ready-made super-premium class feed, you can be completely sure that it is of high quality and balanced, not hazardous to animal health.

The ready-made feed cannot bother the animal, because they are available in different flavors. In addition to dry food, you can feed the British with canned food and wet food. The main thing is to choose all products from one company.

Another advantage of ready-made dry food is that they perfectly clean the teeth of pets, which are often prone to caries and plaque formation. Specialty foods come in a huge variety, many of which are tailored specifically for the British breed. These include an option for castrated and neutered pets, as well as fat-free foods for the prevention of urolithiasis (urolithiasis). There are also quality foods that remove excess hair from the body.

Manufacturers offer ready-made food for all ages of the British: both for small kittens and for elderly individuals. The main advantage is that the owner, when purchasing food, does not have to think that there is something in it that will not suit the pet, as is the case with the choice of regular meat. When feeding British dry food, you can sometimes add raw meat, such as chicken, to their diet.

The disadvantages include a rather high price for high-quality feed. And also the animal gets used to them, but it is more likely to occur when the food is not of the highest quality.

As for natural nutrition, it must also be balanced, otherwise the animal will not receive all the trace elements necessary for its life. You won't be able to save on home meals.

However, when choosing natural food, you should understand that you will have to spend time on it, since cooking even ordinary meat takes several hours. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with products that are suitable for animals and which should be excluded from the diet.

• Lean meats of turkey, chicken, rabbit, lamb and calf are always recommended. Pork in any form, fatty duck or goose is not recommended. Any fried and smoked meat products, as well as store sausages, should be completely excluded. Meat should be served boiled, sometimes you can pamper the animal with a raw treat, for example, poultry, but first it must be frozen for at least 12 hours, and then pour over boiling water before serving. You can feed only meat cut into small pieces; kittens are recommended to twist it in a meat grinder or grind it in a blender.
• Brits can be fed by-products such as liver, heart and kidneys.
• Sometimes, but not often, you can give sea fish, but only without bones. If a cat or a cat is spayed, then the fish is not recommended for them, as it can cause relapses of the ICD.
• It is very important to know that cats should never be given chicken with bones. They are not assimilated by the body not only of the British, but also of any other cats. The same applies to fish products with bones.
• It is recommended to exclude milk from the natural diet: it can cause bloating in the animal. It is best to opt for fermented milk products such as kefir, plain yoghurts, and low-fat cottage cheese.
• And also for a balanced diet, it is recommended to give cats eggs: chicken (only yolk) or quail.
• Boiled vegetables are also a great addition to finely chopped meat. It is advisable to have boiled carrots and zucchini in the diet. Potatoes are undesirable. Vegetables for adults should be finely chopped, for kittens it is best to grate them.
• The British will like cereals and cereals. They especially love buckwheat porridge, oatmeal and rice.

It is completely contraindicated for an animal to eat what a person uses. Foods that are very salty, peppery and seasoned are not suitable for cats. There are some foods that are not recommended for British chinchillas.

• Sausages, dairy and smoked sausages.
• Raw goat or cow milk.
• Chocolates, sweets and any baked goods. Despite the fact that some cats are not averse to grabbing a piece of a bun, you should not accustom them to this.
• Any pickles, preservation, spicy and spicy dishes.
• Fruits and berries. Of course, most cats will skip citrus or cranberries, but experimenting is not worth it.

If the pet's diet is not compiled correctly, then this may be one of the reasons that it constantly sheds, and the color of its coat is dull.

It is not worth giving vitamins to cats unnecessarily; before using them, you should definitely consult a veterinarian. This is due to the fact that not all vitamins are suitable for this or that breed and this or that pet, they all have their own characteristics and contraindications.

The most important point is that cats should always have fresh and clean drinking water. It should be changed and refilled regularly. Bowls should be washed thoroughly after meals. The best way to do this is to use environmentally friendly detergents.

Kennels with elite British chinchillas sell kittens:

• for castration or sterilization;
• for breeding.

When purchased for sterilization, the pedigree is issued after the procedure, or the nursery puts a mark on it that the animal is not intended for mating.The price for such a kitten will be on average 20-25 thousand rubles. In some nurseries, even babies are castrated, although many veterinarians are quite skeptical about this.

Breeders take kittens that are sold for reproduction very seriously. The average price for an individual ranges from 60 to 100 thousand rubles.

Breeding British chinchillas is quite difficult without special skills. When starting such work, it is recommended to take courses of felinologists and study all the information about the breed. It is also very important to take care of the place where cats and cats will be kept, because they need a lot of space. Breeding animals in small apartments is violence not only against animals, but also against their owners.

Before deciding to breed animals, it is very important to weigh the pros and cons. Moreover, it is very important to take into account the genetic makeup of potential parents and their ancestors. Otherwise, you may not get a luxurious color.

The key to the health of British chinchillas is strong immunity, which is supported by:

• correct balanced nutrition;
• constant care, which necessarily includes regular deworming and vaccinations.

If an animal is purchased not for breeding work, then veterinarians recommend neutering or neutering it. This is due to the fact that animals that are not knitted are much more likely to get sick. In addition to physiological diseases, they also suffer morally, especially cats.

And also for sterilization are obligatory animals that do not meet the standards of the British breed or they have minor defects.

Neutered cats and neutered cats are very often susceptible to the development of urolithiasis (Urolithiasis). To prevent it from occurring or recurring, you should give the animal a special herbal medicine, which the veterinarian will prescribe, several times a year. For example, the drug "KotErvin" is very often prescribed. And also a special diet is recommended, which should not contain fish products.

Sometimes, with a lack of vitamins, you can find that the cat is apathetic, has begun to shed heavily, its coat has changed in color. To solve this problem, it is best to contact a specialist, since the owner cannot always decide which vitamins are suitable for the animal and which are not. If you act at random, then the situation can only worsen.

It is believed that British chinchillas have good health, but they are not immune from disease.

Before vaccination, the animal must be given a drug against parasites (it is best to use suspensions, not tablets, since many Britons are very picky).

After every walk on the street, the paws of cats should be washed. If it is noticed that the pet has become apathetic, does not eat for a long time, or behaves strangely, it is best to immediately take him to the veterinarian.

• With a viral disease the animal may begin to cough and sneeze and refuse to eat. Such symptoms cannot be ignored, since viral diseases for cats can be fatal, for example, calcivirosis or panleukopenia. They are vaccinated.
• Any digestive problems may be associated with gastritis or other gastrointestinal diseases. Diarrhea, refusal to eat and other similar symptoms in an animal may indicate a viral infection or poisoning.
• Lichen also very often happens with representatives of the British breed. Caused mainly by fungi. It is quite easy to treat if it is started in a timely manner.

Of course, many diseases can have similar symptoms, and therefore it is strictly forbidden to self-medicate. But it is worth noting that complex vaccinations, for example, "multifel-4", are very effective and can protect a pet from several viral diseases at once.

It is recommended to choose kittens of British gold and silver chinchillas only in proven catteries, from breeders with a good reputation. It is very important to study the pedigree of the kitten and see its parents before buying. It should be understood that a thoroughbred British chinchilla will be expensive. But it will be a real thoroughbred aristocrat of a unique color.

More details about the British chinchilla will be discussed in the video below.