While it isn't at all a "laughing" matter, there are people (all over the world actually) that are highly concerned by those breeding the short-faced Persians and other extreme body styles of cats. We walk through the show halls and we see those poor cats with their smushed-up faces and anorexic body styles living maybe, if they are lucky, until they are 6 or 7 years old and wonder how long it will take for those cats' breeders to get it that they AREN'T helping the breed by perpetuating genetic health issues caused by years of neglect, stupidity and misinterpretation of the responsible ethics of animal husbandry.Originally Posted by WellingtonCats
... I have to say those breeding long nosed Persians or Siamese that don't fit the standard, get laughed at here in NZ especially when they show their cats. Breeding them defeats the purpose of a standard, each to their own, of course!!
The breed standard for the Siamese began to evolve in the mid-to-late 1950's and early 1960's. They were becoming so very extreme that one popular breeder (and I believe, senior member of the breed council) proposed a preface to the standard to keep this trend in check - Jeanne Singer of Singa Siamese cattery was that breeder. Her preface was adopted and it was the only thing that kept the Siamese from evolving into something even more extreme than they are now.Originally Posted by RoseHawke
I'll have a shot at it, Gaye, correct me if I'm wrong.
What you remember is the traditional Siamese. Something that really looked like a "regular" cat. But somewhere down the line they wrote the breed standard in CFA, and breeders, in attempting to come as close to the standard as possible in their quest for the golden ring, bred them more and more extreme until now "Show" Siamese are these slinky, thin, "Twiggy" (remember her?) sorts. But meanwhile, others who were not so keen on points, kept to the traditional Siamese look so that there has come two distinct body types, even though both types have pedigrees back to Methuselah and both are "Siamese."
Hi RoseHawke, you know it's funny. I have one old fashioned traditional Applehead Siamese, and I just got a lovely new Modern Extreme Wedge faced girl, and at first I thought she reminded me a bit of a rat, with her long face, slender body, and her skinny tail. A cute rat, but I see how you would say that.
I have doll faced persians, and they get compliments on how pretty they are, and how people prefer this look over the flat faced ones. It's too bad really that these cats might become extinct because they no longer represent the standard. I wish more things could be done to preserve these cats.Originally Posted by gayef
While it isn't at all a "laughing" matter, there are people (all over the world actually) that are highly concerned by those breeding the short-faced Persians and other extreme body styles of cats. We walk through the show halls and we see those poor cats with their smushed-up faces and anorexic body styles living maybe, if they are lucky, until they are 6 or 7 years old and wonder how long it will take for those cats' breeders to get it that they AREN'T helping the breed by perpetuating genetic health issues caused by years of neglect, stupidity and misinterpretation of the responsible ethics of animal husbandry.
But, as you say, to each their own ...
Yes, doll faced refers to persian with a longer nose and not so flat face. I think they are very pretty cats, with their long hair and cute round face. But they are not up to the standard anymore, so they wouldn't win anything if shown. But as a pet owner, I wasn't going to show them anyway. I was specifically looking for a doll faced, not modern persian, because I definetly prefer a doll faced look. Add to that that mine have no problems with eating or breathing.
