Conference misery::feline_v1

    Debbie, 
    
    The cages at the shows are provided for exhibitors by the club.  I am
    talking about the wire cages that the exhibitors drape with curtains.
    You will get a cage that is approximately 21" x 21" with your entry.
    If you want a bigger cage, 21 x 21 x 45, you can pay an extra fee.
    This bigger cage is usually called a double cage, and can cost from $10
    to $20 extra.  The show flyer will tell you exactly how big the cages
    are that the club will be using, and how much it will cost for a
    double.
    
    As far as Persians and colors go, I think that the only person in
    Feline that breeds Persians is Cin.  She is working mostly with Exotics
    but might be able to refer you to another breeder who has the colors
    you are looking for.
    
    For clarification, you mentioned that you were looking for chocolate,
    did you mean self chocolate or chocolate point?  You didn't specify.
    Not that many self chocolates are shown in CFA, but there was one at
    the Sacramento show this weekend.  It was an Exotic though, not a
    longhair.
    
    Jo

    I went Saturday, too.  Almost every cage there had a
    "Kittens for Sale" sign.  I recognized quite a few
    Feliner names, too! (unfortunately, they weren't very
    friendly when I tried to talk to some of them !!)
    Did you ask any of the Persian people there?  Some of
    them had kittens for sale signs.
    
    Lynne

    Gee, Lynne, I hope you didn't try to talk to me!!!!  The show saturday
    was VERY busy, and there were lots of people competing for my attention
    at times, but I hope I wasn't rude or unfriendly to anybody.  My cage
    was in the first row as you came in the door, and I had 3 exotic
    kittens in it with a kitten for sale sign.  I also had my DEC Feliners
    Badge clipped on the front of my cage.  
    
    cin
    

    Gee , I also hope it was not me either..
    Kate

    RE: Shaded Golden Persians
    
    This color is something that will be QUITE difficult for you to find.
    you would talk to a shaded silver breeder in order to possibly find a
    shaded golden.  That's the only way to get goldens is through silvers.
    
    I have a Golden.  We expected that she would be a shaded golden.  She
    turned out to be a Golden Tabby.  She's beautiful.  I got her from Ruth
    and Don LeClaire.  If you write, I see if I can get their number for
    you.  I don't think she has any goldens right now, but she might.
    
    Holly
    

    Jo,
    
    Thanks for the cage info. I saw a picture of what was called a
    chocolate persian in one of my cat books. I thought the color was
    neat. It was not pointed - the color was solid chocolate brown.
    
    Debbie

    I did see lots of kittens for sale, but I got the same impression
    you did. I think it must have because it was very crowded (at the
    time I was there anyway). I felt uncomfortable trying to "drag"
    information from them. 
    
    Thanks for your input!
    
    Debbie

    Thanks for clarifying on the self chocolate.  That is a pretty hard
    color to find.  It is a dilute color, and most folks that work with
    solids only do the "easy" colors like black, white, red, blue and
    cream.  I don't even know where you would start.  Maybe Cin has some
    ideas for you.
    
    Jo

  
    Jo,
    
    Thanks for the information on the self chocolate. What do you mean
    by dilute? Does the coloration come from a mixture of different
    colors?
    
    I need to learn more about cat genetics, so I don't have to ask
    so many questions. I have a book that discusses genetics. I don't
    know how detailed it is. I guess I'll find out!
    
    Thanks again,
    Deb 
   

    Gee, I hope I wasn't rude either.   It really was crazy in there
    and H*O*T too.
      Nancy

    Okay, I will have to see if I can explain this.  Chocolate and Lilac
    are called dilute colors.  Their inheritance is pretty complicated.
    Actually, I will have to go out on a limb here and claim that I cannot
    explain this well enough to try.  Ray Fusci probably could.  Maybe 
    Cin could too.
    
    Okay, as to were to get a self chocolate, I would say that the best
    place to look was a breeder that is breeding solids and himilayans. 
    There is a breeder in Southern California named Tony Renzacci that has
    bred some chocolates.  I don't know of any others.  I brought this
    question up at my cat club meeting last night and the persian breeders
    all suggested that you contact Himmie breeders.
    
    Please be easy on us poor exhibitors.  A day at a cat show can
    sometimes be the worst experience of our lives.  Imagine your worst
    possible day at work, then toss in the added stress cause you chose to
    subject yourself to this bad time, and you might be close to what a bad
    day at a show can be like.  I really appreciate it when spectators
    realize that while I am sitting at my cage, I am also listening for
    numbers, trying to eat my lunch, grooming my cat, answering questions
    posed by more than one spectator at a time, and trying to also keep
    track of whether kids are grabbing my business cards to ad to their
    collection, sticking their messy chocolate candy fingers on my white
    cat, or touching every cat in the row on their way to touch mine.  And
    of course, if you are friendly with the breeder benched next to you,
    you also are asked to watch their cats for them while they go out for a
    cigarette, go to the bathroom, go get lunch, or take their other cat
    to the ring.  Lots goes on at a show.  I always try to be pleasant to
    everyone that comes by, but sometimes that isn't easy.
    
    Jo

    Okay, here's what I know about chocolates.  
    
    Chocolate and Lilac persians were originally what was known as Kashmirs
    and were the result of a chocolate/lilac himalayan breeding program. 
    These cats were the solid colored offspring of usually one or more
    himalayan parent.
    
    There used to be 1 or 2 breeders around, but it's been a very long time
    since I've seen any in shows around this area.  
    
    Your best bet for finding one might be to contact a very reputable
    himalayan breeder who may be able to point you in the right direction. 
    I'ld suggest starting with Nancy Sullivan in Swampscott MA if your in
    the New England area.
    
    cin
    

    
    Well I didn't have kittens for sale and I had a good time talking to
    lots of people but it was a long day and I was getting tired and antsy
    towards the end so I hope I wasn't unintentionally rude to anyone.
    I know cat shows are different, but what I usually suggest to people
    looking for a puppy is to go to a dog show, get a catalog and note
    the numbers of the dogs you like.  Later at home call the owners and
    tell them you saw their dogs at the show and what you liked about them.
    They are usually more than willing to talk!  Hope I get to meet more
    of you at the upcoming shows!
    
    MaryAnne

    Just to let you know, no one was rude to me at the show. I knew
    that everyone was very busy. I didn't expect to do much talking.
    I thought people would be friendlier, though. :( I realize it is 
    very stressful, but no one was smiling. If you don't have any fun, 
    why show?
    
    Deb