In the early days of pedigree breeding, any longhaired cat with a patch of white was regarded with horror. However, there were so few animals without a white spot on the belly or neck, that to fill classes at shows, the Bi-Colors were allowed to compete.
These solid colored cats with white undersides, muzzles, chests, legs and feet, were placed along with the Tortoiseshell and Whites, in an “any other variety category. Eventually, breeders began to consider them seriously as a variety in their own right. The ideal standard is for the white patches to be balanced and even, with a dapper and clearly defined inverted V shape running over the nose.
A Blue Bi-Color is an example of the many variations of the breed. They are available in all the colors accepted for the Self colors such as Red, Cream and Chocolate.
A beautifully groomed black and white Bi-Color in full coat shows the distinct white patching that is highly desirable in show cats.
| coat | thick, dense, silky, full frill at neck and shoulders |
| eyes | deep orange or copper |
| grooming | demanding, thorough, daily, especially the white parts |
| temperament | placid |
Bi-Color Persian Cat
The Bi-Color Persian cat breed has had a long history and yet it is perceived to be a continually popular variation of this breed. It is therefore important to examine its history and what is the breeding outlook for this Persian cat. The bi-color variety is most popular in America, whereas UK pet owners dislike bi-colors especially given the challenges involved in their breeding process.
It is a mystery to most people, and even breeders, how the bi-colors came about and where they came from. However, the only clue available as of the moment is that these were a progeny of long haired Persians that originated from Persia and Turkey, which was later imported to England and the rest of Europe. It wasn’t until the 1900s that there was a division made between Persians and Half Longhaired cats.
At the start of the 20th century, the Bi-Color Persian cats were officially registered and were slowly becoming recognized in England and the USA. During this time, the unique characteristics of the Bi-Color was already known and that they were best known as domestic nurslings because this is the best way to preserve their purity and value as unique kind of breed.
The 1980s decade finally put this variation of the Persian breed to the spotlight when an article was published that was devoted to this breed. It allowed pet owners and cat breeders to embrace this cat breed and it wasn’t long until they gained extreme popularity. In fact, many Persian breeding nurseries specialized in breeding Bi-colors in an effort to produce champion-grade breeds, which also practically led all breeds back into the nursery. The Bi-Color Persian is also famously referred to as Harlequin by breeders, wherein the standard for color combination is as follows: 50:75 color ratio for white, and 50:25 ratio for other colors. Aside from the Harlequin, another variation to the Bi-Color Persians is the Vans. The latter earns its distinction for having a completely white body with color only on the head and tail.
The current standard for breeding Bi-Color Persian cats has defined that they must have no more than 2/3 of basic color in their coat. For instance, they can have a white flame around the face while the back part of the body could have a small strap of white as well. Hence, the future for breeding Bi-Color Persian cats indicates that there could be an increase in the number of breeding activity.
The peculiarity of grooming for Bi-Color Persian cats is largely similar to other colored Persians. They need to have daily grooming and have proper diet, which must consist of beta carotene and a certain amount of sea algae. Getting proper nutrition is vital for this breed of Persians because it helps to maintain bright eye color and also make the contrast in color for their coat even more vivid and rich. Other grooming habits for the Bi-Color is also vital in maintaining distinction in the color of their coat, such as trimming the white hair that grow on the colored parts of the body. The use of shampoo and other synthetic hair products is also discouraged, which is why sea algae is the best option for grooming your Persian cat.
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