09/16/07

Abychat Mamamia (23d) with her Chocolate daughter Abychat Chockoholik (23b)

Photo copyright of Alan Robinson

Abychat Chocolatechip (23b)

Photo copyright of Alan Robinson

What are Chocolate and Lilac Abyssinians and how was the Chocolate gene introduced into the Abyssinian Breed?

A Chocolate series Abyssinian in the non-dilute form would be classified as a Chocolate Abyssinian and would have the breed reference number 23b: like other Abyssinian colours it is possible for the colour to vary in strength and intensity.

Norsechat Chocolatecougar at 2 days old. Abychat Lilac Liberty at 6 days old

The dilute version of the Chocolate series Abyssinian is classified as a Lilac Abyssinian and would have the breed number 23d: again it is possible for the colour to vary in intensity and strength, as one can see in the fawn Abyssinian.

Lilac kitten                                       Abychat Walnutwhip (chocolate) and her sister Abychat Cypher (photos copyright Alan Robinson)

The Chocolate gene was first introduced into the Abyssinian breed in the late 1970s.  The first outcross was a Chocolate point Siamese named Lady Fayre, owned by Carolyn Sutherland.  Lady Fayre was mated to a Sorrel Abyssinian named Barentu Red Rudy, in the litter was a Chocolate Abyssinian (breed 26) named Arboreal Chocolate Katrina.  It is believed that all Chocolate and Lilac Abyssinians can trace their ancestry back to these cats.  Several breeders also experimented by using Chocolate Burmese as an outcross.

Despite the intense interest shown by many breeders including: Brenda Marshall, Marianne Cook, Carol Gray, Jacqui Murphy, Carmen Bachelier,  Morris Sklader and others; for some reason only a few Chocolate and Lilac Abyssinians appeared on the Show bench during the 1980s.  Some cats were very successful, including Giselle Chocolate Ceres, Adreesh Chocolate Maylinc, and Kingcup Lilac Wine.  In the early 1990s many of these early breeders had stopped breeding these colours.  These colours were in danger of dying out.

Norsechat Chocolatecougar aged 4 months showing beautiful chocolate colour.

My mother became involved in breeding Chocolate and Lilac Abyssinians in the early 1990s, when she was given a blue female by Iris Wiseman.  Contented Blue Serenade was sired by a Lilac - Adraysh Prince Valiant (who was exported to Sweden after her birth).  Sadie was mated to a Abychat Samson and in the litter was a Lilac male - Abychat Hercules whom my mother kept as a stud boy.  This resulted in an increased interest in these beautiful colours.  Sadie produced many more Lilacs with Sammie.  Many of the English Chocolate and Lilac Abyssinians are descended from these 2 cats.

A great deal of hard work has been undertaken by breeders over the past 20 years to improve the quality of these beautiful cats.  Breeders have deliberately chosen to breed for quality  of type rather than quantity.  This has been done by avoiding Chocolate/Chocolate, Lilac/Lilac or Chocolate/lilac matings in favour of extensive use of top quality Usual, sorrel, or Blue studs with their chocolate and Lilac Queens.  Many of the present day Chocolate and Lilacs are more than 10 generations from the original outcross.

Tica CH Abychat Chocolat of Alexy(23b)   Abychat Lilac Saffi (23d)

Colour Descriptions:

Chocolate:

The GCCF Standard of points describes the Chocolate Abyssinian as a Rich copper brown ticked with dark chocolate.  The base hair is rich apricot and the ticking dark Chocolate.

Abychat Walnutwhip Photo Copyright Krissi Lungren

The paw pads are Chocolate

The nose leather is Pinky-chocolate                             The tail tip is dark chocolate

The Lilac Abyssinian

The Lilac Abyssinian is described in the GCCF Standard of Points as a warm (pinkish) dove grey ticked with deeper dove grey.  The base hair should be pinkish cream, and the nose leather Mauvish pink

The tail tip is dove grey and the pads Mauvish pink

Ch Norsechat Bobbydazzler (23e) and GC Abychat Lilac Lullaby (23d)

Showing Chocolate and Lilac Abyssinians

Congratulations to TICA GC Abychat Lilac Lullaby on becoming the 1st

Lilac Aby Grand Champion in the UK.

From the 1st of June 2003,  Chocolate and Lilac Abyssinians will be judged in Intermediate classes and will compete for ICs.  In order to present a case for Championship Status at least 10 cats must have 3 IC s from 3 different judges.  Look out for these cats at GCCF shows.  Breeders would be happy to talk to you about these beautiful colours.  if you already own a Chocolate or Lilac Abyssinian, perhaps you might consider showing him/her.  TICA  (The International Cat Association) has already recognised Chocolate and Lilac Abyssinians for Championship Status.  TICA Ch.Abychat Lilac Ambassador of Alexy and TICA Ch.Abychat Chocolat of Alexy , owned by American breeder Mr Bruce Alexy are already doing well on the show bench.  They were the 1st Lilac and Chocolate TICA Champions.

TICA Ch. Abychat Lilac Amassador of Alexy (23d)

Photo copyright of Alan Robinson

Congratulations to Alexy's Miss Melodious Venture (Chocolat's daughter) on becoming

TICA's 1st Lilac Grand Champion and 2004 TICA's best Lilac Abyssinian

Where can I purchase a Chocolate or Lilac Abyssinian?

A small dedicated (but growing) group of breeders are working with these colours in the UK.  Demand sometimes outstrips supply, so you may need to be prepared to wait and/or travel to obtain a Lilac or Chocolate kitten.  Enquiries are also welcome from those interested in showing and/or breeding these beautiful colours of Abyssinians.

Breeders UK

Abychat/Norsechat Abyssinians (01759) 302637

www.abychatcats.co.uk

Silsila Abyssinians (01203) 35007

Crystalpaws Abyssinians www.crystalcats.co.uk

Junglebunny Abyssinians (01268) 764017

Legend Abyssinians (01255) 552395 legendabyssinians@btinternet.com

Glendavan Abyssinians (Scotland) www.glendavan.com

USA Breeders

Alexy's Abyssinians www.abyssinians.net

INTERMEDIATE CERTIFICATE WINNERS:

Abychat Pumba (23d) Photo Copyright of Alan Robinson

1.  PINEGROVE LAURA SECORD 23B (3 ICS)                          

2.  QUINTILLION CALLIOPE 23D (3 ICS)

3. SILSILA CAPUCCINO 23B (3 ICS)

4. CRYSTALTIPS MARGUERITE 23D (4 ICS)

5. ABYCHAT LILAC LIBERTY 23D(3ICS)       

6.  ABYCHAT MAMAMIA 23D (3 ICS)

7. ABYCHAT LILAC SAFFI 23D (3 ICS)

8. ABYCHAT PUMBA 23D (3 ICS)

9. SILSILA LILAC LEGEND 23D ( 2ICs)

10. CRYSTALTIPS AMHARA DEWDROP 23D (2 ICs)

11. BADSWORTH NIQUEA ARTEMISIA 23D (1 IC)

12 SILSILA HARRY POTTER (23B) (4 ICs)

13 SILSILA IMNOANGEL (23B) (3 ICS)

14 CRYSTALPAWS JACKPOT JACK (23B) (1 IC)

15 ABYCHAT LILAC LULLABY (23D( (2 ICs)

16 SILSILA THELEGENDLIVESON (23D) (1IC)

17 ABYCHAT WALNUTWHIP (23B) (2 ICs)

Rebecca@abychatcats.plus.com

Copyright of Rebecca Eagland Abychat Abyssinians - contents cannot be reproduced without permission