Chocolate York cat

Chocolate York cat – a breed of long-haired, brown cats, developed by a fancier in the USA. The original data from the official website of the Yorkie Cat Federation has been inactive since 2004. If the breed still exists, its numbers are critically low.

History of origin

In 1983, the history of this breed began in New York State, thanks to the significant contribution of Janet Chifari and the first specimen of "chocolate" cats. One day, Janet, a fluffy cat, gave birth to a long-haired, chocolate-colored kitten. Upon seeing this baby, Janet decided to seriously pursue the development of a new breed with this unusual coloring, later mating her with her son.

The result was two kittens: a chocolate-and-white female named Cocos and a chocolate-colored male named Teddy Bear. The resulting breed takes its name from its birthplace, New York, and its chocolate coat. The York Chocolate is not recognized by major organizations such as TICA, CFA, or FIFe. The American Cat Fanciers' Association (ACFA) merely designates it an "experimental breed" with no special rights.

No organization has published any changes to the breed standard or any other information about Chocolate Yorkies in the last 5 years.

Breed description and standards

The York Chocolate breed has a strong, elongated body with a proportional, feathered tail. The cats have short fur on their stomach and face, but long fur on the rest of their body.

Head and muzzle

The shape of its head resembles a triangle and is set on a long, flexible neck. The muzzle is small and has a characteristic convex forehead. The ears are large and erect, pointed at the tips, and set wide apart. York Chocolate cats have almond-shaped eyes, green, gold, or hazel.

Body, paws, tail

The body is slender and elongated, with strong muscles and good bone structure. The cat's limbs are muscular and slender, with long tufts of hair visible between the toes.

Coat and colors

The coat is medium-length, fine, and shiny, lying close to the body. The texture is soft and silky, with an undercoat that should not be fluffy. The coat is shorter on the shoulders and gradually becomes longer toward the back. The breed has not established a single color, so four variations are permitted:

• chocolate with white;
• pure chocolate;
• purple with white;
• pure purple.

In the standard breed, a single spot on the chest or belly is acceptable, while in the bicolor variety, white spots may appear on the chest, collar, muzzle, paws, and belly. Adult cats have a more intense coloring than young kittens.

York Chocolate Cat Slideshow:

Character

Maintaining the York Chocolate's temperament was a primary goal for York Chocolate breeders. The standard described the York Chocolate as a friendly and even-tempered breed, perfect for lap sitting. Intelligent, energetic, and curious, these cats make excellent companions, and their coloring suggests hunting ability.

York Chocolate cats have a gentle nature; they are affectionate and gentle, fairly tame animals that don't require much attention. They love to sit on their owners' laps or follow them around, hence their nickname, "companion." They are cheerful and active cats with a good disposition, and they love playing with toys and balls. They quickly warm up to strangers, but are cautious and reserved around them. Where they live isn't as important to them as having a loving and cherished person nearby. They get along well with children and other animals. Yorkies make wonderful companions and greatly enjoy human company.

Maintenance and care

If you decide to get a Chocolate Yorkie cat, you should be prepared for the fact that its long fur can leave marks on your carpets and sofas.

York Chocolate cats are low-maintenance. Their long fur requires occasional brushing to prevent tangles. If tangles have formed, try to gently unravel them or use scissors to cut them out – the fur will quickly grow back on its own. To avoid this, buy a soft brush and brush your pet's fur in the evening while watching your favorite shows.

This cat should be bathed as needed. Periodically, wipe its eyes with a swab soaked in warm water and remove wax from its ears. While the cat can handle grooming on its own, it really enjoys being groomed by its owners. The most important thing for them is to feel loved and cared for—that's the only way a Yorkie can be happy.

Nutritional Features

York Chocolate cats aren't picky eaters either, but the key is to provide them with a balanced diet. Supplement their food with vitamins and minerals, which are available at a specialist store, appropriate for their age. Young kittens should be fed four times a day.

Kittens have a high milk requirement when they're young. Three meals a day are sufficient for a York Chocolate cat as a young adult, but by 8-9 months of age, they can transition to an adult diet of two meals a day.

Make sure the bowl is always stocked with water, and change it at least once a day. Both raw and cooked meat can be included in the diet. Cats should also eat vegetable and grain soups, as well as chicken and turkey with giblets but without the skin.

Health and life expectancy

There are no known genetic diseases. With proper nutrition and care, no predisposition to disease has been observed in Yorkies. In extremely rare cases, cats of this breed may develop stomach problems.

On average, cats live about 14 years.

Choosing a kitten and price

In Russia, the CIS, and most European countries, you won't be able to buy a York Chocolate cat. The breed is considered quite rare even in its native United States. Finding a kitten from an American cattery is perhaps the only way to acquire a unique pet. Unfortunately, there's no information about catteries or specific prices online—or at least, there wasn't before. But time flies, and if you're interested in a York Chocolate cat, the price is now known.

A purebred Yorkie chocolate kitten purchased from a professional breeder will cost you between $150 and $500. The price is determined by factors such as:

• presence or absence of pedigree;
• kitten's gender;
• class and breed standard.

If you're buying a cat as a pet, you can be lenient about the breed's shortcomings. However, if you decide to show your pet or simply breed rare cats, you need to approach the purchase decision much more seriously. The price of a York Chocolate kitten, depending on the purpose of the purchase, may be higher or lower than average.

But when it comes to the question of where to buy a Yorkie chocolate cat, the answer lies in classifieds. Advertisements for chocolate cats have recently begun appearing there, which is where we were able to obtain the first price data.

We invite you to help resolve this issue. If you have up-to-date information on prices and locations for York Chocolate Chips, please leave your comments!

Photos

Photos of York Chocolate cats:

Read also:

• Ocicat: cats and male cats
• Himalayan cat
• American Shorthair cat