The Short-haired Cat, otherwise known as the European or Western Cat, is the one derived from the European Wildcat, with an intermixture of the blood of the Egyptian Cat. Whatever may have been its original form - which was probably simply a modification of the form of the Wildcat - and its color - which undoubtedly at first was the same as the grayish coat of the Wildcat - it has changed but little except as to a modification of size and a change of color, which is no more odd than the alterations of color of any other animal removed from its natural surroundings and living in civilization. The varieties we make of the Short-haired Cat of to-day are really somewhat arbitrary, and based upon color; but we do find that certain deviations of conformation correspond with certain varieties of color; and it is a fact that by selection of the breeding of like and like, the probability is that the progeny will be like the parent; and yet this is not a fixed fact. We have curious and inexplicable variations of color, especially in the breeding of the cat.

One of the most curious of these is exemplified in the Tortoise-shell. It is easy to obtain a beautifully marked female Tortoise-shell; it is difficult to find a good male Tortoise-shell; yet, having found both, and having bred them, while the young females may all turn out good Tortoise-shells, the average male will be a red or yellow Tabby. Careful selection and breeding in cats has been an object of attention only for a comparatively few years. It is but a matter of less than half a century since cat shows have been in vogue, and that much attention has been paid to these animals; and undoubtedly in a few years, when we pay the same attention to the breeding of our cats which we have to that of the thoroughbred horse and all our sporting-dogs, we will obtain more definite and satisfactory results.

The exhibit division and classification of the varieties of cats - which, as I have just said, is based principally on color - will be found in the Appendix.

It will be seen that in the Prize List of the National Cat Show (vide Appendix) the classification of color is not quite so extended; and justly so, as it will require a certain amount of time and more systematic breeding to divide the classes of cats more rigidly. The general divisions will now be given in detail, with a short outline of each variety, and then a resume of the character or qualities which the animal should present as to the conformation and shape of its head, the color of its eyes, the form and feathering of its ears, the conformation of its body, with the set of the neck and the shape and carriage of the tail, the color and quality of its coat, and the character which is wanted in the appendages of the extremities.