Some basic genetics on Gold Persians: Gold kittens naturally occur in some litters of Silvers. Contrary to popular belief, there is no "Gold" gene. In simple terms, Golds occur when nature drops the "inhibitor" gene (makes the black pigment move to the tips of a Silver Persian's fur). In other genetic scenarios, once the inhibitor gene is dropped, the kittens will be Black instead of Gold; that's what makes the Golden so intriguing.

There are many other things (called alleles) that factor into the making of a Golden, but that little bit will get you started.

To sum up all of the genetic mumbo-jumbo, a Silver that is heterozygous (not dominant) for the inhibitor gene can produce Golds and of course Golds produce Golds; but  a Gold can never produce a Silver.

Silver verses Gold: Silvers are white cats lightly tipped in black. Golds are golden cats lightly tipped in black; sort of.  Golds are actually "ticked" with black and genetic experts say that it is more accurate to say they are "smeared" with black - but it's easier to say "tipped" so that's what we usually say. I know, it gets complicated . . . If you want to breed cats that have color genetics that are easy to understand, breed solid black cats.

What to look for in Gold Persian kittens: The gold coloring always appears first on the face. Gold kittens are born with gold in front of their ears and on their nose while the rest of their body is black. Their faces and legs are heavy with tabby markings (stripes). Within a few weeks, the gold color spreads to the other areas of their face, and as the weeks pass, it spreads over their body while the tabby markings fade and the black disappears except for the tips of the fur and the tail.

Goldens come in a vast array of gold tones. Some are bright and reddish colored while others are a flat brown paper bag tone. My Golds are somewhere in between - resting into a deep, soft honey color.

Tidbits of Gold Persian history: In days gone by, Silver Persians were sometimes referred to as "Silver Bells" and Golds were Cockle Shells.  In those days, Golds were unwanted by breeders and always sold to pet homes, never being used for breeding. Many were never even registered since some breeders were ashamed to have them unexpectedly pop up in their Silver litters.

Now days, things are much different and the Golden Persian is highly sought after by breeders and pet enthusiasts alike. There are even a few breeders who specialize in Goldens, and many Golds go on to become Grand Champions. For me, it's always a sweet surprise. It's been a few years since we've had any "Cockle Shells" turn up and I was surprised to see so many of them this summer. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.