York chocolate

Overall description of the breed

The fortuitous birth of the breed dates back to 1985 in the state of New York. Janet Chiefari, owner of a semi-longhaired stray cat with a black and white bicolor coat named Blacky, encountered a surprising event. Blacky had a litter with her neighbor's completely black cat.

Among the kittens of this litter, a little female stood out distinctly due to her chocolate color. She was named Brownie. In turn, Brownie gave birth to a litter, where a male with semi-long, ebony-black fur came into the world and was named Minky. Together, Brownie and Minky produced two kittens, both displaying semi-long fur. The female had a bicolor coat, blending chocolate and white, while the male was enveloped in a uniform chocolate coat.

Janet Chiefari quickly realized that these two kittens were different from the others. Their fur was extraordinarily soft, and their color emitted a striking intensity. Driven by curiosity and the desire to deepen her understanding of feline genetics, she developed a breeding program that included her four cats. A feline expert confirmed the uniqueness of her cats and emphasized that they didn't resemble any other known breed. Encouraged by this confirmation, she decided to present them at exhibitions, where she was rewarded with several distinctions, albeit still in the "Stray Cats" category.

This is how the initial steps to obtain official recognition for the breed took shape. Janet Chiefari opted for a meaningful name for her cats: "York," as a homage to their place of origin, and "Chocolate," in reference to their distinctive hue. The breed standard was carefully developed and set in 1990. At this stage, the breed was still designated as "experimental." However, as early as 1992, full recognition of the Chocolate York as a distinct breed was established, and it was allowed to participate in feline exhibitions with the recognition it deserved.

The Chocolate York is a fairly large cat, weighing 6 to 8 kg for males and 4 to 5 kg for females. It features an almost round head with a slightly domed forehead. Its oval eyes are large and wide open, and they can be gold or green in color, except in the case of bicolor patterns, where blue or uneven eyes (one gold, the other green) are accepted.

The Chocolate York's long and slender legs give it an underlying power. The feet are round-shaped and rather small. Its bushy tail, well-furnished at the base, is sufficiently long.

The coat of the Chocolate York is soft and silky, dense but with little undercoat. It is of medium length and may be uneven at the shoulders, lengthening on the sides. A ruff is possible in winter. The accepted colors are chocolate and lilac, either solid or bicolor, with maximum intensity. The color blue is awaiting recognition. Mating with other Chocolate Yorks is the only allowed union.

In conclusion, the fortuitous birth of the breed in 1985 in New York, the emergence of the Brownie and Minky kittens, Janet Chiefari's exciting journey in breeding and exhibition, as well as the official recognition of the Chocolate York as a distinct breed, have marked the history of these exceptional felines. The fusion of their elegant appearance, unique coat pattern, and striking personality led to the birth of a breed full of character and charm.