There is a mystery about the Pinegrove
line as there are two possibilities for
where the Chocolate colour comes from.
The Pinegrove Chocolate gene may come
from a breeding of Ceianda Djehuti, a
Usual Abyssinian, and Braeside Candytuft,
a brown tortie Burmese that carried
Chocolate. This is an interesting story
that illustrates the desperate times for Aby
breeders in the late 1970s when Feline
Leukaemia Virus was rife.
As veterinary researchers worked to find
a vaccine for this deadly infectious
disease – a vaccine which we now take
for granted – cats across the UK & |
|
mainland Europe were dying. Abyssinians
were exceptionally badly affected.
The gene pool for Abys was small and it
appears that some popular studs must have been infected with Feline Leukaemia.
Kittens were spontaneously aborted, born
dead, or born only to die after a few days.
It was a heart-breaking time for breeders.
My curiosity in the Braeside Candytuft
outcross came about because a litter
brother and sister from this breeding
were bred together and produced a
chocolate kitten.
|
