By Pam Hill

I considered writing an article about silver exotics for some time. I wondered, however, would anyone be interested? It isn't like there are a lot of people working with this color in exotics, which has always amazed me. I think that the exotic coat length lends itself perfectly to the shaded patterns. The silver persian coat is tipped, but not nearly as visibly as in the exotic coat, which resembles a chinchilla pelt. With the white hair shaft standing, the tips present an entirely different appearance. Also, the mascara, black lips and paw pads stand out even more on the exotics. The Silvers started this breed, with the first silver exotic, "Silver Secret of Gay-O", granding back in 1971. After 1977, which saw 2 silver exotic grands, a dry spell occurred. Then the Deutschmanns in Germany, 'Pahlewi" cattery, granded Int. GRC Pahlewi's Exoti Mighty in 1983-84. Several U.S. Silver exotics granded in the years since, but the are definitely a minoritv color. Many judges confess to never seeing one. Only once in my IO years of showing has there been a silver exotic in the ring to compete with an Echo Hill cat, that was not my breeding.