Are these terms interchangeable? If a raggie is genetically a high mitted (S2S2) is this phenotypically different from a true Bicolour (S4s)? Is there a difference in the shape of the "V" on their face? How do they compare on the show bench? Are mid-high and van Bicolours less desirable (and do they have their own classes in a show?) Just trying to get my head around it
Back when DNA testing for white wasn't available I would think judging was based purely on what the cat looked like. Now we can test for white and I was wondering how that impacted the show ring (if at all). I know breeders try not to mate a bicolour x bicolour or even a bicolour x mitted to control the white. I'm interested to know whether a true bicolour has any real advantages over say an S4S2 or S4S4.
Dear Lord Jo, I'm glad that you and the other breeders know what you're talking about!!
I found this site Jo maybe this will help.
all tho I have no idea like kitty,,,, what your talking about
but it sounds interesting.
http://www.rfwclub.org/Gwsf.htm
There is no classes for high whites, mid high whites or high mitted. If they are marked like a true bicolour then they can be shown in that class. High whites/vans generally aren't though.
You might find this link helpful -
http://www.ragsrus.info/includes/appeara...arance.htm
Hehe I know Kitty it took me a while to fully understand! Thanks for the links guys its made it more clear
At last, I think I understand, thanks for the links, this has made it so much clearer.
It looks like my new kitten is more like a Mid-high white blue lynx bicolour!
There are no DNA tests for the White Spotting Genes (WSGs). They are identified by phenotype (appearance) of the cat, his parents and the kittens he produces.
Even some Ragdoll sites make it more difficult to understand by confusing the "bicolor" generally in the cat fancy and the Ragdoll bicolor pattern. In general, a bicolor just means a cat with white. The Persian is a "with white" breed and they only breed for the white being pleasing rather than as a well defined pattern like the Ragdoll. So, when reading one must pay attention to whether bicolor means "with white" or it means the defined Ragdoll white pattern - a subset of the "with white" group. (Sometimes it is obvious the author is confused about it.) So, in Ragdolls, mid high whites and vans are not "bicolors" if one means the Ragdoll bicolor pattern, any more than they are Ragdoll mitteds. ; ) They are bicolors if one means a cat "with white."
The Ragdoll bicolor pattern is based on the mitted level (2) WSG. When the cat has two (or a total level 4 of white), then the white pattern tends to create an inverted V on the face that is inside the outer edges of the eyes and makes the front legs white. For this reason, larger Vs and cats with color down the front legs (sometimes becoming "mitted bicolors") are outside the breed standard for bicolors. Genetic mid high whites (WSG count of 6) and vans (WSG count of 8) produce "too much" white for the Ragdoll bicolor pattern.
The "true bicolor" WSG is a level four itself and one copy will create exactly the same bicolor pattern as two mitted level WSGs - also a level four of white.
Thanks Jan! (sorry I thought we could test for the white gene... oops!) Aaaaah so a true bicolour is a level 4 - either S2S2 or S4s! Do some judges at shows also interpret the term "bicolour" differently - based on their understanding of "with white" and the Ragdoll standard?
Do not confuse a "true bicolor" meaning an appropriately marked bicolor and the "true bicolor" gene, which is the confusing name given to a level 4 WSG. Both so called high mitted (a cat having two mitted WSGs) bicolors and true (cats having one "true bicolor" WSG) bicolors are judged the same and should look alike.
I'll try not to get confused Jan
Thanks for all the info.