Felis catus
Persian Chinchilla
Featured photopersian-chinchilla.jpgThe Persian Chinchilla (also called the Chinchilla Longhair or Silver Persian) is a GCCF-recognized variety of the Persian family defined by its white coat tipped with black, vivid emerald-green eyes, and brick-red nose leather. First shown at Crystal Palace in 1894, the Chinchilla developed as a distinct show type within the Persian breed. GCCF registers the Chinchilla Longhair as a separate breed from the Persian; CFA and TICA classify it within the Persian breed in the shaded/smoke color division.
Quick facts
- Origin country
- United Kingdom
- Origin period
- First exhibited Crystal Palace 1894; GCCF separate breed recognition
- Coat type
- Long
- Coat colors
- Chinchilla (white undercoat with black tipping on guard hairs), Golden chinchilla (warm gold undercoat with black or brown tipping)
- Size category
- Large
- Average lifespan
- 12-16 years
- Recognition
- CFA 1914 · GCCF 1894
Origin
The Chinchilla Persian was developed in the UK in the 1880s from silver-tipped longhaired cats. The founding queen Silver Lambkin, owned by Mrs. Vallence, was exhibited at Crystal Palace in 1894 and attracted widespread interest. Breeders developed the pale, sparkling silver coat by selecting for the lightest possible tipping, producing a coat that appears almost pure white with a subtle sparkle from the black-tipped guard hairs. GCCF formalized the Chinchilla as a separate breed registration. CFA recognized the type within the Persian standard from approximately 1914.
GCCF Classification vs International
The GCCF registers the Chinchilla Longhair as a breed distinct from the Persian, reflecting an early classification decision maintained by UK tradition. CFA, TICA, FIFe, and most international registries classify the same type as a color division within the Persian standard (shaded/smoke/chinchilla division). This creates a registry asymmetry: the same cat can be registered as a Chinchilla Longhair in the UK (GCCF) and as a Persian Silver Chinchilla under CFA. Show competition categories reflect this difference accordingly.
Standard
The Chinchilla standard (whether as a separate breed or Persian variety) describes a large, cobby, flat-faced Persian-type cat. In the GCCF standard, the face type may be slightly less extreme than the modern show Persian. The coat is long, full, and flowing with a heavy ruff and frill. The defining feature is the tipping: only the very tips of the guard hairs carry black pigment against a pure-white undercoat, giving an overall impression of pure white with a silver sparkle. Eye color is vivid emerald or blue-green. Nose leather is brick red, which contrasts with the white coat and is one of the breed's most recognizable features.
Sources & further reading (2)
- gccf-registry — accessed 2026-05-07
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-07
Frequently asked questions
Is the Chinchilla Persian a separate breed or a color of Persian?
It depends on the registry. GCCF (UK) registers the Chinchilla Longhair as a distinct breed separate from the Persian. CFA, TICA, FIFe, and most international registries classify the same type as a color division within the Persian standard. The breeding population and physical type are the same; only the registration category differs between registries.
Why do Chinchilla Persians have green eyes?
The silver inhibitor gene that produces the tipped, nearly-white coat also influences eye pigmentation. In silver-series cats carrying the inhibitor gene alongside dark tipping, the eyes typically develop vivid emerald or blue-green color rather than the copper or gold eyes standard in most Persian color classes. This green eye color is genetically linked to the silver coat and is a required trait in the Chinchilla standard.
What is the Golden Chinchilla?
The Golden Chinchilla (or Golden Persian) is a variant in which the undercoat is warm apricot-gold rather than white, with the guard-hair tips still black or dark brown. The golden color is produced by the chinchilla (inhibitor) gene interacting with red-series genetics. Golden cats have green eyes, like silver Chinchillas, and are recognized in both the GCCF Chinchilla Longhair standard and the CFA Persian standard.
