The YORK CHOCOLATE (or simply York) is an uncommon and relatively recent breed of show cat, with a long, fluffy coat and a tapered tail and most of them are mostly or entirely chocolate brown. The breed was named after New York state, where it was established in 1983. It was created by colour selectin domestic long haired cats of mixed ancestry. The breed it not widely recognised by cat registries.
The breed was created by Janet Chiefari in 1983 (unreliable source). The father was a black long haired cat and the mother was a long haired black and white cat. Their Siamese ancestors created the brown colouring in one kitten: Brownie. Brownie had a kitten that subsequent summer with a black long haired form. There were two kittens in the litter: a chocolate male and a white and chocolate female. Upon noticing similarities in coat and body types, Chiefari began her own breeding programme.
The breed is recognised under the shorter name York by the recently founded World Cat Federation based in Germany, and with some differences from previously published standards, most of which seem to have been lost. In March, 1990, the Cat Fancier's Federation of the New England area of the US recognised the York chocolates as an "experimental" cat breed, and allegedly gave it championship status within the group in March, 1992, but publishes no breed standard or any other information about the breed today. It was supposedly granted champion status by the Canadian Cat Association in March, 1995, as well but while the CCA published a breed standard in 1995, as of March, 2013, the organisation no longer advertises it, and it includes outdated wording.
The York is a medium to large cat with a rounded heat and a moderately long muzle. They have large almond shaped eyes that are either gold or green. Their bodies are slender and midway betwen the Oriental and foreign types, with long necks. The have full taped tails. tufted feet and sometimes ruffs. The coat is semi-longhaired and very fine. (There seem to be a variety of acceptable colours allowed with the kittens being much lighter with tabby "ghost" markings and tipping being acceptable in kittens).
Wikipedia states that this article needs additional citations for verification. I wonder if anyone has actually heard of the York Chocolate or even just the York? I certainly haven't but they look to be rather nice cats.
