Ceylon

Black / blue, red, tortoiseshell .
Their principle colour is ashy grey.

Their coat is ticked, which means that their individual hairs are striped with alternating light and dark coloured bands. 
Ceylons have distinctive tabby features on their foreheads.

Tabby

Short, almost no undercoat

Yellow or green

Ceylons are medium sized, semi-cobby cats, who interestingly have slightly shorter front legs than its hind legs. One of the main characteristics of this breed is the pronounced angle formed by their real legs. Ceylons have a thin but muscular frame. They have reasonably round heads that are small compared to their bodies, and short noses. They have big eyes, and medium to large ears with rounded tips.

These cats can be both active and calm. They are good hunters in their natural environment due to their agility but they also know how to be affectionate with their owners, and often demand their presence and attention. Ceylons are sociable cats and can easily adapt to life inside. However there are differences in temperament depending on the individual.

Both sociable and playful with humans, this cat is generally cuddly. Letting the Ceylon initiate contact is always a good idea though.

The playful nature of this cat is one of the key characteristics of this breed. Therefore they need daily play sessions!

Although they can be very active, these Sri Lankan cats do also need some recovery time during which they need some peace and quiet, and their owners must respect their sometimes independent nature.

These cats know exactly how to meet their own needs, but the presence and availability of their owners are just as important as their independence.

In general the Sri Lankan cat is extremely sociable. However, there are differences in temperament between individuals.

The Ceylon is independent, in the sense that they will have their own habits and routines. However, these cats loves attention and prefers human presence. They will not enjoy being left alone for long periods and would be most suitable for someone who works from home or has no full time employment.

These Sri Lankan cats can be very chatty to make sure they get what they want!

Their playful nature makes them very active. If these cats are to live indoors, a cat tree is recommended, as well as daily play sessions.
Ceylon cats are also very good hunters, because of their island origins: where prior to being domesticated, they had to feed themselves on small rodents.

Their love for tracking prey can lead them to roam far from home. If Ceylons are given outside access it is a good idea to create a secure space for them, particularly if you live near busy roads.

They are not known to be a particularly greedy breed, which makes maintaining a balanced diet more feasible.

Very sociable in nature, the Sri-Lankan cat adapts very well to feline friends. However it is important to ensure that each cat has their own space.

Very sociable in nature, Ceylons are known to adapt easily to their environments, including in the presence of dogs. However, this does depend on the individual cat.

Due to their sociable nature, they easily adapt to children's games, as long as the child is respectful towards them. However, this does depend on the individual cat.

Above all Ceylons would love the availability and attention that an elderly person would be able to give it, provided that they’re happy to regularly play with their cats!

Ceylon’s short hair and almost complete lack of an undercoat means they don’t leave their hair everywhere!

On average the Ceylon lives for 14 to 16 years.

Due to their Sri Lankan origins, these cats are more adapted to warm weather than cold weather.

Due to their very active nature Ceylons generally burn a lot of energy. These cats don’t tend to be overweight.

Ceylons are robust cats and there are no illnesses particular to the breed. However, they can develop the same common illnesses as domestic cats. If they have external access, it is a good idea to vaccinate them against infectious diseases such as Coryza, Leucosis, Rabies (in countries where rabies is present) and Typhus. Also, they can be prone to periodontal diseases (gingivitis and tartar) and therefore dental care is highly recommended.

No cross breeding is allowed.

In 1984, the Director of the Colombo Zoo authorised Veterinary Doctor Paolo Pellegatta to return to Milan (Italy) with 6 Ceylon cats. He started a breeding programme with them. However, the breed remains quite unknown and it is extremely rare to meet a Ceylon!