The island of Kingdom of Bahrain is considered to be a semi-desert region that has also provided an isolated environment for many varied animals.

 

The origins of the Delmun cat is still being considered, but many experts feel that they are a naturally hybridized wild cat in their makeup.

 

What is known at present is that the tabby spotted variety when mated together will only produce spotted tabbies. Also, the spotted tabby gene is the dominant pattern in other mating.

 

 

The Delmun is a large and long bodied svelte cat. Well muscled with longer back legs and small rounded front paws. Males and females are the same size at maturity.

 

Head is small in comparison to body, wedged-shaped.. Nose is medium in length with a straight dip in profile. Chin is not prominent and relaxed, with a wedged face.

 

Ears are Medium to large, and very expressive. Kittens almost look like mini bats when very young. Ears are broad at base, oval tipped and always have two blush bands (top and bottom) unless they are white Delmun’s. Minimum hair on ears, and no tufts on ear tips.

 

Large eyes, almond shaped, and slanted toward ears. One tone colour eyes only.    

All eye colours are acceptable except blue. Only white Delmun’s exhibit this eyes colour.

No two toned eye colour has ever been observed in Delmun’s

 

Elegant long bodies with a well muscled but svelte appearance. Delmun’s have a long neck with a slight dip after shoulder blades and the general appearance of slightly loose skin.

 

Front feet are slightly webbed with a lot of pigmentation. They are small and oval in appearance. Delmuns look like they are on tip-toe. Back feet are hare-like and very long. Front legs are short and back legs are longer and muscular in the thigh region.

Tails are very long and thick at the base. All Delmun’s have blunt tips of tails

 

Coat is unusually plush, short, dense and crisp. Quality of coat is almost pelt like. 

 

Allowance must be made for entire males that have thicker necks and heavy jowls at maturity.

 

All Delmun’s are basically Spotted Tabbies and are classified in 6 groups

 

a) Spotted Tabby: Confirmation of exact pattern is still under way, but this colour appears to have specific marks and they are: Two necklaces, with two bars on left front leg, two bands on each ear and the general spotted tabby markings.  M shaped marking on the forehead. These definitive marks are on every spotted tabby in the Delmun breed.

 

b) White: These are born from spotted tabbies and appear mostly with some entire black siblings. The whites are always born with a small blue patch behind one ear that disappears in adulthood. Once mature, the nose, and tip of ears exhibit a blue blush. They are usually larger then all other Delmun’s. When mated to an spotted tabby they throw full spotted tabbies and tabby and whites.

 

c) Tabby and White: Most tabby and whites have van pattern on ears and tail and throw full tabbies, but never full whites.

 

d) Black: The blackest are really spotted tabbies with excess melanism. In the bright sun, they may exhibit spots and look very dark brown. They are mostly in litters with whites or only in spotted tabby to spotted tabby matings.

 

e) Black and White: These Delmun’s have a Turkish van pattern on ears and tail. They have never been seen with spotting in black areas of their coats.

 

f) Tabby Tortie: a very rare sight, but appears every now and then with no white at all on the body. It is here that we get the ginger spotted cats.

 

 

They are one owner cats usually, and very quit unless taught otherwise. They have weak meows and mostly chatter when hungry. A true hunter and can accomplish many tricks when taught. Not an affectionate cat, but will always be at your side.