York Chocolate
The York Chocolate is a rare semi-longhaired domestic cat breed developed in New York in the 1980s from farm cats carrying rich brown coloration. Early cats were selected for chocolate, lavender, and sometimes white-marked coats, with a medium-to-large body, plumed tail, and soft, glossy fur. The breed had limited recognition in smaller associations and has little presence in major registries today, so many cats advertised under the name are more accurately chocolate or brown domestic longhairs.
Anyone seeking a York Chocolate should expect to verify records carefully and may find few active breeders, if any, in a given region. Practical care is similar to other semi-longhaired cats: comb enough to prevent tangles behind the ears, under the legs, and in the tail, and watch weight because the sturdy frame can hide extra pounds. Breeding programs, where they exist, need broad health attention rather than selection for color alone, since the surviving population is likely small.
