The 'D' Word

Dropcoat or dropped coat is when a section or sections of a cavies hair falls out and then regrows. This is an issue because you cannot show a cavy with chunks of hair missing or drastically shorter than the rest of the coat. A cavy who has dropped its coat does not belong on the show table. Furthermore, it should not be bred with either. Whilst it is not as straightforward as being simply a dominant or recessive gene it is a genetic condition which will be passed on through the line of breeding.

All the Colours of the Rainbow

Each variety of cavy is remarkable for the features of its breed. These 'focal points' are the aspects that breeders strive not only to maintain but to improve with each generation that is born. One notable feature of any cavy, is coat colour. The importance of colour, in terms of showing and breeding varies depending on the breed in question.