Flame points

Question
I have a kitten that is creamy white except for the ears and tail which are gold.  He also has blue eyes.  The vet called him a Flame Point kitty, but I'm told there is another name for this coloration.  Two other kittens in the litter were grey and white tiger striped and blue grey tiger striped.

Answer
Hi Carma.  The other name for Flame Point is Red Point.  Most people call Flame/Red Points Siamese, while others call them Colorpoint Shorthairs, but these are just different terms for the same cat.  In the U.S., you will most commonly hear them referred to as Red Point Siamese, and in the U.K., they are more often called Flame Point Colorpoint Shorthairs, but all the terms are interchangeable (unless the cat is being shown for championship - each registry calls them by one name or the other).  However, if the cat has long hair and a broad, snub-nosed face, it is probably a Flame Point Himalayan.  And, of course, if the kitty doesn't appear to be a purebred, you just ad "mix" to the end - red point Siamese mix.

Hope that helps!

Jessica