Korat

Korat Cat Breed Introduction

The Korat is another ancient breed of cat from the Far East, this time from Thailand, where the breed is also called the Si-Sawat.

Korat Behavior/Personality

Source: Cat Fanciers Association's breed profile

Korats are generally thought to be warm and cuddly, active but gentle.

Korat Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the Korat breed based on the Cat Fanciers Association's breed standard.

• Head: heartshaped
• Ears: set high on head, large, with a rounded tip and large flare at base,
• Eyes: large
• Body: Broad chested , muscular
• Legs: well-proportioned to body, front legs slightly shorter than back legs
• Paws: oval, Toes: five in front and four behind
• Tail: medium in length, tapering to a rounded tip
• Coat: short in length, glossy and fine

Korat History

Source: Cat Fanciers Association's breed profile

The oldest known picture of one of a Korat cat dates to the Ayudhya Period (1350-1767). The picture is in The Cat-Book Poems in the National Library at Bangkok. Why is the breed named "Korat?" It was named by a king for the province from which the cat is said to have originated. King Rama V (1869-1910) commissioned Somdej Phra Buddhacharn Buddhasarmahathera, a monk, to create a new copy of The Cat-Book Poems. King Rama admired the picture of the Korat cat, and named the cat for the province when told where it was from.

Today in Thailand, Korats are called Si-Sawat. The first Korats known to have been brought to the United States were Nara and Darra, who came in 1959.

Javanese

Javanese Cat Breed Introduction

The Javanese cat breed was one of numerous cat breeds developed in the United States in the mid-twentieth century; it is essentially a colorpoint shorthair offshoot of the Balinese breed, which in turn was an offshoot of the Siamese breed.

Javanese Behavior/Personality

Source: Cat Fanciers Association's breed profile

Javanese cats are generally considered easy to care for, and friendly. They often seem to enjoy using their paws as hands, opening doors, quite literally-at least, for cabinet doors.

Javanese Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the Javanese breed based on the Cat Fanciers Association's breed standard.

• Head: long, tapered wedge, medium size
• Ears: large, pointed, wide at base
• Eyes: almond shaped, medium size
• Body: medium size, long
• Legs: long, slim, hind legs longer than the forelegs
• Paws: small, oval, Toes: five in front and four behind
• Tail: long, thin, tapered to a fine point
• Coat: colorpoint shorthair

Javanese History

Source: Cat Fanciers Association's breed profile

The history of the Javanese cat breed is fairly straightforward. The breed is one of the relatively new cat breeds to appear toward the middle of the twentieth century, developed by cat fanciers. The Javanese breed is an offshoot from the Balinese breed, and was named for Java, the island next over from Bali in Indonesia. The Balinese, in turn, was an offshoot from the Siamese cat breed.

The Javanese is essentially a colorpoint shorthair Balinese. Colorpoint shorthair kittens had always been born to Balinese litters, but since they did not fit the Balinese breed standard, they were not allowed to compete in shows. Breeders who liked the colorpoint shorthair kittens petitioned the cat fancier organizations for recognition of the cats as a new breed, finally succeeding in the 1980s, when the new breed was named Javanese.

Japanese Bobtail Cat

in tradisional art

Three Japanese Maneki-neko cat figurines. The first is a Japanese bobtail cat - the traditional cat portrayed with Maneki-neko figures. The second one is a Tsushima cat, and the third is an Iriomote cat, a rare Japanese wild cat.

Japanese Bobtail Cat Breed Introduction

The Japanese Bobtail cat breed is the quintessentially Japanese cat breed and one of the oldest breeds of cat on earth. Japanese Bobtails are immortalized in the Japanese statues of the cat with one paw raised, gracing the entrances of innumerable Japanese businesses.

Japanese Bobtail Behavior/Personality

Source: Cat Fanciers Association's breed profile

Japanese Bobtails are widely considered active and intelligent. They also actively seek out the company of human beings. Fun fact: they tend to like to carry things in their mouths. No divas, they are generally thought to travel well and get along well with children, dogs, and other animals.

Japanese Bobtail Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the Japanese Bobtail breed based on the Cat Fanciers Association's breed standard.

• Head: equilateral triangle with gentle curving lines
• Ears: large, upright, set wide apart
• Eyes: large, oval
• Body: medium in length, long and lean
• Legs: straight, high, hind legs longer than the forelegs
• Paws: oval, Toes: five in front and four behind
• Tail: short
• Coat: Shorthair: medium length, soft, silky. Longhair: medium-long to long, soft, silky, noticeable undercoat

Japanese Bobtail History

Source: Wikipedia

The Japanese Bobtail is one of the oldest breeds of cat in the world. It is also the quintessentially Japanese cat breed. In fact, if you've ever been to a Japanese restaurant, you've probably seen these cats without realizing it. The Japanese Bobtail is the kind of cat represented in the statues of a cat sitting with one paw raised, placed near the entrances of many Japanese businesses. These statues are called maneki-neko and are good luck charms.

The history of Japanese Bobtails closely parallels the history of cats in Japan. The first cats came to Japan at least 1000 years ago, which is when the first written evidence of cats in Japan dates from. According to that written evidence, the first cats in Japan came from China or Korea.

The history of cats in Japan was forever altered by a 1602 decree that all cats be set free, in order to exterminate rodents that were hurting the silk worms. Japanese Bobcats became feral street urchins and country cats.

Highlander Cat

The Highlander is the complete package, beautiful, domestic yet it has a distinctly different and wild look, it is loving, entertaining, physically sound, and is so much fun.

Highlander Behavior/Personality

This is a very adaptable and loving breed that is equally happy in a very active or a very quite home. They get along well with children and other pets.

Highlander Breed Standard/Physical Description

What first draws your attention to the Highlander is its incredible ears. Standing tall, open, and with a slight backwards flare, they bring to mind the large tufted ears of the Canadian Lynx. The dominant curl gene in the Highlander breed makes the ears more noticeable and exotic in appearance. The Highlander's ears have more of a vertical crimp than a horizontal one. Having this vertical crimp makes the ears stand tall and open. The ears should not fold back into a tight curl. This breed's chin and muzzle are also very noticeable. The muzzle, long and squared-off with large whisker pads and resting on top of a well-defined deep chin, evokes the image of a wild cat.

This breed has substantial body structure and is a large cat. Watching a Highlander move is pure beauty as their long hind legs flex and the heavy, pronounced muscles ripple between their shoulder blades, reminiscent of the wild cat. The Highlander's feet are most impressive; they are large with prominent knuckles, built for the stamina for which the Highlander is known, and some have extra toes (polydactyl) that make the feet appear even larger.

Anchored on the muscular hips of the Highlander is a natural short tail. Ranging in length from 1 inch to hock length, it should be thick and preferably articulated. Though a straight tail is preferred, sometimes slight twists and kinks may be detected. Many times there will also be a noticeable fat pad at the end of the tail.

Highlander History

The Highlander breed, although new, has a deep-rooted foundation. In 2006, a group of dedicated, responsible breeders decided to protect and reinforce the value and worthiness they saw in the cats they were breeding.

The foundation of the Highlander breed rests specifically on the Highland Lynx, a breed that is currently unaccepted by any recognized professional organization. With their curled ears, short tails, and sometimes polydactyl feet, these cats have captivated the hearts of people nation wide. Highland Lynx have been selectively bred with domestic short hairs to maintain and, in some cases improve, the viability of the breed.

Havana Brown Cat

While many cat breeds are as precious as they can be, some cat breeds are more like the workhorses of the cat fancy. The Havana Brown breed not only has a simple brown coat; these cats are so eager to please they are almost dog-like-in a nice, thoroughly cat-like way, of course.

Havana Brown Behavior/Personality

Source: "The Havana Brown: The Cat in a Not So Plain Brown Wrapper," by Norma Placchi

The Havana Brown breed is thought of as being very intelligent. That is, they are generally more easily trained to fetch than other cats and respond well to praise. Most Havana Browns make excellent show cats.

Havana Brown Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the Havana Brown breed based on the Cat Fanciers Association's breed standard.

• Head: head is longer than it is wide when viewed from above, narrow muzzle
• Ears: large, round-tipped
• Eyes: oval in shape, medium sized, set wide apart
• Body: medium in length, firm and muscular
• Legs: straight, high
• Paws: oval, Toes: five in front and four behind
• Tail: medium in length and in proportion to the body
• Coat: short to medium in length, smooth

Havana Brown History

Source: "The Havana Brown: The Cat in a Not So Plain Brown Wrapper," by Norma Placchi

Self-brown cats were documented in cat shows in Europe as early as the 1890s. These self-brown cats went under names such as "Swiss Mountain Cat." They apparently may have fallen out of favor in the early twentieth century, as self-brown cats such as these did not appear again in cat shows until after World War II.

Exotic Shorthair Cat

The Exotic Shorthair cat breed, also simply known as the Exotic cat breed, is an offshoot of the Persian cat breed. The first Exotic Shorthairs were the result of interbreeding between Persians and American Shorthairs. With the denser, shorter coat, the Exotic Shorthair breed is less of a grooming challenge than the Persian, hence the nickname, "Persians for lazy people."

Exotic Shorthair Behavior/Personality

Source: Wikipedia

The Exotic Shorthair breed is generally known for a gentle and calm personality. Known as quiet cats who rarely meow, Exotic Shorthairs tend to show more affection than most breeds. They are also known to make excellent lap cats.

Exotic Shorthair Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the Exotic Shorthair breed based on the Cat Fanciers Association's breed standard.

• Head: round, large
• Ears: small, round tipped, set far apart
• Eyes: large, round
• Body: Large or medium in size
• Legs: short, thick, and strong
• Paws: large, round
• Tail: short, proportion in length
• Coat: dense, soft, medium in length

Exotic Shorthair History

Source: Wikipedia

In around 1960, breeders crossed the American Shorthair with the Persian in the United States, creating shorthaired Persians. The new breed of shorthair Persians was called the Exotic Shorthair breed and recognized by the C.F.A in 1966. Since 1987, the only allowable outcross breed has been the Persian. The F.I.Fe. recognized the Exotic Shorthair in 1986. Because they have nearly identical bodies to the Persians, but a thick, dense short coat, they have come to be known as "Persian cats for lazy people"--i.e., people who don't want quite the grooming challenge of the traditional Persian cat's coat.

European Shorthair Cat

It is the purest of all breeds, replicating its characteristics naturally without any help from breeders. Each color is recognized as its own breed because of the different genes that go into producing each. The European Shorthair gave us the term "tabby," in a round-about fashion. Weavers in Iraq duplicated the colors and patterns of the cat's coat in the silks they exported to Europe, dubbing the fabrics with the name.

European Shorthair Behavior/Personality

With such a natural, direct ancestry and with a large proportion of all European Shorthairs being born outside of controlled breeding situations, individual cats vary widely in temperament. However, the breed is generally territorial and combative toward other cats, but affectionate with owners that show it respect and care. Females, particularly, attach to the whole family. All individuals seem to genuinely enjoy new people. It's an extremely active cat, with a definite need to roam large, open spaces. It is also an able mouser, with an almost manic desire for the activity.

These breeds, if given the slightest opportunities, will reproduce more frequently than any other breeds. They will also produce much larger litters.

European Shorthair Breed Standard/Physical Description

There are many breeds of the European Shorthair: Black, which is extremely widespread and has a glossy black coat with yellow, orange, or copper eyes; White, with snow white coat with yellow or copper eyes; Albino, with white coat with light blue eyes and pupils that reflect red; Cream, which is extremely rare and has a uniform cream coat with copper or hazel eyes. Red, with red-brown coat with orange eyes; Gray, with gray coat with orange or copper eyes; Tabby, tiger-striped; Marbled, see Classic Tabby pattern under American Shorthair; Tortie, with black, red, and cream coat with copper, orange, or hazel eyes; Tortie-with-White, with black, red, and cream coat with white on face and chest, and orange, amber, or copper eyes; Blue-Cream, with blue and cream coat with orange, yellow, or copper eyes; Black-and-White Bicolor; White-and-Blue Bicolor; Orange-and-White Bicolor; and Cream-and-White Bicolor.

The fur is short, thick, fine textured, and sometimes bristly. The body is extremely muscular and sturdy, with similar legs and medium, round paws. The head is round with a short nose, fully developed cheeks, large, round eyes, and relatively small, pointed ears. Regular brushing and stroking with a gloved hand will maintain the coat. It is a very long-lived cat.

European Shorthair History

The common house cat for millions of Europeans over many generations, the European Shorthair probably descended from the African Wild cat brought north by the Romans some 2,000 years ago, or by the native European Wild Cat. The widespread breed goes by many localized names, including Cyprus Cat, Marbled Cat, and Tiger Cat.

European Burmese Cat

The European Burmese cat has a coat that is short and fine. There is almost no undercoat and the texture is satiny. The large and alert eyes are set apart with a slight slant toward the nose. The eyes are a bright yellow to amber. The medium-sized ears are wide at the base and are set apart with a small forward tilt. The head is somewhat rounded with wide cheekbones and a strong chin. The body is medium in size and length. The chest is strong and the body may be hard and muscular. The European Burmese cats may be heavier than they appear. The legs are slender and the tail length is medium.

The European Burmese is a medium-sized shorthaired cat. These cats are extremely smart. loving and devoted. The European Burmese is an elegant cat that has good bone structure. The eyes are expressive with a sweet facial expression. These cats love people and make great companions. They do prefer the company of other animal. but can adjust to being the only pet.

European Burmese History:
The European Burmese, sometimes known as the foreign Burmese, was developed in the 1960s by British breeders who imported Burmese cats to England and then crossed them with red-point Siamese and British Shorthairs in an attempt to expand the gene pool. By introducing the gene for red, they expanded the number of coat colors in the breed. The European Burmese was recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) in 1994. Now, it’s also recognized by the Canadian Cat Association (CCA), Cat Fanciers Federation (CFF), Traditional Cat Association (TCA) and United Feline Organization (UFO). The CCA and CFF register it as the Foreign Burmese.

Egyptian Mau Cat

The Egyptian Mau cat breed is an ancient, rare breed of cat known for the distinctive spotted coat as well as being the fastest running housecat breed.

Egyptian Mau Behavior/Personality

Source: Wikipedia

The most striking behavioral features of Egyptian Maus are their great running speed, and their voices: they have been said to chirp, sing, and chortle. They are also said to strongly prefer warm temperatures.

Egyptian Mau Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the Egyptian Mau breed based on information in Wikipedia

The Egyptian Mau cat breed is the only spotted-fur officially recognized cat breed to have developed in the wild rather than due to selective breeding. The spots extend beneath the fur: shaved cats also have spots on their skin. They are also the fastest of the housecat breeds; the fastest Maus have been clocked at 36 miles/hour (this is also the speed at which giraffes run!). Their hind legs are longer than their forelegs, which is largely the reason for their impressive speed. Their lower abdomens have a loose skin flap which also allows them to run faster, since it permits a longer stride.

There are five fur coat colors for Egyptian Maus: silver, smoke, bronze, blue, and black. The last two colors are not considered "show" colors, though cats with these coats may still breed. Adult Maus all have green eyes.

Egyptian Mau History

Source: Wikipedia

Egyptian Maus are arguably the oldest cat breed, going back thousands of years in Egypt, where they roamed feral for most of that time. Some people speculate that Egyptian Maus were the ancestors of modern housecats. Today, purebred Maus are relatively rare; there may only be 3,000 of them anywhere on earth. In the 1980s, Egyptian Maus were one of the cat breeds included in the breeding program for the new cat breed, the American Keuda.

Devon Rex Cat

The members of the Devon Rex cat breed are curly-furred, generally playful cats, with distinctive, large ears.

Devon Rex Behavior/Personality

Source: Wikipedia

People often say that Devon Rex cats are quite playful, even to the point of being mischievous. These cats also have a propensity for jumping quite high.

Note that despite their short fur coats, Deven Rexes are not quite hypoallergenic, since they do produce dander and do shed (though perhaps not in the same quantities as other cats).

Devon Rex Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the Devon Rex breed based on information in Wikipedia.

Devons are often called "pixie cats," but that's not because of their small size. Rather it's because of how unique they look: their ears are very large, and set low on their broad heads. They also have large eyes and slightly upward-pointing noses. They are also slim and light in body. Another name for these unusual-looking cats is "alien cats."

Note that though the Devon Rex cat breed may resemble the Cornish Rex and German Rex breeds, the gene that produces the "rexed" or curled fur is different in each breed. Therefore, these different breeds of cats cannot be bred together, since they will not produce the same curled fur if interbred.

Devon Rex History

Source: "Elfin Magic...the Devon Rex" by Terri Jorgensen

The first Devon Rex cat was a male named Kirlee, born in Buckfastleigh, Devon, England, in an area near an abandoned tin mine, and kept by a woman named Beryl Cox. Kirlee was taken into the breeding program of another curly-furred breed, the Cornish Rex cat breed. However, after several attempts there were no curly-furred kittens: the gene responsible for curling in Kirlee was apparently different from the relevant gene in the Cornish Rexes. The breeders decided to start a new breed of curly Rexes, the Devon Rex. In 1968, a North American breeding program for Devon Rexes was established and the breed was fully established in North America by 1980. The breed has been outcrossed with the American Shorthair and British Shorthair, to avoid several horrible genetic defects which appeared in the 1970s as a result of severe inbreeding.

Cymric Cat

A long-haired version of the Manx, the Cymric first appeared in Canada in the 1960s in litters of strictly pedigreed cats that had no long-haired animals in their ancestry. The new cats were bred together, and the new breed held true.

Cymric Behavior/Personality

Cymrics are affectionate, intelligent cats, happiest when they are doing something. They have good mousing ability and enjoy time outdoors, but they are very comfortable in the home as well. They get along well with other animals, including dogs.

Cymric Breed Standard/Physical Description

All colors and patterns are acceptable in the Cymric, which has a medium to long coat with a thick undercoat and shiny, smooth top hairs. The body has a stocky, muscular build. In the true breed standard the end of the thumb should fit into the hollow that marks the spot where the tail should start.

The overall body generally has an arched appearance, due to shorter than normal vertebrae. The legs are short and thick, with the hindlegs longer than the forelegs. The paws are round and large. The head is round, with a short nose, strong chin, large, round eyes, and medium ears that are rounded at the tips

The coat requires regular brushing, but it is easily groomed and very rarely mars. Because the bodily features that give the breed its distinction are essentially genetic defects, the Cymric is a controversial breed. If it were introduced for recognition today, further breeding would probably be discouraged.

Cymric History

The Cymric's predecessor, the Mans, is itself a genetic mutation first discovered on the Isle of Man, off the west coast of England. The length of the tail, which is totally absent in the breed standard (referred to as "Rumpy"), actually can vary quite widely and in some individuals is only a bit shorter than normal cat tails.

Some individuals have a remnant tail and these are dubbed "Stumpies," while those which have nearly full tails are called "Longies." Some theories suggest that the Manx, and subsequently the Cymric, are actually the descendants of the Japanese Bobtail or a related breed that was somehow transported to this distant island half a world from its native land in the Far East.

Other tales tell of invaders that nipped the tails from the cats as a sort of victory symbol and of queens that habitually bit the tails from their offspring.

Cornish Rex Cat

Cornish Rex cats owe their unique short-fur to a genetic mutation that occurred in a cat in a Cornish barn litter in the 1950s.

Cornish Rex Behavior/Personality

Source: Wikipedia

Cornish Rexes are said to love adventure, enjoying exploring and climbing on everything. However, because of their very light fur coats, they cannot tolerate the cold. In fact, many people claim to notice the cats hanging around radiators, light bulbs-even computer monitors-in search of warmth. Otherwise, Cornish Rex cats are generally thought to be companionable animals and good with children.

Note that Cornish Rexes are not exactly hypo-allergenic, since they still have some cat dander, though perhaps they do not shed as much as other breeds.

Cornish Rex Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the Cornish Rex breed based on information in Wikipedia

Perhaps the most striking physical feature of the Cornish Rex cat breed is that the cats have no fur but down, which would be the undercoat in most cats. As in most other cats, this down fur is very short, only about one centimeter long. This coat is also quite fine and soft.

The Cornish Rex breed is also said to have a distinctive smell: a mild cheese-like smell resulting from scent glands in the cats' paws.

Cornish Rex History

Source: Wikipedia

The Cornish Rex cat breed began with a genetic mutation, like a number of today's cat breeds, such as the American Curl. Also like many of today's breeds, the Cornish Rex breed originated in the post-WWII period, particularly the 1950s. The first ever cat of the breed was named Kallibunker and was born to a littler of barn kittens in Cornwall (hence the name) in the UK. When brought to North America, the breed was cross-breed with Siamese cats.

The Cornish Rex cat breed is very much like the Devon Rex breed. The word "Rex" is used to describe the unusually short fur of these animals. The use of the word "rex" this way comes from King Albert of Belgium who entered short-haired rabbits in a rabbit show. The show officials wrote "rex" next to the animals' names.

Colorpoint Shorthair Cat

The Colorpoint Shorthair cat breed is a brightly-coated offshot of the Siamese cat breed. In fact, while in the United States the Colorpoint Shorthair's status as a separate breed is well recognized, in the UK these cats are treated as just a variety of the Siamese cat breed.

Colorpoint Shorthair Behavior/Personality

Source: Cat Fanciers Association Colorpoint Shorthair Breed Profile

Colorpoint Shorthairs generally share many traits in common with their Siamese breed cousins. Generally speaking, in terms of compatibility, they are perhaps best known as being relatively less trying for people who are allergic to cats, since they do not have as much dander as most other cats. Likewise, they do not require as much grooming as cats of many other breeds.

Colorpoint Shorthair Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the Colorpoint Shorthair breed based on information in Wikipedia

Colorpoint Shorthairs look much like Siamese cats except for their coats. They have long, tube-shaped bodies, wedge-shaped heads and big ears, just like Siamese. Their coats come in a wider variety of colors and patterns than the Siamese cats, however: for instance, red point, cream point, lynx point, and tortie point.

Colorpoint Shorthair History

Source: Cat Fanciers Association Breed Profile

The first Colorpoint Shorthairs were bred from Siamese cats, and even today, out-breedings with Siamese cats are common. Early breeders focused on producing cats with red or cream fur at the points (face, ears, legs, and genital regions). There were generations of careful breeding until Colorpoint Shorthairs were recognized as a breed by the Cat Fanciers Association in 1964.

Chausie Cat

The Chausie is a tall, statuesque cat, upright in stance, medium to large in size, and retains a strong resemblance to its ancestor the Jungle Cat.

Chausie Behavior/Personality

Do you hunger for a touch of the wild in your cat? The Chausie may be the breed for you. Picture if you can, the grace, size, and exotic aura of a wild jungle cat, combined with the temperament of a domestic cat, and you have something resembling the Chausie. The ideal Chausie has been described as "fearless, but not aggressive."

However, if you do not have the time to devote yourself to the attention and care of a large, active cat, or you prefer antique china to earthenware, you might want to look elsewhere for a cat. As with any other cat, the commitment to a Chausie should be a lifetime one.

Chausie Breed Standard/Physical Description

The Chausie's body is large, with heavy boning, full broad chest and strong musculature, with moderately long legs. Colors include black, black smoke to shade of silver, black with silver ticking, ticked golden to reddish fawn with darker markings on ears, legs and tail. Otherwise the body is virtually free of markings.

Chausie History

The first Chausies were Jungle Cat hybrids, and were bred in the late 60's and early 70's. These early hybrids were created to offer those interested in exotic cats a more reasonable alternative to the often ill-fated attempts to make pets out of wild animals. Many different domestic cats were used in the beginning, but at the current time, the only permissible outcrosses are the Abyssinian and the domestic shorthair.

The Chausie was given foundation registry status in The International Cat Association (TICA) in 1995. In February 2001 the breed was advanced to Evaluation status (effective May 1, 2002). In May 2003, the Chausie achieved 'Advanced New Breed' status and now competes in the Advanced new Breed (ANB) rings in TICA shows. ANB is the level prior to a new breed becoming a Championship Breed - the Chausie is currently working towards this goal.

Chartreux Cat

The Chartreux breed is one of the oldest European cat breed: the ancestors of the breed, all French, are said to go back to the 13th century.

Chartreux Behavior/Personality

Source: Wikipedia

Chartreux-breed cats are generally thought to be quiet, not mewing or crying as much as other cats; some make no sound at all. They are also generally considered to be good-natured and playful even well into maturity.

Chartreux Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the Chartreux breed based on information in Wikipedia

Chartreux cats are known for being large and muscular. Their legs are short but strong and finish off with large paws. They have blue (gray) double coats. Their eyes are the color of gold or copper. Their distinctive faces are said to be in a smile: their heads are long and their muzzles tapered, forming this shape.

Chartreux History

Source: Wikipedia

The Chartreux cat breed is an old breed of cats from France. There's quite a story behind this breed. As the story goes, the cats were breed by monks of the Carthusian Order, or the Order of St. Bruno, at the monastery in Grenoble. The monks bred the cats to be excellent mice-catchers, as the mice were destroying the monks' stores of food. According to legend, the ancestors of these cats included feral mountain cats from Syria. According to the legend, returning Crusaders brought the cats back with them in 13th century. However, the first writing to mention the breed only dates from the 1600s. The first Chartreux cats were brought to the US in the 1970s.

Burmilla Cat

Burmilla Cat Breed Introduction

The Burmilla cat breed, a cross between Burmese and Chinchilla Persian, is a new breed of cat with roots in the UK, which has also taken root in Australia and Canada.

Burmilla Behavior/Personality

Source: Wikipedia

The Burmilla has elements of both the Burmese and Chinchilla Persian cat breeds.

Burmilla Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the Burmilla breed based on information in Wikipedia, March 2006 and the Australian Cat Federation.

• Head: rounded wedge-shape
• Ears: medium-sized or large, rounded at the tip
• Eyes: large, green
• Body: medium-size
• Legs: slim, with back legs longer than front
• Paws: oval-shaped
• Tail: medium-long, tapered, with a rounded tip
• Coat: black, blue, champagne, chocolate, cream, lilac, platinum or red; or tortoiseshell with a variety of colors; shorthair or longhair

Burmilla History

Source: Wikipedia

The Burmilla breed is a relatively new cat breed originating in the UK in the 1980s. True to its name, the Burmilla cat breed is a cross between the Burmese and the Chinchilla Persian cat breeds. In fact, the breed originated accidentally, when a purebred Burmese and a purebred Chinchilla Persian found each other and produced a litter of kittens. Rather than cry over their bad luck, the breeders decided to start a new breed based on that litter. The breed standard for the Burmillas was written in 1984, and the breed gained "Championship" status (essentially full-fledged membership) in the UK's cat fancy associations. The breed has also been embraced by cat breeders' groups in Australia and Canada, but not the US.

British Shorthair Cat

The British Shorthair cat breed is the grand old lady of British cat breeds, being the earliest breed to establish itself in the first cat shows in the nineteenth century.

British Shorthair Behavior/Personality

Source: "British Shorthairs" by Dana L. Jacobs

British Shorthair cats are generally considered calm, quiet, and attentive without being demanding.

British Shorthair Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the British Shorthair breed based on information in Wikipedia

• Head: round and quite big
• Muzzle: distinctive
• Ears: medium-sized, broad-based with round tips
• Eyes: big, round, wide-open and set wide apart
• Body: medium to large
• Legs: short to medium in length
• Paws: round, with five toes in front and four in back
• Tail: medium-long and thick at the base, slightly tapered, and rounded at the tip
• Coat: short and quite thick

British Shorthair History

Source: "British Shorthairs" by Dana L. Jacobs

The British Shorthair is one of the oldest cat breeds. In fact, the father of the cat fancy movement, Harrison Weir, not only favored British Shorthairs but even entered one in the first ever cat show, held at the famous Crystal Palace in 1870. Not only that, but Harrison Weir's British Shorthair cat, a 14-year-old blue tabby female, won the very first Best in Show award for the famous British cat shows.

By the beginnings of the 20th century, many British Shorthairs were being shown in the British cat shows. These early champions were very much like today's British Shorthair cats, with the same basic form, only slightly smaller than their descendants today (but then again, the same could be said about human beings then and now). As a result of the popularity of the British Shorthair breed, these cats were in great demand. Soon they were being sent to North America, where they also won many cat show awards.

WWI brought an abrupt halt to the major cat fancy activities, and also brought a halt to the growing popularity of the British Shorthairs. Other breeds such as the Persian cat breed and foreign shorthair breeds grew in popularity. The breed grew in popularity after WWII, particularly in the US, where the British Shorthairs and American Shorthairs were separated into distinct breeds in the 1950s.

British Longhair Cat

British Longhair Cat Breed Introduction

The British Longhair cat breed, also called the Lowlander cat breed, is the fulfillment of a dream among cat fanciers: to once again have a native longhaired cat breed, after the traditional longhaired British cat breed, the Persian cat breed, developed into a very different feline. Today, though still not a hugely popular cat breed, these cats are beloved for their pleasant tempers.

British Longhair Behavior/Personality

Source: Cattery Boerling Estate

British Longhair cats are known as easy to get along with, and generally not so loud. While not extremely playful, they are generally able to have fun and find things to do. They can also be affectionate with people and other cats.

British Longhair Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the British Longhair breed based on information on the Cattery Boerling Estate website.

• Head: round and broad
• Ears: short
• Eyes: round, big
• Body: medium-sized with broad chests
• Legs: short
• Paws: round
• Tail: short and thick

British Longhair History

Source: Wikipedia

The British Longhair cat breed brings a native long-haired cat breed back to Britain. The original British longhaired cats were cross-bred with foreign longhair cats. The result, was, arguably the Persian, which grew in size over the course of the early twentieth century, developing longer and thicker fur, until it no longer resembled the original longhaired British cats. In fact, when a shorthaired Persian cat breed, called the Exotic Shorthair, was developed, it no longer resembled the British Shorthair. So, cat fanciers decided to go back to their roots and create a breed of cat that resembled the classic British type of short-haired cat.

Brazilian Shorthair cat

The Brazilian Shorthair is Brazil's first breed to receive international recognition.

Brazilian Shorthair Behavior/Personality

The Brazilian Shorthair is an affectionate cat, so much so that it is often referred to as clingy. Its best match is an owner who will shower it with attention and love while involving it in the activities of the house. Unlike some breeds, which are typically one-man cats, the Brazilian Shorthair is also open to bonding with, and enjoying the companionship, of everyone in the household. If its demands for affection are not met, this frisky, light-hearted cat's temperament can become suspicious and irritable. It may even seek a friendlier owner. Because the Brazilian Shorthair is intelligent, it's a fast learner. An active and playful cat, it is also known for its proud characteristic as an accomplished hunter.

Brazilian Shorthair Breed Standard/Physical Description

Its fabulous agility and elegance are balanced by its medium-sized, strong body. This beautiful cat is easily distinguished from other American Shorthair by its build which is sleeker than that of the American Shorthair It has an air that is not as refined, nor thin, as a Siamese. The Brazilian Shorthair's coat is short and close to the skin. It comes in a wide array of colors and patterns. Preferably the eyes match the color of the coat.

A unique feature of their faces is that their eyes are set a specific distance apart. The space between both eyes is approximately equivalent to the actual size of a Brazilian Shorthair's eye. Dramatically expressive, their big eyes are almond-shaped, bright, and attentive. Although generally medium-sized and longer than wider, there is a key difference between the appearances of the males' versus the females' heads. The males have a bigger head, which gives them a grander overall appearance.

Brazilian Shorthair History

In its earliest origins, the Brazilian Shorthair is thought to be a descendant of domestic cats brought to Brazil by European colonists. Since that time the cats have gone through a variety of changes and a newer breed, the Brazilian Shorthair, has been developed thanks to Paulo Ruschi. Although similar efforts were met with success when both Britain and the United States brought street cats to recognized pure breed cats (the Celtic Shorthair and the American Shorthair, respectively) Ruschi attempted his project in 1985.

The experimental project involved breeders searching the streets in the cities of Ceara, Rio de Janeiro, and Porto Alegre. Their joint opinion and objective was that Brazil also had a cat with specific characteristics that deserved to be recognized as a unique breed. They recorded their findings, and surprisingly collected similar descriptions of the cats' body shape, coat, head, eyes, nose, muzzle, paws, and tail, which is amazing considering the broad distances between the cities. Based on these similarities, the Brazilian Shorthair breed standard was created.

Very few people are involved in breeding the Brazilian Shorthair. A key issue is the random breeding of the cats both within homes and on the streets. However, professional breeding is essential in order to prevent the breed from becoming extinct. Today Mr. Paulo Ruschi is continuing the program in New York, United States.

Birman

Birman Cat Breed Introduction

Birmans are distinctive for their striking sapphire-colored eyes and distinctly white paws. The modern breed originated in France in the 1920s and is assumed to have ancestry going back to the country of Burma.

Birman Behavior/Personality

Source: "The Sacred Cats of Burma" by Paula Boroff

Birmans tend to be neither particularly active nor particularly laid-back. They occasionally demand attention, but don't require constant attention. Many people say that Birmans are susceptible to loneliness and benefit from having another cat.

Birman Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the Birman breed based on the Cat Fanciers Association's breed standard.

• Head: broad and round, flat skull
• Muzzle: medium in length and width
• Ears: medium in length, wide
• Eyes: round, set well apart, blue in color
• Body: strongly built, long
• Legs: heavy, medium in length
• Paws: large and round with five toes on the front paws and four toes on the rear paws
• Tail: medium in length
• Coat: medium-long with heavy ruff around the neck and slightly curly on the stomach

Birman History

Source: "The Sacred Cats of Burma" by Paula Boroff.

The Birman cat breed does not have a clear beginning. There is a lengthy and involved legend as to the origins of the Birman cat breed, that says that the breed originated when a Lama was defending his temple from attackers. The sapphire-goddess of the temple transformed the cat's fur into a golden color and turned his yellow eyes a sapphire color. According to the legend, each cat carries a priest's soul to the afterlife.

It is speculated that the Birman breed may actually have originated in Burma. According to one account, in 1919 some English people, living in France, received the cats as gifts from a temple they had guarded while in Burma. Another story is that an American millionaire got the cats while in Burma and then sent them to a friend n France.

Bengal Cat

Bengal Cat Breed Introduction

The Bengal cat breed is another relatively new breed created as a hybrid between domestic cats and a wild species of cat, in this case, the Asian Leopard Cat (ALC).

Bengal Behavior/Personality

Source: Wikipedia

The Bengal cat breed has a few unique personality quirks due to its wild ancestry. For instance, Bengals are generally considered to enjoy water, especially moving water. They also tend to be exceptionally active and therefore dislike being left alone.

Bengal Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the Bengal breed based on information in Wikipedia, March 2006 and The International Cat Association breed standard.

• Head: broad, rounded wedge
• Ears: small, rounded
• Eyes: oval-shaped
• Body: about 10-15 pounds, and females sometimes smaller
• Legs: medium-long, with back legs slightly longer than front
• Paws: large, round
• Tail: medium-long, thick, tapered, rounded at the tip
• Coat: shorthair; spotted or marbled coat pattern

Bengal History

Source: Wikipedia

The Bengal cat breed is one of the relatively new breeds of cat developed as a hybrid of wild and domestic cats (another example is the Savannah cat breed). The person most commonly credited with the development of the breed was Jean Mill, who started the Bengal breed in the 1970s.

Bengals owe their roots to a cross between domestic cats and Asian Leopard Cats (ALC). To be a true Bengal cat, the cat must have three generations of interbreeding with domestic cats. That is, first an Asian Leopard Cat mates with a domestic cat, then their offspring mates with a domestic cat, then their offspring mates with a domestic cat, and the final offspring is a Bengal. The earlier generations of cats are only for people who have the wherewithal for dealing with them; they are not easily house-trained, for instance.

Balinese Cat

Balinese cats originated as long-haired Siamese cats. Since the 1950s, they have been bred as a separate line, though the Balinese cat breed still closely resemble the Siamese breed.

Balinese Behavior/Personality

Source: "The Lovely Balinese," by MaryKae Krause

Balinese cats are generally considered very companionable and attentive.

Balinese Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the Balinese breed based on the Cat Fanciers Association's breed standard.

• Head: long, wedge-shaped
• Muzzle: wedge-shaped
• Ears: very large, pointed
• Eyes: medium-sized and almond-shaped
• Body: medium-sized, thin, fine-boned
• Legs: long and slim, with back legs higher than front legs
• Paws: small and oval-shaped, with five toes on front paws and four on back paws
• Tail: long, tihn, and tapered with plumed hairs
• Coat: medium-length and silky

Balinese History

Source: "The Lovely Balinese," by MaryKae Krause

The Balinese cat breed was originally just called the "long-haired Siamese," since that's essentially what a Balinese cat is. Up through the 1950s, when a longer-haired kitten was born to a Siamese litter, the kitten was not allowed to contribute to the Siamese breed because the breed standard called for short-haired cats. In the 1950s, two Siamese breeders, Marion Dorsey and Helen Smith, decided to breed the long hair cats as a new breed line. Helen Smith named the new breed "Balinese" because she thought the cats were elegant like Balinese dancers.

Another breeder, Sylvia Holland, bought Marion Dorsey's breeding business in 1965, and picked up the mantle of promoting the new Balinese breed. Today, almost all Balinese cats can trace their pedigrees to the lines established at Sylvia Holland's breeding business, Holland's Farm. Holland also led the push to get the new breed recognized by different cat registries. In 1970 they were officially recognized as a Championship breed by the Cat Fancier's Association (CFA). During the 1960s, the Balinese Breeders and Fans of America (BBFA) was also established. In the late 1980s, the group disbanded and was replaced by the Continental Balinese Club.

In 1979, a new colorpoint offshoot of the Balinese breed was recognized by the CFA as a new breed: the Javanese. Other cat groups treated the colorpoint cats as Balinese.

By the late 1980s, the popularity of the Balinese breed declined as breeders argued over standards and as new breeds appeared. Still, the cats compete in shows today and still are found around the US.

Australian Mist Cat

Australian Mist Cat Breed Introduction

The Australian Mist cat breed is as Australian as its name. A new breed of cat from the 1980s, the breed is currently largely confined to Australia.

Australian Mist Behavior/Personality

Source: Australian Mist Association.

Australian Mists are generally playful and get along well with children.

Australian Mist Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the Australian Mist breed based on information from the Australian Mist Association breed standard.

• Head: broad and slightly rounded
• Ears: medium-sized or large, with a wide base, and pointed slightly forward
• Eyes: green
• Body: medium-large, muscular
• Legs: back legs slightly longer than front
• Paws: oval-shaped
• Tail: thick
• Coat: short, with spotted or marbled pattern

Australian Mist History

Source: Australian Mist Association

Australian Mists hold the title of the first domestically created Australian cat breed. The Australian Mist cat breed was developed as the fulfillment of a long dream by many people to create a specifically Australian breed of cat. But the actual credit for originating this breed goes to Truda Straede. The breed was created by interbreeding a number of cats with different characteristics:

• the Burmese breed for its blue, brown, chocolate, and lilac coat colors
• the Abyssinian breed for its ticking gene, useful in developing a tabby pattern
• general spotted domestic cats and ghost-spotted Burmese cats for their spots

After four generations, the breed had been established and was called "Spotted Mist." In 1998, two leading Australian cat breeders' groups agreed to change the name to Australian Mist. Soon afterward, the breed was recognized by the New Zealand Cat Fancy and the World Cat Federation. The breed has not been spread to other countries, though spayed or neutered cats have been shipped to the United States.

Asian Semi-Longhair Cat (Tiffany)

Asian Semi-Longhair Cat Breed Introduction

Asian Semi-Longhairs are so beautiful, they are perhaps better called by their breed's other, prettier name, Tiffanie. True to their breed's name, these cats have hair that is neither very long nor short. They are essentially very much like the Asian Shorthair cat breed, only instead of having short hair, they have medium-long hair. Like the Asian Shorthair and Burmese, they are recognized in any of the typical fur colors and coat patterns of those breeds. Also like the Asian Shorthair, the Asian Semi-Longhair cat breed was bred in Britain. The breed is less popular in the US and elsewhere.

Asian Semi-Longhair Behavior/Personality

Source: The Asian Group Cat Society

Perhaps the most attractive characteristic of the Asian Semi-Longhair or Tiffanie breed is that their wonderful coats are not nearly as hard to groom as for many similar-looking breeds. Other than that, the personality traits of this breed are not much commented on.

Asian Semi-Longhair History

Source: The Asian Group Cat Society

The Asian Semi-Longhair cat breed was developed in Britain in the mid-1980s. It is also called the Tiffanie cat breed.

The Semi-Longhaired cats resulted from experimental breeding for the Burmilla. Burmillas carrying the longhair gene that were bred together sometimes produced semi-Longhair kittens. These kittens were prized for their silky coats, which did not tangle and did not present the same grooming problems as the Chincilla, which was their parent breed.

American Wirehair Cat

The American Wirehair cat breed is another one of the new cat breeds that developed in the US toward the end of the twentieth century, as a result of spontaneous genetic mutations. In this case, the mutated gene was for the characteristic wiry coat.

American Wirehair Behavior/Personality

Source: "The American Wirehair: Bad Hair Day? Or...Great Wirehair!"by Kitty Dieterich.

American Wirehairs are generally considered to be friendly, companionable cats. In fact, despite their status as a pure breed of cats, American Wirehairs are generally better as pets than as show cats, since so few of the cats possess the ideal characteristics.

American Wirehair Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the American Wirehair breed based on the Cat Fanciers Association's breed standard.

• Head: round
• Muzzle: well-developed
• Ears: medium-sized
• Eyes: big and round
• Body: medium-sized or large
• Legs: medium-long, muscular
• Paws: rounded, with five toes on front paws and four toes on the back paws
• Tail: tapered
• Coat: medium-long and wiry-looking

American Wirehair History

Source: "The American Wirehair: Bad Hair Day? Or...Great Wirehair!"by Kitty Dieterich.

The first American Wirehair, named Council Rock Farm Adam, was found in an upstate New York barn in 1966 as a kitten. The farm's owner, together with a neighbor, bred the cat with his sister, and after successive close-line breedings the wire-haired breed was established. Fortunately, the original breeders did recognize the need for some out-breeding. They chose the American Shorthair as the breed to use for out-breeding, since it most closely resembled the Wirehair. As a result, Wirehairs today are largely descended from Shorthairs.

The gene that causes the wired coat is an "incomplete dominant." This means that even if two Wirehairs are bred together, some of the resulting kittens may not have the wired fur. In the early days, Wirehair-descended cats were bred even if they did not have the characteristic fur type, in order to keep the breed going and to cut down on inbreeding. Today, now that the breed is more firmly established, breeders are selectively breed only the wiry coats. However, even the not-so-wiry coats are still valued since a cat with this coat still has the wiry gene and can be bred with another wiry-coated cat to perpetuate the breed.

In short, the American Wirehair breed is still establishing itself genetically, and breeders should be aware that many if not most cats born in a litter will not be able to compete as show cats.

American Shorthair Cat

The American Shorthair cat breed, once simply called the Domestic Shorthair, is thought to represent the cats that lived in North America from colonial times through the late nineteenth century, when foreign cats first came to North American shores in large numbers.

American Shorthair Behavior/Personality

Source: Cat Fanciers Association's Breed Profile

Usually known as gentle, playful, and companionable, American Shorthairs are said to be good with children and even dogs.

American Shorthair Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the American Shorthair breed based on the Cat Fanciers Association's breed standard.

• Head: large, slightly oblong
• Muzzle: square
• Ears: medium-sized
• Eyes: big, wide, with upper eyelids shaped like almond halves and lower eyelids more fully rounded
• Body: muscular and solid-looking
• Legs: medium-long and muscular
• Paws: firm, rounded, with five toes on the front paws and four toes on the rear paws
• Tail: medium-long and tapered
• Coat: short and thick

American Shorthair History

Source: Cat Fanciers Association's Breed Standard

By some accounts, the American Shorthair came to North America with the earliest English settlers. Some even wonder whether their ancestors came over on the Mayflower, as history records the ship having several rat-hunting cats. Over the centuries, North Americans kept cats to help them fight rats and other pests, but also increasingly as pets. Very often, these cats were similar to American Shorthairs.

By the early twentieth century, more and more cats were being brought to North America from abroad, particularly Longhair and Siamese cats, and these cats promptly interbred with native cats. Many North American cat fanciers wished to preserve the native breed of cat, and so they began a selective breeding program. Consequently, the American Shorthair breed was one of the first five breeds registered by the new Cat Fanciers' Association in 1906-as the "Domestic Shorthair." The breed's name was officially changed to "American Shorthair" in 1966. Today, the American Shorthair ranks among the most popular breed among cat fanciers.

American Keuda Cat

American Keuda Cat Breed Introduction

While a lot of care and thought goes into developing any cat breed, the American Keuda breed is perhaps unique for having resulted from a formal study of cat traits. The breed should perhaps more properly be called the American Keuda type rather than breed, since it is still undergoing selective breeding.

American Keuda Behavior/Personality

Source: Wikipedia (March 2006)

American Keuda cats have been bred to be the ideal barn cat, athletic and hard-working.

American Keuda Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the American Keuda breed based on the American Keuda Cat Association's breed standard.

• Head: medium-sized
• Muzzle: "not short; refined"
• Ears: medium-large in a slightly rounded triangle shape
• Eyes: medium-sized and almond-shaped
• Body: medium-sized
• Paws: oval-shaped, with five toes on front paws and four toes on back paws
• Tail: slightly tapered
• Coat: any pattern or color

American Keuda History

Source: Wikipedia

The American Keuda's history is still very much in development, as the breed has not been finalized. More properly speaking, the breed is not a true cat breed but rather a "type," on its way to becoming a breed as breeders refine the animals' features through selective breeding.

The breed began in a study from the 1980s, the "Kitten Evaluation Under Direct Assessment." The KEUDA was attempting to determine the best characteristics for a barn cat. The barn cats studied were taken from New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. The animals were bred together in the course of the study.

There is a lot of discussion as to whether Keudas have any Egyptian Mau ancestry, and if so, how much. The controversy arises because of the physical similarities between the two breeds. Yet Keudas come in a much broader variety of physical appearances. Individual Keudas come in a much wider variety of coat colors and patterns than Maus; they often more closely resemble Siamese, Havana Brown, or other cat breeds.

American Curl Cat

One of the newest breeds of cat, dating back only to 1981, the American Curl cat breed is known for its distinctive curled-back ears, for which the breed was named.

American Curl Behavior/Personality

Source: "The American Curl: A Balancing Act" by Karen O'Brien

American Curls have a very diverse ancestry, which means they can't easily be pigeon-holed for traits other than the basic physical traits of the breed. In general, they are known to be companionable.

American Curl Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the American Curl breed based on the Cat Fanciers Association's breed standard.

• Head: longer than wide
• Muzzle: rounded
• Ears: curled at at least a 90 degree angle but not more than 180 degrees
• Eyes: walnut-shaped, medium-large
• Body: half again as long as tall (at the shoulder)
• Legs: medium-length
• Paws: medium-sized, rounded
• Tail: tapered and as long as the body
• Coat: longhair and shorthair variety, both silky

American Curl History

Source: "The American Curl: A Balancing Act," by Karen O'Brien

The American Curl breed is one of the newest cat breeds. The first American Curl was a cat named Shulamith. In June 1981, Shulamith showed up in the front yard of the home of Grace and Joe Ruga. The Rugas adopted the cat, along with another cat, Panda, who appeared to be Shulamith's sister, and who ran away after two weeks. The Rugas and Shulamith became attached to each other. After Shulamith gave birth in December 1981, the Rugas decided that the cats' distinctive curled ears were the signs of a new breed of cat. Shulamith had several more litters which established the new breed.

On October 23, 1983, the Rugas presented the new American Curl breed at a Cat Fanciers Assocation show in Palm Springs, California. In drafting the breed standard for the new cat breed, the authors were careful to allow for out-breeding with non-pedigreed domestic cats that closely resembled Shulamith, the original American Curl. Allowing for out-breeding was meant to keep the breed free of inbreeding.

American Bobtail Cat

The American Bobtail cat breed is best known for the trait for which it is named: its short, stubby tail, which may be only a few inches long. In fact, American Bobtails' tails are rarely more than half as long as the average cat's tail. This unique trait is the result of a genetic mutation. One of the newest cat breeds, the American Bobtail was developed in the 1970s in, true to its name, the United States. Many people find these cats "dog-like," exhibiting loyalty and athleticism.

American Bobtail Behavior/Personality

Source: Cat Fancier Association's Breed Profile

Described as "dog-like," being very active and also loyal. They are also considered very friendly and generally get along well with children and strangers.

American Bobtail Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the American Bobtail breed based on the Cat Fanciers Association's breed standard.

• Head: broad
• Muzzle: broad, medium-long
• Ears: medium-sized
• Eyes: almond-shaped, big
• Body: medium-long, broad-chested
• Legs: slim and long
• Paws: large and round
• Tail: short, half as long as the average cat's tail
• Coat: both shorthair and longhair varieties with various colors

American Bobtail History

Source: Cat Fancier Association's Breed Profile and Wikipedia

While these cats may look like bobcats, there's no actual relation. American Bobtails were first bred in the US in the 1970s. The breed was recognized by the International Cat Association in 1989. American Bobtails became especially popular toward the end of the twentieth century.

The breed's distinctive bobbed tail is the result of a genetic mutation. Despite obvious similarities with the Japanese Bobtail, the two breeds are utterly unrelated and the mutated bobtail gene is different in each case.

Abyssian

Distinctively fine-boned but lithe and muscular, Abyssinian cats resemble the regal cats depicted in ancient Egyptian statues.

Abyssinian Behavior/Personality

Source: Cat Fancier's Almanac by Norman Auspitz

Abyssinian cats are known to be quite active, not only in a playful way but sometimes rather restless. Some people say that these cats are particularly inclined to break things. Natural climbers, they are known to enjoy tall scratching posts.

Abyssinian Breed Standard/Physical Description

Here are some facts on the Abyssinian breed based on the Cat Fanciers Association's breed standard.

• HEAD: rounded wedge-shape
• MUZZLE: rounded
• EARS: large and broad.
• EYES: almond-shaped, big and shiny.
• BODY: medium-long and muscular.
• LEGS: slim and long
• Paws: small and oval-shaped with five toes on the front paws and four toes on the rear paws
• TAIL: long and tapered
• COAT: soft, medium-long, fine and shiny

Abyssinian History

Source: Cat Fancier's Almanac by Norman Auspitz

While these cats resemble ancient Egyptian statues of revered felines, we don't actually know whether they are descended from Egyptian cats or just look that way.

The breed was first called "Abyssinian" towards the end of the nineteenth century. The cat might have been named "Abyssinian" for the war England was fighting in Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) at the time. A lithograph printed at the time shows a cat that looks like today's Abyssinian breed, with a note that the cat was brought from Abyssinia at the end of the war.

Genetic research indicates the cats likely came from coastal regions of the Indian Ocean as well as Southeast Asia. There is speculation that the breed might have been brought to England from India during the colonial period.

The breed was crossed with several others in the early twentieth century, giving the breed its unique variations of markings and colorations.

In the early 1900s, some Abyssinians were brought to the US, but the breed did not make a big splash until the 1930s. The cats brought to the US from England in the 1930s formed the basis for the breeding program from which modern Abyssinian cats are descended.