Archive for the ‘Cat Breeds’ Category

If you love the temperament of the American Burmese, but don’t care for the breed’s exaggeratedly round head, then you may want to take a close look at the European Burmese. This breed is actually descended from the American Burmese, which originated from temple cats in Burma. The temple cats were pure white, but suddenly changed color. According to legends, this color change happened when the cats took on the coloring of the temple’s goddess. However, cat fanciers have a more practical explanation. They think a wandering Siamese fathered a few litters of kittens. The American Burmese first arrived in Europe at the end of World War II.

European breeders were concerned that there was such a small gene pool to work with and decided to crossbreed the American Burmese with the Siamese cat. As they worked with the breed, they decided that they liked the Oriental appearance of these crossbreed kittens more than the appearance of the original American Burmese. As the breeders continued to work with the Burmese, they developed a cat that was distinct enough to have its own name, the European Burmese.

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Tags: kittens, cat health, cat breeds, cat, pet cat

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This cat, which is descended from cats that lived in ancient Egypt, is closely related to the African Wild Cat. When you look at a Mau, you are looking at the same spotted wild cat that the Pharaohs in ancient Egypt domesticated and kept as pets and objects of worship.

Surprisingly enough, this descendant of the Egyptian cat did not reach the United States until the nineteen fifties, when an exiled member of the Russian royalty brought her Maus with her to the United States. For several decades, her two cats were the ancestors of all Maus in North America. However, recently, concerned breeders finally imported additional cats to prevent hereditary diseases and to widen the gene pool.

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Tags: cat information, kitten, cat breeds, cats, cat

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If you’ve always had a secret longing to own that charming little alien in the ET movie, you will probably fall in love with the Sphynx cat breed. This cat’s wrinkly small face, huge ears, and enormous eyes definitely give it a very similar appearance. When you add in its whisker free appearance and a coat so fine that the Sphynx appears to be bald, it is no wonder that this unusual little cat breed gets plenty of attention at cat shows.

Surprisingly enough, the popular Sphynx cat breed is only recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association. Other breed associations are concerned that this unique cat breed will have genetic health problems in the future and do not want to encourage breeders to continue developing the breed.

The Sphynx breed was actually developed twice, once in the nineteen sixties and again in the nineteen seventies. Although the first line of Sphynx cats vanished completely, the second discovery of the breed was more successful. Surprisingly enough, this second line of cats came from a stray longhair cat. This cat’s kittens were outcrossed to Devon Rex cats. The kittens from this cross had the traditional Sphynx coat and physical characteristics.

Although the Sphynx does not have a coat of hair, this breed’s light coat of fuzz still comes in a wide range of colors. In fact, these cats come in every color and pattern available. This cat breed’s powerful body is extremely muscular. The breed weighs in at eight to fifteen pounds.

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If you just can’t decide whether you want a Burmese cat or a Siamese cat, then you may want to consider a cat that is the descendant of both of these wonderful breeds, the Tonkinese. The Tonkinese cat breed was officially created in the nineteen sixties in North America when a Burmese cat was crossed with a Siamese. However, for many years before the breed was created, cat fanciers crossed the two breeds unofficially.

The Tonkinese was created to combine the best traits of both of its parent breeds. Unlike many other breeds created from a cross, this breed was designed to have a body, character, and coat that combined traits from both the Burmese and the Siamese. Usually, a cross breed is only created to establish a specific color or coat trait.

Since the Tonkinese is such a balanced cross breed, it is no surprise that these cats have a wonderful personality. This breed is very loving and affectionate. These cats are the ideal choice for families or multiple cat homes. They even are tolerant of dogs and other pets. These cats actually seem to enjoy children and don’t mind a bit of undignified play.

Your cat may even be willing to attend your child’s tea party in fancy dress. When you sit on the couch, your cat will either leap onto your shoulder or curl up in your lap. When you climb into bed at night, he will snuggle under the covers with you. If you don’t want a cat that is cuddly, this breed is not right for you.

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It is no surprise that any cat that was created in the bitter cold temperatures of Siberia has a thick, long coat that helps protect it from the weather. The Siberian cat breed is a large cat, weighing up to twenty pounds, with an insulating coat of slightly oily hair.

While the Siberian is actually an extremely old breed, it has only recently been considered a breed by cat organizations. In the nineteen eighties, a cat fancier began importing these big cats from Russia to the United States. Interestingly enough, although they have the same ancestry, American Siberians are developing a slightly different body shape than the cats that are still being bred in Russia, perhaps because the cats that were imported to the United States were not the best representatives of the breed.

The Siberian cat has a wedge shaped head with a wider than average top, large, slightly slanted eyes and ears that point out slightly from the head. In addition, this cat breed has a short, thick neck, a rectangular, powerfully muscled body, big rounded paws, and a broad tail that tapers slightly at the tip. American Siberians are a bit rounder and softer looking than Russian cats and have a gentle expression. Russian Siberians have a wilder expression and look more like the dangerous big cats than sweet domesticated animals. You can find this beautiful cat breed in a wide range of colors and patterns in the United States, but only Black or Red colors are permitted in its homeland.

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Is the Devon Rex Right For You?

If you’ve always wanted a monkey, then you may just want to take a look at the charming Devon Rex cat breed. These playful, good natured little cats have been frequently compared to monkeys and mischievous children.

These cats have oversize ears, enormous eyes and a slightly pug nose. This combination of features makes the Devon look like a naughty fairy tale creature or a fun loving monkey. This breed is on the small side, weighing in at a delicate six to nine pounds. However, there is nothing delicate about the breed’s build. These cats have powerful, compact bodies and are actually quite sturdy despite their small size.

The Devon Rex is not prone to serious health problems. This is because breeders have been extremely careful to introduce additional cats into the gene pool by crossbreeding the Devon to both American and British Shorthairs, which are two very sturdy and healthy breeds.

Since this breed has a coat that is much less heavy and thick than the coats of most other cats, it is no surprise that the Devon Rex is a cuddler. These cats love to snuggle up on the nearest available lap in the evening and will often crawl right under the covers to stay warm at night. Although you may think the Devon has a higher body temperature than other cat breeds when you feel the heat that one of these cats emit, this breed just feels warmer to us because there is less hair covering its body. Even a full grown Devon can have such a thin coat that some parts of the cat are almost hairless. In fact, kittens developing an adult coat may end up completely bare as they shed their old coat.

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If you ever felt the need to take a second look to be sure the animal in front of you was actually a cat, then you’ve probably already seen a Cornish Rex. These unusual looking cats are very different from other cat breeds in appearance and coat texture. Some people think they look like alien creatures and others feel that they are very similar in appearance to the cats depicted in ancient Egyptian artwork. However, the Cornish Rex actually is a breed that was established in Great Britain in the late twentieth century.

These cats have a build that brings to mind the Italian Greyhound or the Whippet and, just like their canine counterparts, they are very fast animals. The Cornish Rex has a coat that resembles the fashionable crimped hairstyles that were so popular in the early twentieth century. Although it may not look very soft, this cat’s coat is so soft that most people compare it to silk or velvet.

If you think that the Cornish Rex is an ornamental, sedate cat, think again. This breed is downright goofy and playful and never actually outgrows kittenhood. This natural born performer loves to learn new tricks and is quite willing to play fetching and catching games for hours on end. This fun loving nature makes the Rex a natural choice for families, as these cats do not mind children who treat them well.

In fact, this breed loves people so much that it is an extremely bad choice for a career oriented individual who spends a lot of time at work. If no one in your family spends much time in the house, you may want to look for a less sociable cat breed instead. If you do decide that you want a Cornish Rex, consider adding a second cat or a cat friendly dog breed to the household, as well. The company of another animal should help your Rex stave off loneliness.

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Even if you’ve never heard of the Colorpoint Shorthair cat before, you may have seen several of these elegant animals. Many people mistake Colorpoint Shorthairs for their close relative, the Siamese. After all, the only real difference in their appearance is that the Colorpoint has a variety of point colors that Siamese cats do not have.

These cats have a graceful body, a long, tapered tail, and a tan or white body color. The points, which include the feet, tail, ears, and face, are in a different color. Recognized Colorpoint colors include Red, Cream, Cinnamon, Fawn, Smoke, or Silver. In addition, this breed can have tortoiseshell, tabby, or particolor patterns in any color. These cats have a long, narrow face with an almost triangular shape and almond shaped eyes.

One of the main reasons people decide to own a Colorpoint Shorthair is the fact that these cats are less likely to cause allergies than most other cat breeds. Of course, someone with allergy induced asthma who is allergic to cats still should not add a cat of any kind to the home, but if you or a family member just suffer from mild allergies and you want to own a cat, then you may want to take a close look at this breed. Just be sure to spend some time around a few Colorpoints before buying a kitten so that you know that you can handle your allergies.

Of course, being a low allergy cat is not the only thing this breed has going for it. The Colorpoint is an outgoing, sociable cat breed and loves to spend time with its family and friends. These cats are ideal family pets, since they seem to enjoy all of the comings and goings in a busy household. Of course, they also love to see what is in all of those intriguing grocery bags, as well.

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If you want a longhair cat breed that is as intelligent as it is beautiful, you may want to take a look at the beautiful Turkish Angora. This breed is one of the oldest cat breeds, originating in the fourteen hundreds in Turkey. For some time, cat fanciers thought that the Angora was extinct, since imported cats had been bred so frequently to Persians to improve the Persian coat that Angoras in other countries died out. Luckily, Turkey was more careful to preserve this ancient breed. At first, this country refused to part with any Angoras. However, finally Turkey agreed to sell a few cats and some pure Turkish Angoras were imported to Europe and America after World War II.

The Turkish Angora is an elegant, graceful looking cat breed. This cat has a long, muscular body that is covered with a silky coat of long, luxurious hair. The Angora has a triangular face, big, slightly slanted eyes, and a long, fluffy tail. This breed can have eyes of any color, including mismatched eyes. These cats weigh six to eleven pounds.

You can find a Turkish Angora in almost any color or pattern. However, not all variations in pattern are recognized by the different breed organizations, so if you want to show your cat, you should be sure that that particular color is acceptable.

If you want a quiet, placid cat breed, then the Turkish Angora may be the wrong choice for you. These cats are fairly vocal and love to communicate with their family members. They tend to suddenly leap up to race around the house after some imaginary pest. The Angora is quite playful and loves to spend time romping with family members. However, if you give your cat a ball, he will amuse himself for hours, as well.
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Although the Japanese Bobtail is a breed that goes back several centuries, this breed is still incredibly rare. If you are fortunate enough to find one of these beautiful cats, you will have a wonderful pet.

The Japanese Bobtail was first developed in the seventeen hundreds in Japan. Unfortunately, the longhair cat gene is not dominant, so few kittens are born with the long coats required by the breed standard. To make breeding these cats even more difficult, two related longhairs are not bred together unless there is no other choice. This is because the Bobtail is a very healthy breed. Too much inbreeding would lead to the development of some dangerous genetic disorders.

This small cat breed weighs in at a very light six to nine pounds. However, the Bobtail may be small, but it is no weakling. These cats are actually very muscular. You can find Bobtails in a wide range of colors. They come in tortoiseshell, tabby, and bicolor patterns, as well as solid colors.

The short, fluffy rounded tail looks like a pompom and the big round eyes that are often two different colors are two of the most distinctive traits of the Japanese Bobtail. Bobtail owners prize cats with mismatched eyes, usually valuing a cat with one blue and one gold eye more highly than a cat with two blue eyes. Whether the eyes match or not, they appear to be especially large in the Bobtail’s neat, little triangular face. Luckily, big ears balance out the breed’s face. Oddly enough, these cats have back legs that are longer than their front legs. However, since they hold their back legs in a slightly crouching position, the difference in length is not noticeable.
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When a cat breed has a name like Havana Brown, it can only come in one color, right? Well, actually, the active Havana Brown comes in a rich Chocolate color or an attractive Lilac color.

This breed was created when a Chocolate Point Siamese cat produced a solid Chocolate kitten. Although this has been happening in Siamese cat litters for centuries, these Chocolate kittens were usually disqualified by both the Cat Fancier’s Association in the United States and cat associations in Great Britain. In the nineteen fifties, a breeder in the United States fell in love with the Chocolate Siamese and imported a female cat from Great Britain to found a new breed of cat called the Havana Brown.

Since this breed is so closely related to the Siamese, it is no surprise that it has a very similar appearance. The Havana Brown has a long head with a face that looks rather square when it is viewed from the side. Long, graceful legs and a sleek body complete the picture.

These cats may be on the small side, weighing in at a lightweight six to ten pounds, but they have big personalities. The Havana has a very dog like nature and is extremely affectionate towards people.

Don’t be surprised if your kitten quickly learns to come when he is called. This breed also can learn to fetch and walk on a leash with ease. The playful Havana will spend hours plotting an elaborate ambush, suddenly diving from behind a chair or leaping off of a fireplace mantle to pounce on unsuspecting family members. These cats are a bit on the nosy side and enjoy helping their family members with household chores, especially if the job involves emptying bags. After all, this energetic breed feels that there is nothing better than using a paper bag to play an impromptu game of hide and seek.
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If you are looking for a cat breed that is as wonderful as a good French wine, you may want to consider the Chartreux cat. After all, a legend tells that this breed was named for the Chartreuse liquor that Carthusian monks were so famous for. Of course, while it is true that the Chartreux cat is mentioned in Carthusian records as early as the fifteen hundreds, this breed probably received its name because its coat looks similar to the wool of the Chartreux sheep.

The Chartreux cat breed has a thick, wooly coat in a rich gray blue color. This breed is neither a true longhair nor a shorthair, since the outer coat is longer than that of a shorthair, but not as long as that of most longhairs.

A Chartreux cat has a body that is solid and muscular, while its legs are on the short side and slender. Some breeders say this breed looks like a potato with toothpick legs. However, despite its build, the Chartreux moves quickly and gracefully and has a reputation for being an excellent mouser. One of the most eye catching characteristics of this breed is the way his mouth curves in a perpetual, sweet smile. These cats weigh in at anywhere from seven to seventeen pounds, with cats at the heavier end of this weight range being the ideal.
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Is the Maine Coon the Right Breed For You?

Are you a dog lover who wants to own a cat? If so, you may want to take a look at the extraordinary Maine Coon cat breed. This breed is extraordinary intelligent and has a personality that is not exactly cat like. If you think all cats act the same, you probably haven’t seen a Maine Coon decide to take a leisurely dip in your family’s wading pool.

The Maine Coon is known as a gentle giant, which is not surprising, since these lovely cats weigh in at anywhere from nine to twenty two pounds. The breed has a squarish face, a thick neck, large ears, big, rounded eyes, and a large, muscular body. The tail is long and quite bushy.

This cat breed was first seen in Maine in the late eighteen hundreds and most likely developed its thick coat as a way to protect itself from the bitterly cold winters in that area. When the breed was first established, only the brown tabby color was recognized. This coat color and the Maine Coon’s bushy tail gave it the look of a raccoon, and it is probably this appearance that gave these cats their name. Today, this breed comes in many more recognized colors, including black, blue, cream, red, tortoiseshell, blue tortoiseshell, white, smoke, silver tabby, brown tabby, red tabby, blue tabby, cream tabby, and bicolors. Cats can have green or gold eyes, unless they are white, in which case, eyes can also be blue or mismatched.

The Maine Coon gets along well with other cats, dogs, children, and just about every other type of animal, except mice. This breed is notorious for its excellent hunting abilities. These cats have a wonderful personality and are the perfect cat breed for families. However, they are also content being the only animal in a quiet household.

If you want an extremely quiet cat, then the Maine Coon may not be the perfect choice for you. These cats are a bit on the vocal side. However, the mewling these cats make is a pleasant chirping sound that few people find to be annoying.

With the long coat this breed has, it is no surprise that the Maine Coon needs frequent grooming. You should be prepared to thoroughly comb out your cat’s coat at least twice a week. If the coat begins to develop knots and snarls, you may need to groom him even more frequently.

Overall, this descendant of hardy farm cats is a healthy breed. If your cat seems to be feeling under the weather, he most likely has a hairball problem. Of course, you should seek veterinary care to be sure he does not have any more serious problems. While you are talking to your veterinarian, you may want to consult him about feeding your cat a cat food with hairball control.

Since the Maine Coon is said to be the most popular breed in the world, it would be no surprise if you decided that you wanted to own one of these beautiful animals. If you want an intelligent and loving cat, this breed may be the perfect choice for you.

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Determining that you want a Maine Coon Cat and knowing what to look for when selecting one is just half of the battle. You have to actually find one! Many people who are interested in owning a Maine Coon Cat simply have no idea as to where to start looking for one.

Cat shows are the ticket in most cases. Many people who show their cats also breed them. This is a good way to find a good, responsible Maine Coon Breeder. However, you can expect to pay a great deal for the kittens – between $600 and $1000 for a 12 week old kitten.

There are other options; however, if you do not currently attend cat shows, or there are no cat shows held in your area, there are online resources to help you find a breeder nearby. One such resource is the Fancier’s Breeder Referral List, located at http://www.breedlist.com/breeders/mai_ac.html. Note that this list only covers the United States and Canada.

You might also consider a Maine Coon Cat Rescue organization. There are many rescue organizations located around the world. In the United States, the Maine Coon Rescue Organization is a national organization, which means that they list details and pictures about Maine Coons in need of good homes around the country.

Most rescues don’t actually keep the cats, such as animal shelters do. Instead, they have loving foster parents who will care for and love the cats until a permanent home can be found. You can find adult cats, as well as kittens, through the rescue, and you will find that you pay considerably less for them. In the United States, try checking the listings at the Maine Coon Rescue (MCR) at http://mainecoonrescue.com/.

There are two other options. You can put in a call to your local animal shelter, and tell them what you are looking for. They will call you if a Maine Coon comes into the shelter, and is suitable for adoption. This is usually the cheapest way to adopt a Maine Coon, but in most cases, information on the pedigree will not be available. Therefore, this is not a good option if you plan to show the animal or breed it.

Your absolute last option – and many believe it should not even be considered – is to find a BYB, or Backyard Breeder. These are not considered top breeders, and often run the equivalent of a puppy mill. You will get the animal for a much lower price, but the breeder most likely did not use care when breeding the cats, and likely did not ensure that he or she did not breed animals that have genetic disorders. In most cases, a BYB will also not have the kittens tested for genetic disorders.

You can find a good breeder, if you look. Again, they are located all over the world. The cost, however, may be a huge consideration for you. Do not seek out a ‘cheap cat’ if it means that the animal has not been well cared for or properly bred.

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Is the Ragdoll the Right Breed for You?

During the mid nineteen hundreds, an American breeder developed a cat breed that was so laid back and relaxed that it would hang limply like a cloth doll when people held it. This breed was developed from a Birman cat and a longhair cat with an unknown ancestry. The breeder called these cats the Ragdoll because of their calm, relaxed nature. Although the Cat Fancier’s Association did not recognize these first cats as the Ragdoll, their descendants became the gentle Ragdolls we know today.

This breed is one of the largest of the cat breeds, weighing between ten and twenty pounds. It is no surprise that such heavy cats have big, muscular bodies. Their heads are slightly round, their ears are small and rounded, and their large eyes are in a brilliant blue color. This breed’s tail is slightly bushy and tapers at the end.

The Ragdoll does not come in a wide range of colors and patterns. In fact, there are actually only four colors accepted by the Cat Fancier’s Association, Seal, Chocolate, Blue, and Lilac. You can find these colors in pointed, mitted, or bicolor patterns, but some breeders avoid mitted cats because they look too much like the breed’s Birman ancestors.
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