Abyssinian
As described in the Abyssinian Breeders International "Kitten
Buyer's Guide" by Carolyn Osier, "Abyssinians
must be one of the most intelligent animals ever created."
This handbook for the potential Aby owner describes these
cats as "...a very people-oriented cat. Not a lap cat...
but a cat that likes to be with people, a cat that wants
to know what you are doing - that wants to help. There is
probably no breed anywhere more loyal than the Aby. Once
you have acquired an Aby as a companion, you will never
be able to complain that no one understands you. Abys are
very good at training people to do just what they want them
to do."
Balinese
It is generally accepted that the breed originated as a
spontaneous longhaired mutation of the Siamese cat. Apparently,
Mother Nature decided that the already glorious Siamese
could be made even more glorious by adding the long flowing
coat to the svelte body lines of this graceful oriental
beauty. Coat length is the only difference between the Siamese
and the Balinese.
Bengal
The Bengal is a medium to large domestic feline that originates
from crossings of the small Asian Leopard Cat (ALC) to the
domestic cat in an attempt to create a companion with an
"exotic" look but a domestic temperament. After
four to five generations of Bengal-to-Bengal breeding, the
breed is recognized for championship competition by most
international domestic cat associations including TICA,
ACFA, GCCF, and AACE.
Bombay
The Bombay is a shorthair breed of domestic cat, closely
related to the Burmese. The Bombay is noted for its shiny
black coat and copper eyes and for its affectionate and
playful temperament.
Burmese
Burmese carry surprising weight for their size and have
often been described as “bricks wrapped in silk.”
Their coats are very short, satin-like in texture, and generally
require little grooming other than daily petting. There
is a range in Burmese head and body type; the more compact
cats with the rounder heads are seen in the show ring. Burmese
have large, expressive eyes that are great pools of innocence
and seductive appeal, irresistible in effect. These eyes
are their most persuasive weapon in an arsenal of endearing
traits that mask an awesome power to hypnotize their owners
into life-time love affairs through which they effortlessly
rule their families.
Chantilly
Despite the fact that Chantilly/Tiffany cats are very rare,
the breed is a wonderful citizen of the feline world. The
Chantilly cat is loved for its appearance and outstanding
temperament traits. The breed is believed to be a pet for
the royalty. In fact, Chantilly/Tiffany cats make affectionate
companions and are not a bother for their owners. Unlike
some other feline breeds, Chantilly cats are not too demanding.
The breed is relatively easy to take care of. It is said
to be neither hyperactive, nor lazy.
Himalayan
The Himalayan is one of the most popular of all Persians.
The Himalayan is shown in the following point colors: chocolate,
seal, lilac, blue, red, cream tortie, blue-cream, chocolate-tortie,
lilac-cream, seal lynx, blue lynx, red lynx, cream lynx,
tortie lynx, blue-cream lynx, chocolate lynx, lilac lynx,
chocolate-tortie lynx and lilac-cream lynx. Color is restricted
to the facial mask and extremities with the body of various
shades of white to fawn. Himalayans were developed by breeding
Persians to Siamese to combine the Siamese point coloring
with Persian type. After many years of cross breeding they
were approved as accepted color variations of Persians.
All must have deep vivid blue eyes as eyes other than blue
are a disqualification.
Maine Coon
One of the oldest natural breeds in North America, the Maine
Coon is generally regarded as a native of the state of Maine
(in fact, the Maine Coon is the official Maine State Cat).
A number of attractive legends surround its origin. A wide-spread
(though biologically impossible) belief is that it originated
from matings between semi-wild, domestic cats and raccoons.
This myth, bolstered by the bushy tail and the most common
coloring (a raccoon-like brown tabby) led to the adoption
of the name 'Maine Coon.' (Originally, only brown tabbies
were called 'Maine Coon Cats;' cats of other colors were
referred to as 'Maine Shags.') Another popular theory is
that the Maine sprang from the six pet cats which Marie
Antoinette sent to Wiscasset, Maine when she was planning
to escape from France during the French Revolution. Most
breeders today believe that the breed originated in matings
between pre-existing shorthaired domestic cats and overseas
longhairs (perhaps Angora types introduced by New England
seamen, or longhairs brought to America by the Vikings).
Manx
There are several categories of Manx Cats: the "rumpies"
(the completely tailless cats), the "risers" (cats
with a rise of the spine that may be felt), the - "stumpies"
(cats with a very short tail), the "stubbies"
(cats with a partial tail) and the fully tailed cats. The
Manx (or tailless) feature is the result of a dominant gene
mutation; kittens that inherit it may have a long tail,
a short tail, a rise, or no tail. Sometimes all these variants
are possible in one litter. Only rumpies and risers are
eligible for competitions and shows, but introduction of
tailed Manx Cats into a breeding program provides a necessary
sturdiness. The tailless gene is lethal when breeding rumpies
to each other beyond the third generation.
Munchkin
Although the short legged cats from Europe seem to have
disappeared, the trait reappeared in New England in the
1970's and in Louisiana in the 1980's. From a pregnant black
female (since named Blackberry) short legged cat found by
Sandra Hochenedel living under a pickup truck in 1983. In
her first litter and in each subsequent litter, Blackberry
passed the trait of her short legs on to about half her
kittens. One of Blackberry sons, Toulouse, was given to
a friend named Kay LaFrance who established a colony of
Munchkins on her Louisiana Plantation. The present Munchklns
are descendants of Blackberry and Toulouse, although Munchkins
have been sited throughout North America and the world.
Persian
Persians, with their long flowing coats and open pansy-like
faces are the number one breed in popularity. Their sweet,
gentle, personalities blend into most households once they
feel secure in their new environment. Creatures of habit,
they are most at home in an atmosphere of security and serenity,
but with love and reassurance, can easily adapt to the most
boisterous of households. Their quiet, melodious voices
are pleasant and non-abrasive. They communicate delightfully
with their large expressive eyes and make charming pets
for all ages. Persians have short heavily-boned legs to
support their broad, short bodies. They like to have their
feet firmly planted and are not given to high jumping and
climbing. Playful but never demanding, they love to pose
and will drape themselves in a favorite window or chair,
enhancing the decor in much the same way as a treasured
painting. Persians are tremendously responsive and become
a constant source of joy and delight to their owners. Pleasurable
as an unexpected sunbeam, their companionship is close and
enduring.
Ragdoll
Ragdolls are large, loving, laid-back longhairs with beautiful,
big blue eyes. The body is light-colored, with darker Siamese-type
points on the face, legs, tail and ears. In most patterns,
the points are partly covered with white markings. The ideal
Ragdoll is a well balanced cat, with no extreme features.
Altered males may reach 20 pounds or more; females are proportionately
smaller. Ragdolls are slow-maturing, reaching full coat
color at two years, and full size and weight at four.
Savannah
The Savannah cat is one of the newest breeds of cats currently
being developed by a select few breeders around the world.
There are very few Savannahs currently in existence, and
the demand for them is quite high. The Savannah is the result
of crossing an African Serval cat to a domestic cat. There
is a variety of domestic cats (most often termed domestic
shorthairs) used in breeding programs to create the early
generation Savannahs, including Oriental Shorthairs, Egyptian
Maus, Serengetis, Bengals, etc. While it is not difficult
to have a Serval to Serval breeding take place, it can be
very difficult to accomplish the Serval to domestic cat
breeding. The first documented breeding of an African Serval
to a domestic cat was accomplished in the mid 1980's by
Judy Frank, a Bengal breeder and cat fancier in Pennsylvania.
The Savannah breed, still in the early stages of development,
provides a smaller (approximately 20 pounds, vs. the 40
pound Serval), more manageable (Savannahs use litterboxes
and do not require any special diets, facilities or veterinary
care) version of the beautiful, exotic Serval Cat for people
to live with and enjoy in our own homes. Savannahs make
wonderful family pets.
Siamese
Siamese have fascinated folks around the world since they
were first officially exported from Thailand, or as it was
known then Siam, in the late eighteen hundreds. Their sleek
lines, striking color contrast, finely chiseled aristocratic
heads, deep blue almond eyes, and short silky coats make
them living art. Combine this beauty with acute intelligence,
inquisitive personality and a loving nature and you have
the essence of the Siamese cat.
Siberian
The Siberian Cats first appeared in recorded history in
the year 1000. The breed as it spread throughout Europe,
was noted in Harrison Weir's late nineteenth century book,
"Our Cats and All About Them", as one of the three
longhairs represented at the first cat show held in England
in the 1700's. Also in Russian folklore these magnificent
cats made their homes in Russian monasteries. In the monasteries
they would walk along the high beams and use their speed,
strength, and agility. The Siberians would be on the lookout
for intruders, and yet show the monks loyal and loving companionship.
The Siberian is also Russia's native cat. With all of this
information we all can see that it is not a new breed to
Europe.
Snowshoe
The Snowshoe began as a cross between the American Shorthair
and the Siamese in the early 1960s in the United States,
producing a sturdy, pointed cat with white markings on the
face, chest and feet. It is found in the usual Siamese colors,
most commonly seal, chocolate, lilac, and blue in two patterns,
mitted and bicolor. It is also found in red (flame), cream,
cinnamon, and fawn. American Shorthairs, Oriental Shorthairs,
and Siamese are still legal outcrosses.
Somali
Where the longhaired gene came into the Abyssinian population
is a a subject of speculation, but before the Somali breed
began to be advanced in the late 1960s, longhaired kittens
popped up in Abyssinian litters. These longhaired kittens,
which couldn't be shown or used in a breeding program, were
quietly neutered and given away or sold as pets.
In the late 1960s in the United States, people taken with
these longhaired "mistakes" began breeding these
cats purposely and advancing that the breed become accepted
for championship status. This was not the first advancement
of this breed; a Somali was shown in Australia as early
as 1965. By the late 1970s, the Somali was accepted by all
North American cat associations for championship status.
It has had slower acceptance in Europe; the GCCF (Governing
Council of the Cat Fancy), Great Britain's cat association,
did not fully recognize the Somali for championship status
until 1991.
Sphynx
In 1966 a domestic cat gave birth to a hairless kitten in
Toronto, Canada. It was discovered to be a natural mutation
and the Sphynx cat, as we know it today, came into existence.
This cat and a few other naturally hairless cats have been
found worldwide. These have magically been produced by Mother
Nature and are the foundation for this unusual breed. Cat
breeders in Europe and North America have bred the Sphynx
to normal coated cats and then back to hairless for more
than thirty years. The purpose of these selective breedings
was to create a genetically sound cat with a large gene
pool and hybrid vigor. This is a very robust breed with
few health or genetic problems.
Tonkinese
The Tonkinese blends the best features of its ancestors
into one beautiful, medium-sized cat that is remarkably
dense and muscular. Whether appearing in the coat pattern
of its Burmese predecessor, with sparkling gold-green eyes,
the pointed pattern of its Siamese ancestor, with glittering
blue eyes, or the “mink” coat pattern seen in
the show ring, with its unique aqua eyes, the Tonkinese
is an intelligent, gregarious cat with a sense of humor.
These cats are firmly convinced that humans were put on
earth to love them; these are the cats that know they belong.
