Cats...They're so lovable. They can be so unpredictable. Those tight spots they get themselves into, that we just have to laugh at. Those situations that we watch & we just chuckle & wonder 'is my cat normal?' I've compiled information from different websites on a number of different common household cat species, I've taken the information & put it into this blog for you to get the knowledge that you need or desire for your cat. I hope you enjoy your read. (note: These are all OBVIOUSLY DOMESTICATED CATS)
TIGER CATS (AKA: DOMESTIC SHORTHAIR): BACKGROUND INFORMATION: -Tiger cats came from England originally. They were bred to hunt all the rats in the colony.
-The first Tiger cat came to America on the Mayflower
- At a cat shower in 1896, a Domestic Shorthair (Tiger cats are a sub-species of Domestic Shorthairs) was purchased for $2500.
-Domestic Shorthairs have also been referred as American Shorthairs because they have evolved so much since they have come to America.
FUN FACT: A website: www.about.comstates that there are over 70 recognized cat breeds. But diffrent registries have different views on how many recognized breeds there are. The reason why there are so many types of breeds? Domestic Shorthairs! They're looked at as part of the reason because, as www.about.com says, if a vetrinarians office can't label your cat as a specific type of species, it labeled as a domestic. The vetrinarians office then takes it a step further by labeling what type of domestic it is (i.e. longhair, shorthair) The type of cats within the shorthair are: mixed, ally, & housecats.
APPEARANCE: Domestic Shorthairs vary in color. As for size, & other appearance chararacteristics, it's as follows: Domestic Shorthairs are known to be average sized cats, Males, when fully grown are usually around the 11-15 lbs (4.9-6.8 kg) mark. Females are noticeably smaller at only 8-12 lbs (3.6-5.4 kg) when fully grown. Most cat breeds are fully grown by the time they hit 1 year (12 months), Domestic Shorthairs on the other hand can take up to don't reach their full size until they're about 3-4 years old.
PERSONALITY: Domestic Shorthairs can be quite unpredictable, it's actually their most noticeable trait. When they're kittens, they reflect mostly on their environment. their personality, much like humans, can range from: hyper, to lazy, cuddly, & mean. When cats are pure bred, their personalities are noticeably more predictable, because they follow their background. But, since Domestic Shorthairs, are NOT pure bred, they are thus, NOT predictable.
PERSIAN (note: Himalayan's are Pointed Persians): BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Some of the more specific details surrounding the Persian cat are still a mystery, though written facts that have been read & interpreted over time have given proof it may be the oldest breed, brought over to Europe from Persia, what is now Turkey & Iran, in the 1700s. Some of the facts argue however, that the Persian cat is actually a longer-haired, offshoot of the ancient Egyptian cats & can be traced back to Ancient Egypt where this cat was bred to be a favorite of the Pharaoh.
In the 2nd half of the 1800s, English breeders began careful & specific breeding of the Persian cat & official status was granted was 1887.
FUNFACT: Persians require daily grooming & would be better as indoor cats (not going outside at all). They have a variety of known health issues. There are known tear duct issues because their tear ducts are altered channeling of the tear ducts in a flat face. This caused the tears to overflow down the face causing straining. This requires repeated cleaning. They are also known to have impacted teeth, respiratory problems, tooth alignment problems. Don't assume though that ALL Persians are unhealthy, there are always exceptions. It really depends on the breeder that you get your Persian from. Also know that there are 2 types of Persians: Ultra Persian & Traditional Persian, then to further the confusion, there are different subtypes, one being the dollface.
APPEARANCE: Persians are known to be round, & stocky with short limbs. Their fur is very thick & long with an undercoat. Their face is often described as a 'Pansy Face', it's flat, & through selective breeding, has become flatter over time. They have wide, pointy ears that sit on wide, rounded head.
BRITIAN:GCCF (The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy): Color Groups -Self: white, blue, black, red, cream, chocolate, & lilac.
-smoke
-chinchilla
-cameo
-pewter
-tabby
-tortie tabby
-tortie
-tortie & white
-tortie tabby & white
-bicolor solid
-bicolor tabby
-van bicolor
-van tricolor
Average tend to be 11-12 pounds (4.9-5.4 kg), but the Persian tends to be heavier then your average cat. A veterinarian can help you determine your cats ideal weight size based on his/her bone size. Their life expectancy tends to be about 15+ years, where as your average cat is between 10-18 years. The litter sizes tend to be about 1-14 kittens, the average cat has about 3-5 kittens.
PERSONALITY They're the perfect companions, they're mild, & sweet-tempered cats. BUT, don't think you'll have a rug on your hands...they do love to play also. They thrive from your affection, love to be petted & fussed over & are very devoted to their human companions. But, they won't harass you for the attention the way some breeds will. However, if you don't give them enough attention, they will let you know. They're intelligent, but they aren't as curious & active as cats are known to be.
SIAMESE: BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Siamese cats have unique markings & unique personalities, possibly making them one of the most distinctive cat breeds. They are a type of oriental cat breed & are believed to be from Southeast Asia, their exact origins aren't truly known, but they're believed to be descendants of the sacred temple cats of of Siam (now Thailand). The people of Siam referred to Siamese cats as 'Wichien-naat' which is translated to 'Moon Diamond'. According to the legend, when a high ranking official died, a cat from the royal house was selected to receive the dead official's soul. That cat was then brought to a temple, where it spent the rest of it's life living in luxury, waited on by monks & priests. The first Siamese cat ever recorded to be seen OUTSIDE of Asia was a cat NAMED Siam. Siam was given to the U.S. president, Rutherford B. Hayes. Siam was a gift from the American Counsil in 1878. After Siam, there wasn't another recorded import of a Siamese outside of Asia until 1884, when the British Council-General Edward Blencowe-Gould sent a breeding pair (Pho & Mia) to his sister Lillian Jane Veley in Britian.
APPEARANCE: Siamese are known for being attractive cats, with strikingly large, almond-shaped, baby-blue eyes. They have large bodies, long heads, long tails, & long neck & legs. They have long, tubular bodies that is well boned & muscular. They have slender necks & lean legs. They have medium-sized bodies & their weight, which can vary considerably, is typically between: 5-15 lbs (2.2-6.8 kg). The coats of the siamese are short, soft, & glazy. Their are 4 basic colors: Seal, Chocolate, Blue, & Lilac. The ears, face mask, feet, & tail are noticeably darker then the rest of the body.
PERSONALITY: Siamese cats are very friendly, loving, & affectionate. They're enormously cunning & very good learners. They're also very amusing & will keep entertaining you with their fun-loving activities. Siamese also, on the other hand, are said to have a royal attitude. They're also extremely vocal, & demand absolute attention. Siamese cats are also very loyal.
ANGORA:
NOTE: IF YOU GOOGLE 'HISTORY OF ANGORA CATS, YOU GET INFORMATION FOR TURKISH ANGORA, SO THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO COVER FOR THIS BLOG.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: This cat breed, it seems, is related to, the Trukish Van, & it definitely has a long & distinguished history that marks this cat, & the Turkish Van, out from other purebred cats (an exception being the Chartreux). It's believed, or was once believed that the Turkish Van & the Turkish Angora are one & the same.
This breed is known as a natural breed, which means that it's naturalness would only extend with time. In the early-mid 1900s, the early years of the cat fancy, when people got involved & started breeding the cat, it was known as a 'living legend'
The Turkish Angora can be traced back to 1300s & has evolved in an area that used to be called Anatolia, what is now centered by Turkey. It was imported into France in the 1500s. The Turkish Angora was originally called the Ankara Cat. It's possible that the Turkish Angora evolved from the Manul Cat (felis manul) or Pallas's Cat, which was a pet to the Tartar's. It's also possible that the breed was evolved in mountainous regions, hence its semi-long haired coat. As a matter of fact, it may have initially evolved in Russia!
In the early years, there was a substantial amount of confusion because the word 'angora' was used to mean 'long-haired cat', so Angora & Persian was actually used interchangeably.
HEALTH: HCM is a heart disease that can affect the Turkish Angora & many other breeds. Also, Ataxia is a recessively inherited gene. The symptoms of Ataxia are poorly coordinated movement. The major concern regarding health is, perhaps, a consequence of this cat being preferably white. The gene that produces a white coat, can also cause deafness. Odd-eyed cats may be deaf on the blue-eyed side. In a study, carried out between 1971-1979, this cat breed was seen for skin disease '3.6 times more frequently than it should have been based on the total hospital population.'
APPEARANCE: The Turkish Angora is lithe, lean, active, & small-medium in size. It's a long-haired breed, some say the oldest of the long-haired breeds. It's single-coated, which means that it doesn't have that heavy undercoat that Persians & Maine Coons do, which means that its easier to groom & less prone to shedding & matting. Most people think of the Turkish Angora as a white cat, but in fact, the Turkish Angora can come in ALL colors, except those that would indicate hybridization with other breeds such as: chocolate, lilac, cinnamon, fawn, & the 'pointed' colors derived from the Siamese or Burmese cats. You can find Turkish Angora's in: black, blue, red, cream, silver, smoke, tortoiseshell, blue-cream, & all shades of tabby, as well as all these colors with white trim. They're long-bodied, relatively fine-boned, & the head is characteristically wedge-shaped, set off by large almond-eyes, & ears which should be as large, tall, & close together as possible. The coat is characteristically glossy, with a fine silky sheen. The tail is long, like the body, & is ideally a 'brush' tail. The hair is all 1 length, creating a 'fox-brush' effect. They typically range from 6.6-18.7 lbs (2.9-8.4 kg)
PERSONALITY: They're known to be alert & energetic. They love to run, climb, & play & are known for showing off. Because they're one of the smarter breeds, they tend to be assertive & strong-willed. They usually get their way, in any given situation. They are known to be accepting of dogs, but tend to be more dominant. In other words, they'll accept your dog, but they're the boss. They're known to bond to 1 particular person in a household & follow that person around like a dog, but they will show affection to the rest of the household. They acceptable & they well adaptable, & make good family cats. They're good with children, even young children. They're known to be swimmers. Many (but not all) will willingly jump in the water, especially if they were raised by swimming mothers.
BENGAL:
BACKGROUND INFORMAION: The Bengal cat is actually a relatively new breed, starting, in earnest, in the mid-1980s. it's an exotic breed, originally created by breeding small Asian Leopard Cats to small, domestic cats, such as the Abyssinian, Domestic Shorthair, Burmese, or Egyptian Mau. The Bengal must be 4 or more generations removed from their Asian Leopard Cat ancestors & must have 3 consecutive generations of Bengal to Bengal breeding in order to be eligible for showing in T.I.C.A. (registration papers will reflect 'SBT' in the registration number, which means that the cat has Stud Book Status). Currently, SBT Bengals can be shown in T.I.C.A., A.C.F.A., U.F.O., I.C.E., & a few other cat associations for some championship titles. The earlier generations of Bengals, which is refered to as 'Foundation Bengals' or Filial Bengals', such as F-1, F-2, F-3 (1, 2, or 3 generations, respecitively, removed from the Asian Leopard Cat), are best left to specialized breeders, or properly prepared & informed owners who are equipped to take care of them. F-4's & beyond, or SBT's are the TRUE domestic Bengals. They are the ones that usually make the best house pets, & when they are carefully bred within highly selective & loving breeding programs, make delightfully affectionate family companions.
HEALTH ISSUES: Their are quite a few known health issues in Bengal cats. Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Cataracts, HCM, & CRF. Noone can guarantee that your cat will not get sick. But if you carefully choose your breeder, who carefully tests their breeding stock & has several generations of healthy cats in their lines, then they will probably offer you the best chance at have a healthy, long-lived cat.
APPEARANCE: The Bengal Standard is what describes the features that define the breed's look & structure. It's coat is described as Distinctly horizontal aligned, or random spots in extreme contrast to the background color. Rosette's are very desirable. No vertical stripes, a spotted belly. Bold chin-strap & mascara markings. Marble Markings should be different, with as little bulls-eye as possible. The bridge of the nose should extend above the eyes. They should have a muzzle with prominent whisker pads, & they should have large, oval, round-set eyes. They should have a proportionately long muscular, thick neck, muscular legs & torso. The back legs should be slightely longer then the front, & they should have large, round feet. The tail should be thick, & tapered, with a very round, dark tip. There are a variety of colors, which a link is provided: Bengal Color Photos
PERSONALITY: Bengals are known to love water, & they're are very intelligent, affectionate, active, & extremely curious. They love heights & love to climb. They're very intelligent, again, & tend to get in trouble because of that. Bengals will climb almost anything & are known to accept most any other animal. They also enjoy sharing their space with other cats & dogs. They have doglike personalities, & thus are very easy to train. Bengals tend to start running like crazy at very random moments, running & jumping like crazy over anything in it's path. They might stop to check for anyone watching, & then continue...then suddenly, as quickly & suddenly as it began, it's over.
MAINE COON: Origins & history of the Maine Coon are well known, but tend to be a concept surrounded by many myths that are both appealing & fuel the imagination. One of those myths is actually responsible for the word, 'Coon' getting into the Maine Coon cat name. Several breeds are considered natural breeds by CFA, but Maine Coons are the only natural long-haired breed that is native to America. Their origins are an evolutionary process that extend over a 250+ year time history in the climate of Maine, with it's short summers & it's snow-packed winters. Maine Coon's gene-pool origins are likely rooted to long-haired cats brought in from the Scandinavian area's & Baltic Sea of Northern Europe & possibly from long-haired cats as far east as Saint Petersburg. History tells us that old Sailing ships kept cats to help maintain control over rats & Maine was a commerce area & cats likely smaller then Maine Coons, but somewhat resembling the early Coon Cats were likely left behind in Maine, even before human settlements were common. Maine cats likely cross-bred with heavier-bodied, powerful, Americanized version of the short-haired cats, common to the central seaboard states of the United States, which originated from central Europe such as England & France. This evolutionary process created a native American & natural breed adapted to the harsh New England climate. So, the cat then developed & adapted out of necessity.
HEALTH ISSUES: The only known common health issue of the Maine Coon is Hip Dysplasia
APPEARANCE: The Maine Coon is known for being as intelligent as it is beautiful. It is a naturally large cat. There are many legends that surround the breed. Maine Coon's are actually one of the largest domestic cat breeds, & has a very thick fur coat & mane. It has a racoon like tail, hence the 'Coon' in it's name. But it's only in appearance as the Maine Coon has no relation to the actual racoon. The most common Maine Coon appearance is that of Brown & Tabby like appearance, but there are variations such as: Silver Tabby, Red Tabby, & Blue & White Tabby. They are one of the most common breeds of cat today & there are many great breeders around the country.
PERSONALITY: Maine Coon's have a reputation for being one of the more intelligent cat breeds & have an easygoing personality. They love to follow their human friends around, Maine Coon's are active & playful, & they enjoy staying busy.
TORTOISESHELL:(NOTE: THIS PART ALSO APPLIES TO CALICO'S AS CALICO & TORTOISESHELL CATS GENERALLY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES, ISSUES, TEMPERAMENT, ETC.)
BACKGROUND: First, Lets distinguish 1 thing. Tortoiseshell & Calico is NOT a breed, but a COLOR PATTERN. You'll find many breeds that have Tortoiseshell Patterns that I've listed above. On that note, the factual history of the color pattern is not a glamorous one. The tortoiseshell pattern simply arose due to a combination of genetic traits. But, for a more....DECORATED history, the Khmers of Southeast Asia offer an interesting explanation, if nothing else. According to their folklore, the first tortoiseshell arose from the menstrual blood of a young goddess born of a lotus flower during a magical ritual. Other folklore concerning the origin of the Tortoiseshell include the following: 1. The Celts considered it a good omen if a MALE tortoiseshell stayed in their home. 2. The English believed that warts could be healed if rubbed by the tale of a MALE Tortoiseshell tail during the month of May. 3. Japanese fisherman believed that MALE Tortoiseshell's protected the ship from ghosts & storms. 4. Some believe that having a Tortoiseshell in your dreams gives that person good luck.
HEALTH ISSUES: None that are known to the color pattern, it should be noted however that you should look into any health issues your cat's BREED may have.
APPEARANCE: Tortoiseshell, again is not a breed, but a color pattern. The color pattern being: Black & brown. (Calico's being Black, Brown, & White)
PERSONALITY: Tortoiseshell's have another trait they're known for, besides their coat: THEIR PERSONALITY! Their personality is sometimes referred to as 'tortitude'. These cats have a reputation for having quite the unique personality & are strong-willed, & can be very possessive of their human. Other words used to describe Tortoiseshell's are: fiercely independent, feisty, & undpredictable. They're known for being very vocal & talkative & usually make their presence known with anything from a hiss, to a meow, to a strong purr. These traits are stronger in Tortoiseshells then in Calico's. It seems as though the more white there is, the less prominent these personality traits are.
EXTRA: Many people will mistakenly tell you that ALL Tortoiseshell's are female. While MOST are, not ALL of them are. Here is a complete explanation: The reason most Torties are female is because both of the gene's that contain the pattern are contained in the X Chromosomes The Red gene must be on 1 X Chromosome & 1 non-red gene on the other. Since typical females have 2 X Chromosomes & typical Males have 1 X Chromosomes & 1 Y Chromosomes, it is obvious why this pattern is rarely seen in males. Most males can only have the red gene or the non-red gene, but not both, the resulting product is a solid red tabby, or a solid black cat. However, as mentioned earlier, not ALL Torties are female. This is possible by a genetic mutation that causes some males to have 2 X Chromosomes & 1 Y Chromosomes resulting in a cat with the Chromosome pattern of XXY. As a result, these males are often less territorial & less interested in female cats. They are also sterile & cannot produce any young. The rarity of the Male Tortie has made it so not only are they known to be VERY expensive in many parts of the world, but they are also thought to be good luck.
Breeds that are known to exhibit Tortoiseshell patterns: As stated above, many different breeds have the Tortoiseshell pattern. These different breeds include: Birman, Manx, Norwegian Forest, Persian, Turkish Van, Japanese Bobtail, Siamese, Burmese, Angora, Maine Coon, Abyssinian, British Shorthair, Himalayan, Colorpoint Shorthair, Oriental Shorthair, Tonkinese, Cornish Rex, American Bobtail, Cymric, Devon Rex, Scottish Fold, American Shorthair, American Wirehair, Exotic Shorthair, Sphynx, Somali, American Curl, Burmilla, and European Shorthair.
Please if you're leaving a comment, don't be too harsh...this took me 4+ hours to do. This required a great deal of typing & searching, so while I do appreciate constructive criticism, anything nasty, as I've stated before, will be deleted. I worked VERY hard on this blog.
I didn't read the whole thing[I'm lazy] But I'm glad a nice long bog got created/featured. A suggestion: Perhaps you should've Put this into a 2-3 differant blogs, spanning 1-2 breeds in each one. Then, people could read them in whole, and, find which ones [breed] they want to read about. As a cat Owner[6], I found this blog interesting. My Cat, who's been w/ me since I was 1, is a British Short Hair, though she was born in a barn. She's in good-ish health, but she's really stressed right now, due to our kittens...
@The Ram
@turtle153
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