Cat :: Cat Breeds
 AbyssinianIn Arabia, where cats have been sacred since the sixth century, there springs the myth of Muhammad's cat Muezza, the first nine-lived cat in history. It is said that when the cat was asleep on the Sleeve of Muhammad's robe, rather than disturb the cat Muhammad cut off the sleeve so the cat could sleep on.
 African Wild CatWith Genetic Science scientists are now certain that today's domestic cats are descended from the African wild cat. Slightly larger than a domestic cat, the African Wild Cat weighs 6 to 17 pounds with a head and body length of 19 to 29 inches and a tail of 8 to 13 inches.
 American ShorthairThe American shorthair is a made-in-America breed that has been in this country for hundreds of years. A popular breed, the American shorthair - or ASH - looks comfortably familiar to the average cat lover with his sturdy body style and good looks.
 BalineseThe Balinese is a long, slender cat with fine boning and the same Himalayan colour pattern as the Siamese. They come in the four Siamese colours: seal point, blue point, chocolate point and lilac point. Their head forms a long, tapering wedge with a long, straight profile.
 BengalThe spotted coat of the Bengal Cat has generated a great deal of interest in this relatively new breed, even though its numbers are still small. The breed has inherited its distinct markings from its female ancestor, a wild Asian Leopard Cat that was mated with a domestic Shorthair - one of the female litter went on to mate with her father producing a litter of spotted kittens. Bengals still show behaviour traits common to the wildcat, particularly in their fascination with running water.
 BirmanMany centuries ago in Burma, the temple of Lao-Tsun was built for the goddess Tsun-Kyan-Kse. One hundred white cats lived in, and guarded the temple. One day, while the head priest, Mun-ha, and his companion cat, Sinh, were praying to the golden statue of the goddess, the temple was raided.
 BombayThe Black Cat (Also known as the Magician Cat.). In 1958, a Kentucky (USA) breeder deliberately bred a black American shorthair and a sable-brown Burmese in an effort to creat a domestic cat that resembled the wild Panther.
 British BlueThe term "blue" refers to the gray-blue colour also known as gray or "Maltese." This neutral tone takes on different tints at different times, sometimes appearing bluish or almost lavender. The apparent tint is affected by variation in coat shade and texture, as well as variation in lighting and background. Blue cats can be difficult to photograph accurately!
 British ShorthairThe Mousehole Cat. One of the oldest European breeds, the British Shorthair traces its ancestry back to Roman times when the cats arrived with Roman soldiers and quickly spread across the English and European countryside.
 BurmeseThe Burmese originates from the Burmese Monastries where it was raised by monks as a temple cat. According to Roberta Altman, author of "The Quintessential Cat" , "It was believed that the soul of someone who died lived on for a period of time in the body of a sacred cat, before going on to total perfection in the next life: and that when a cat dies, he will speak to the Buddha on behalf of the owner."
 Cornish RexThe spontaneous mutation that created the curly-coated Cornish Rex occured twice: In Germany in 1946 and England in 1950. While the German Rex was largely ignored by breeders, British efforts to mate the original English Rex named "Kallibunker" with his mother encouraged a new genetic line. Export of Kallibunker's offspring to the United States established the line there.
 Devon RexIn 1960 a feral cat living near a deserted tin mine in Devon, England mated with an adopted stray living nearby. The offspring named Kirlee, displayed a unique, tightly-curled coat. Kirlee eventually mated with Kallibunker, the original curly-coated Cornish Rex, but produced straight haired kittens. This litter confirmed that the Devon Rex mutation constituted a new genetic pattern.
 Egyptian MauThe Egyptian Mau, a creature of light and dark in Egyptian mythology. Lion-headed and moon-eyed, a feline, born of duality. In ancient times it appeared male in one incarcation and female in another. The sun god Ra, was male, but the goddess of femininity and maternity, Bast or Bastet, was female. It was Bast who had the body of a woman and the head of a cat.
 ExoticSometimes called the lazy person’s Persian, the exotic has the same body and head type as the Persian but with a short, easy-care coat. This breed is great for those who love the look and personality of the Persian but hate the daily grooming the breed requires.
 Havana BrownThe Havana Brown is an "engineered" breed, in that the breed was developed by breeding black domestic cats carrying a brown recessive gene with a seal or chocolate point Siamese. In the very early part of the 20th century, the "self brown" Siamese came under disfavour.
 Japanese BobtailFrom written records it seems certain that the domestic cat first arrived in Japan from China or Korea at least one thousand years ago. The Japanese Bobtail breed has certainly existed in Japan for many centuries.
 KoratThe Good Luck Cat. "Korat" roughly translated means "Good Fortune." Discovered in Ampur Pimai of the Korat province in Thailand. The earliest known record of the Korat appears in The Cat-Book of Poems or Smud Khoi of Cats, produced in 1350-1767.
 LaPermThe Barn Cat. The LaPerm first came into being through a natural, spontaneous mutation in 1982 on the farm of Linda Koehl in The Dalles, Oregon, USA, from a gray tabby barn cat named Speedy. This breed is characterized by its curly coat and comes with either long or short hair.
 Maine CoonOne of the oldest natural breeds in North America, the Maine Coon is generally regarded as a native of the state of Maine (the Maine Coon is the official Maine State Cat). A native American longhaired cat the Maine Coon was recognized as a specific breed in Maine where they were held in high regard for their mousing talents.
 ManxThe are many stories on how the Manx arrived on the Isle of Man and how the breed lost its tail. The myths of the Manx go back to Noah's ark, and how the cat was late to board and, while apologising for the delay, promised to pay for her keep.
 MunchkinAlthough 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.
 Norwegian ForestThe Cohort Cat - Also known as the Butter Cat. The Norwegian Forest Cat, known as a Skogkatt in its native Norway. With its fluffy tail and fluffy ruff around the neck, long clawed and large footed, she can climb rocks and trees - being one of the only cats who can come down a tree head first.
 OcicatIf you are looking for a feline that resembles an exotic spotted jungle cat but has the sweet personality of a domestic, the ocicat may be right for you. Unlike breeds like the Bengal, only domestic cats were used in the breed’s foundation.
 Oriental ShorthairThe Playful Cat Once Known As The "Foreign" Cat. Every owner will tell you that this breed's favourite place is between you and your book, or newspaper, or keyboard!
 PersianThe Artistic Cat. This breed was once known simply as "Longhair" - It is believed that the name Persian came from North American Breeders, some colours were briefly known as "Kashmirs."
 Pixie-BobSometimes called a "Bobcat look-alike", also known as "a dog in disguise", there are Legends in all areas of the continent that suggest the Pixie-Bob's family tree took root when domestic cats imported from Europe met their wild cousins in North America, but its true origin is unknown.
 RagaMuffinThe story of the RagaMuffin began with an accident. During the 1960s, Ann Baker, a Persian breeder, developed a friendship with a neighbour who fed and cared for a colony of feral cats. A car struck one of these cats, named Josephine, who had previously given birth to wild kittens.
 RagdollThe Martyr Cat. Much controversy surrounds the history of this breed, which gained recognition in the USA in the 1960's. The charm of a Ragdoll is said to lie in the fact that it will flop in your arms when handled, but this is not uncommon in any cat that trusts its owner.
 Russian BlueThe Caretaker Cat. The Russian Blue, one of the most elegant and oldest breeds in the feline spectrum. Also known as the Archangel Blue, British Blue, Maltese Blue, and the Spanish Blue.
 Scottish FoldThe Confident Cat (Once known As The Lop-eared Cat). Folded ears ensure that this breed is immediately arresting, it also has a distinctive rounded look, with a short neck, round head, and compact body.
 Selkirk RexThe Cat In Sheep's Clothing Or A Sheepcat. The first Selkirk Rex was spotted in 1987 as a curly-coated, dilute calico female kitten in an otherwise normal straight haired litter of non-pedigree cats. This litter along with their straight haired mother had been deposited in an animal shelter as unwanted pets. And so began the history of the Selkirk Rex, developed from a natural mutation that arose in the United States.
 SiameseThe Siamese in literature occurs in a five-hundred year-old manuscript in the National Library at Bangkok, Thailand. Perhaps written by residents of the ancient city of Ayudha. These cats also appear in the Cat-Book Poems from 1350 C.E., rescued from an ancient Siamese Library, the book depicts thin-bodied cats with pointed coats that strongly resemble the modern breed.
 SiberianA magnificent, wild-looking cat, the Siberian is an excellent hunter and is well adapted to surviving in a climate of extreme temperatures. Little is known of its background, but some people think that it is one of the earliest longhaired breeds.
 SiberianThe Dancing Cat. A mutation of the Abyssinian, the Somali was first bred in the United States in the 1960's. With shaggy body and tail it is an obvious Oriental breed. Colours come in red with bands of chocolate brown, ruddy with bands of darker brown or black, and blue with bands of darker blue.
 SnowshoeThe Laid Back Cat. The Snowshoe cat is adorable, loving, very friendly, extremely gentle, calm, intelligent and great fun. Snowshoes have semi-short hair, which is very soft and makes grooming very quick and easy, although some cats may insist on a longer groom as they love the attention.
 SomaliIf you want a cat with the high spirits of the Abyssinian but with luxurious fur -- a cat that resembles a fox with its pointed muzzle, alert ears, and intelligent, brilliant eyes -- look no further than the Somali. With all the virtues of the Aby plus a gorgeous semi-long coat, the Somali is a beautiful and animated addition to any household.
 SphynxThe so called hairless Sphynx, also known as the Canadian Hairless Cat. The gene of hairlessness has appeared as a spontaneous mutation several times during the past century, in well documented occurrences in Europe, Australia and America.
 TonkineseThe only breed to originate from Canada, the Tonkinese was developed in the early 1960's by crossing a Seal-point Siamese and a Sable Burmese. The Tonkinese is an inquisitive, active, loving and responsive cat.
 Turkish AngoraOnce thought to be extinct. In recent years, due to new importation from Turkey, the breed's country of origin, the Turkish Angora has again taken its place in the roster of the pedigreed cats of the world.
 Turkish VanThe Turkish Van: white with red patches on the face and rings on the tail. there are no other varieties except that the cat is sometimes "odd eyed" - each eye being a different colour. Occasionally in the white Van kedis, they can sometimes be deaf, but this is not always the case and they are usually blue eyed.
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