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The Abyssinian is a very active,
playful, and inquisitive breed. This slender, shorthaired breed
is distinguished by its ticked tabby coat pattern, which is a
pattern more commonly seen in wild cats. Though ruddy is the
color most associated with the breed, "Abys" are available in
blue, fawn, and red (also known as sorrel), as well.
For more information, see the
Abyssinian Breed FAQ.
This experimental breed has a
naturally shortened tail, about half the length of a normal tail,
but longer than that of the
Japanese
Bobtail. Whether the dominant gene controlling the mutation
is the same as the Manx, or a new mutation,
has not yet been established. American Bobtails are not widely
recognized.
The American Curl is recognized by
its unusual ears, which are curled backwards. This is the result
of a natural mutation. There are both longhair and shorthair
varieties, and a rainbow of patterns and colors. This relatively
new breed has an energetic, affectionate temperament.
For more information, see the
American Curl Breed FAQ.
The American Shorthair was
developed from native American working cats. It is a moderately
stocky, even-tempered cat with a short coat. Although this breed
is accepted in a wide variety of colors and patterns, the silver
classic tabby is perhaps best known.
The American Wirehair is
distinguished by its coat - as the result of a natural mutation,
every hair is crimped and springy, including the whiskers. The
original mutation occurred in a domestic shorthair, and the
American Shorthair has also
contributed to the development of the breed. Wirehairs may be
either shorthaired or longhaired, in a variety of colors and
patterns.
The Angora is the British
equivalent of the Oriental Longhair.
In addition to all of the usual Oriental Shorthair colors and
patterns, the British standard also allows green-eyed and
odd-eyed whites.
Asian Shorthair is actually a
generic term, which refers to an entire group of cats. The cats
in the "Asian Group" are all of Burmese
type, but of varying colors and patterns. Within the group, some
of the specific colors/patterns have their own names, such as
Burmilla and Bombay, but all are considered to be part of the
Asian Shorthair breed. The breed was developed primarily in
Britain. It is not currently recognized by any U.S. Registries.
The Asian Semi-Longhair is like
the Asian Shorthair except that they have
semi-long hair instead of short hair. These cats are also known
by the name Tiffanie. They are recognized
in any of the Asian Shorthair or Burmese colors and patterns.
Like the Asian Shorthair, the breed was developed in Britain, and
is not currently recognized by any U.S. Registries.
The Australian Mist (formerly
known as the Spotted Mist) was developed in Australia, and is
descended from the Burmese, Abyssinian, and domestic shorthair.
Its alert and friendly personality combines qualities of all
three. The Australian Mist is a shorthair cat with a spotted
coat, and they are available in a variety of colors. They are not
yet recognized by any U.S. Registries.
The Balinese is a semi-longhaired
variant of the Siamese. Its coat is of
medium length, and very silky and fine. Balinese are found in all
the colors and patterns associated with the Siamese breed.
For more information, see the
Balinese/Javanese Breed FAQ.
The Bengal is a relatively new
breed, descended from a cross between wild Asian Leopard Cats and
domestic shorthairs. It is a large spotted cat with a short,
glossy coat. Well-bred Bengal's are active, intelligent
companions, but buyers are advised to use caution since those
within 3 generations of the wild outcross may still exhibit the
wild temperament of their wild ancestors. Bengal's are not
accepted in all associations.
For more information, see the
Bengal Breed FAQ.
Also known as the "Sacred Cat of
Burma", the Birman has a number of fanciful legends associated
with its origin. It is a semi-longhaired cat, accepted only in
the pointed pattern, but is distinguished from the
Balinese and
Himalayan not only by its moderately stocky body type, but by
its four white feet.
For more information, see the
Birman Breed FAQ.
The Bombay's sleek, glossy black
coat and copper eyes make it resemble a miniature black panther.
It was developed from the Burmese breed
and exhibits the muscular body type and affectionate, playful
temperament of the Burmese.
In Great Britain, the Bombay is a
specific type of Asian Shorthair, and not a
separate breed.
For more information, see the
Bombay Breed FAQ.
See
Oriental Longhair.
The Brazilian Shorthair is
descended from domestic cats brought over to Brazil by European
colonists. It is a medium-sized cat, and comes in a wide variety
of colors and patterns. It is not widely recognized.
The British Shorthair is a stocky,
sturdy cat resembling a plush teddy bear. It is a calm, quiet
companion. While blue is the color most associated with the
breed, "Brits" are found in a number of other colors and patterns
as well.
For more information, see the
British Shorthair Breed FAQ.
The Burmese is an affectionate and
even-tempered cat with a sleek, glossy coat. Though the original
color is solid sable brown, other colors (not recognized in all
associations) include blue, champagne, platinum and tortie colors.
The American Burmese is much rounder in appearance than the
European variety.
For more information, see the
Foreign Burmese Breed FAQ.
The Burmilla is a specific type of
Asian Shorthair, and not a separate breed.
Developed from a cross between the Chinchilla
Persian and the Burmese, it is known
for its shaded pattern, and short, sleek coat. Though silver is
perhaps best known, other colors are also available. This is a
relatively new variety, and not widely accepted.
The California Spangled Cat is
truly a designer cat: it was featured in the Neiman Marcus
catalog in the early 90's. Like the Ocicat,
it was developed to resemble a spotted wild cat. This breed is
not widely recognized.
The Chantilly/Tiffany is a new
variety, developed in North America from a pair of chocolate
colored cats of unknown ancestry. It should not be confused with
the British Tiffanie. Called "The
Chocoholics Delight", the Chantilly/Tiffany has soft, silky,
semi-long hair, with a slender body, and comes in colors like
chocolate, cinnamon, fawn, and lilac, in both solid and tabby
patterns. It is not widely recognized.
For more information, see the
Chantilly/Tiffany Breed FAQ.
The Chartreux is an old natural
breed which originated in France, said to have been raised as a
companion by the Carthusian monks. Known for its wooly blue coat,
brilliant orange eyes, and smiling expression, it is a sturdy,
quiet, sweet-tempered cat.
For more information, see the
Chartreux Breed FAQ.
The Chausie is a new breed - a
hybrid of domestic cats and the wild jungle cat of Asia. This is
a large cat - generally twice as tall as a domestic cat and 2-3
times as heavy. The breeders are striving to maintain the look
and coloration of the jungle cat - the large size, tufted ears,
and golden, solid black, or black and silver coloring. This breed
is still developing and is not widely recognized.
The Cherubim and Honeybear are
experimental variations of the Ragdoll.
They have not been accepted by any associations.
See
Himalayan.
The Colorpoint Shorthair has the
Siamese personality and body type, and
appears in red point, cream point, lynx (tabby) point, and tortie
point colors. In some associations these cats are part of the
Siamese breed.
The Cornish Rex is known for its
soft, wavy, curly hair: even the whiskers curl. Its coat feels
like crushed velvet to the touch. The breed originated in
Cornwall, and is distinct from the Devon Rex,
though the coat appears similar to the untrained eye. Today's
Cornish Rex has a racy, slender body, and is found in a wide
variety of colors and patterns.
For more information, see the
Cornish Rex Breed FAQ.
Cymric is the name given to a
semi-longhaired variation of the Manx breed.
In some associations the name is no longer used, where these cats
have been accepted as a separate division of the Manx breed.
The Devon Rex is noted for its
soft, short, naturally curly coat. Its large eyes and ears give
it a "pixie-ish" appearance. The Devon Rex originated near a tin
mine in Devon, and is distinct from the
Cornish Rex, though the coat mutation appears similar. They
are available in a variety of patterns and colors.
For more information, see the
Devon Rex Breed
FAQ.
The Egyptian Mau bears a striking
resemblance to paintings of ancient Egyptian cats. These active,
athletic cats have the spotted tabby pattern resembling wild
cats, but are fully domesticated. They come in colors such as
bronze spotted, silver spotted, and black smoke.
The European Shorthair is
descended from Scandinavian domestic cats. It is a very new
breed, and still under development, and is not yet recognized.
The Exotic Shorthair has the body
and head type of the Persian, but has a short plush coat. The
breed was developed by crossing Persians
and various shorthaired breeds such as
American Shorthairs,
Burmese,
British Shorthairs, and Russian Blues.
Exotics are available in the same rainbow of colors and patterns
as the Persian breed.
For more information, see the
Exotic Shorthair Breed FAQ.
The Havana Brown is noted for its
warm chocolate brown color. The British breed bearing this name
is a brown variety of the Oriental
Shorthair, while the American version is a separate breed
with a distinctive body and head type. Though originally named
for the brown color, a lavender frost color is also permitted in
some associations.
The Himalayan has the stocky body
type, long hair, and placid temperament of the
Persian, but has the pointed pattern of the
Siamese. In some associations, Himalayans
are considered part of the Persian breed. In Britain, the
Himalayan is known as the
Colorpoint Longhair.
See
Cherubim.
The Japanese Bobtail has existed
in Japan for at least 1000 years. It is distinguished by its
naturally short tail, which resembles a bunny tail. The most
commonly seen Japanese Bobtail pattern is the tri-color, or
mi-ke (white with red and black) good-luck pattern, but other
colors and patterns are also accepted. This breed is recognized
in both shorthaired and semi-longhaired varieties.
For more information, see the
Japanese
Bobtail Breed FAQ.
The Javanese is like the
Balinese, but it appears in the lynx
(tabby) point and tortie point patterns, as well as additional
point colors such as red and cream. In some associations, these
cats are part of the Balinese breed.
For more information, see the
Balinese/Javanese Breed FAQ.
The Korat is a small cat known for
its sleek silvery blue coat, heart-shaped face and prominent
gooseberry-green eyes. Korats originated in Thailand, where they
are regarded as "good luck" cats. They are energetic and
affectionate companions.
For more information, see the
Korat
Breed FAQ.
The LaPerm is distinguished by its
strongly curled coat - hence the name. This was the result of a
natural mutation in a domestic shorthair cat. LaPerms can be
either longhair or shorthair, and are available in a variety of
colors and patterns.
See Persian.
The Maine Coon is known for its
large size, easy-going temperament, and rugged appearance. This
native New England breed is well-adapted to that harsh climate,
with a heavy, shaggy coat, bushy tail, and tufted ears and toes.
Though the brown classic tabby pattern is perhaps the best known,
Maine Coons are available in a variety of colors and patterns.
For more information, see the
Maine Coon Breed FAQ.
The name "Malayan" is sometimes
used to describe Burmese cats of colors
other than solid sable.
The Manx is distinguished by a
feature it lacks - a tail. This natural mutation is thought to
have originated on the Isle of Man, hence the name, Manx. The
"Manx gene" produces cats with tails of varying length, from the
"longie" (normal tail) to the "stumpy" (short tail) and "rumpy"
(no tail). Manx cats are stocky and rounded in appearance, with
short backs and long hind legs that make them appear rabbit-like.
The thick coat can be either short or semi-long, though in some
associations the longhairs are known as Cymrics.
Manx are available in a variety of colors and patterns.
For more information, see the
Manx Breed FAQ.
The Munchkin is short-legged (like
the Dachshund dog), the result of a natural mutation. It is still
considered experimental and is not widely recognized.
The Nebelung is a new breed,
intended to resemble a long-haired
Russian Blue. It is a slender cat with a medium-long, silky
blue coat. This breed is not widely recognized.
For more information, see the
Nebelung
Breed FAQ.
As indicated by the name, the
Norwegian Forest Cat originated in Norway. It is a hardy, sturdy
cat with a thick, heavy coat, well-equipped to survive in the
harsh Scandinavian winters. They have almond-shaped eyes and
sweet expressions. "Wegies" are found in most colors and
patterns.
For more information, see the
Norwegian
Forest Cat FAQ.
The Ocicat looks like a small wild
spotted cat, but is in fact a domestic breed created by combining
the Siamese,
Abyssinian, and American
Shorthair. "Ocis" are active, affectionate, and very social.
They are available in various patterns, though only the spotted
patterns may be shown, and in several different colors.
For more information, see the
Ocicat Breed FAQ.
The Ojos Azules is a new mutation,
named for its blue eyes. Normally blue eyes are only found in
white or pointed cats, but Ojos Azules come in all colors.
Development of the breed is currently on hold. It is still
experimental and is not widely recognized.
This breed is the semi-longhaired
variety of the Oriental Shorthair.
Like the other Oriental breeds, it has the slender body and
active, people-oriented temperament of the
Siamese. It appears in a variety of solid and tabby colors.
This breed is not accepted in all associations.
In Great Britain, this breed is
known as the Angora.
Oriental Shorthairs are like the
Siamese in body type and personality, but
Orientals do not share the characteristic Siamese coloring
(colored points on the head, tail, and legs). They are generally
solid or tabby-patterned in a variety of colors.
The Persian is perhaps the most
widely recognized cat breed. It is certainly the most numerous of
all the breeds. The Persian is known for its extremely long,
fluffy coat, very stocky body type, round head, large eyes, and
flat face. Persians have a sweet and gentle temperament, and are
among the most placid of all breeds. Buyers are advised that the
long, soft coat requires daily grooming.
Persians are available in a myriad
of colors and patterns. Persians with the pointed ("Siamese")
pattern are sometimes called Himalayans.
In Britain, the Persian is known as the Longhair, and the
Himalayan is known as the
Colorpoint Longhair.
The Pixie-Bob looks like a
miniature bobcat - spotted coat, short tail, etc. According to
some, the Pixie-Bobs are a bobcat hybrid. This is a new breed and
not widely accepted.
The Ragamuffin is a variant of the
Ragdoll. It has not been widely accepted.
The Ragdoll is known for its
docile and placid temperament. It is a large, semi-longhaired
cat, exhibiting the pointed (Siamese) pattern. They are available
in seal, blue, chocolate, and lilac point colors, either with or
without white markings on the face and feet. They are not
accepted in all associations21
For more information, see the
Ragdoll Breed FAQ.
The Russian Blue is a natural
breed thought to have originated in northern Russia. It is noted
for its short, plush, silvery blue coat, brilliant green eyes,
and semi-foreign body type with long legs and body. This is a
graceful, playful breed with a quiet temperament.
For more information, see the
Russian Blue
Breed FAQ.
The Scottish Fold is characterized
by its distinctive ears, which are folded forward and down, and
by its large, rounded eyes, which give it a sweet, wide-eyed
expression. They are mellow and affectionate cats. Scottish Folds
are found in both longhair and shorthair varieties, in a great
number of color and pattern combinations.
For more information, see the
Scottish Fold Breed FAQ.
The Selkirk Rex was developed from
a natural mutation that arose in the U.S. Like the other Rex
cats, the Cornish Rex and
Devon Rex, this breed has a naturally
curly coat. Unlike the other Rex breeds, the Selkirk has a
rounded, stocky body type and comes in both longhaired and
shorthaired varieties. This new breed is not accepted in all
associations.
For more information, see the
Selkirk Rex Breed FAQ.
The Siamese is distinguished by
its brilliant blue eyes and its colored "points" (ears, face,
tail, and feet), which provide a striking contrast to its
light-colored body. It is vocal, demanding, lively, and
affectionate. Today's show Siamese display a very long, slender
body type, and a long, wedge-shaped head with huge ears. Some
breeders work with a more moderate, rounded type of Siamese,
known as the Traditional (Applehead)
Siamese.
Siamese were originally recognized
in the seal, blue, chocolate, and lilac point colors. In some
associations, additional colors and patterns are accepted as part
of the Siamese breed, while other associations call these cats
Colorpoint Shorthairs.
"Siberian" is the name given to
Russia's native semi-longhair. This large, powerful cat is still
quite rare in the U.S., and is not yet widely recognized. Brown
tabby is the most popular color, but it is available in other
colors as well.
The Singapura is a small,
short-haired cat distinguished by its large eyes and its unusual
warm beige colored and brown ticked coat. They are somewhat rare.
The Snowshoe is a cross between
the American Shorthair and the
Siamese, producing a sturdy, pointed cat
with white markings on the face, chest and feet. This breed is
not widely recognized.
The Sokoke is a shorthair cat
descended from feral cats found on a farm in Kenya. They have a
very unusual and attractive blotched tabby pattern and look a bit
like an ocelot. This breed is still under development in Europe
and is not recognized by any U.S. cat associations.
For more information, see the
Sokoke Breed FAQ.
The Somali is perhaps most easily
described as a long-haired Abyssinian.
This lively breed with a bushy tail has sometimes been called the
"fox cat". Its dense, soft coat exhibits the ticked tabby pattern
- the pattern most commonly known in wild cats. They are
available in the blue, fawn, red (sorrel), and ruddy colors.
For more information, see the
Somali Breed FAQ.
The Sphynx is distinguished by its
hairlessness, though actually it is covered by a soft down.
Because the Sphynx lacks hair to absorb natural skin oils, it
must be bathed frequently. Despite the lack of hair, coat color
and pattern are visible in the downy coat and the underlying
skin. The Sphynx is not recognized by all associations.
See Australian
Mist.
The Sterling was the name proposed
for the silver Persian. The decision was
made to keep these cats within the Persian breed, and the
Sterling name has been dropped.
The Tiffanie is also known as the
Asian Semi-Longhair. It is a
semi-longhaired cat with Burmese body
type, and recognized in any of the Burmese or Asian Shorthair
colors and patterns.
Developed in North America, the
Chantilly/Tiffany is a silky,
semi-longhaired chocolate-colored cat. It is distinct from the
British Tiffanie, and not at all related.
See Chantilly/Tiffany.
The Tonkinese was produced by
crossing the Burmese and
Siamese breeds. This playful,
people-oriented breed has a moderate body type and a sleek, soft
coat, and features a unique pattern known as "mink": it is
pointed like the Siamese, but the body is colored in a shade
harmonizing with the point color, and the eyes are aqua in shade.
"Tonks" are available in a range of colors intermediate between
their Burmese and Siamese parent breeds. In some associations
non-mink colors and patterns are also accepted.
For more information, see the
Tonkinese Breed FAQ.
The Traditional Siamese has a
rounder, more moderate body and head type than today's show
Siamese. It is a talkative, affectionate
cat, and appears in the traditional seal, blue, chocolate, and
lilac point colors. In most associations these are registered as
Siamese (although they do not meet the current show standard),
but in a few associations they are recognized in their own breed
category.
For more information, see the
Traditional Siamese Breed FAQ.
The Turkish Angora is a
semi-longhaired cat that originated in Turkey. They are
long-bodied and graceful with a fine, silky coat. Though solid
white is the most well-known color, they come in a variety of
additional colors and patterns.
For more information, see the
Turkish
Angora Breed FAQ.
The Turkish Van is a
semi-longhaired cat distinguished by its unusual pattern: the cat
is white except for a colored tail and color on the head. (This
is called the "Van" pattern, and is seen in other breeds as
well.) Turkish Vans are said to be fond of water and swimming.
The York Chocolate is a new breed,
developed from domestic, non-pedigreed cats. It is distinguished
by its semi-long hair, soft, silky coat, and plumed tail. As its
name implies, the cat is known for its chocolate coloring, and
comes only in solid chocolate or lavender, or solid chocolate and
white or lavender and white bicolor. It is not widely recognized.
What is NOT a breed?
A recognized cat breed is defined
by a breed standard, which describes the cat and its physical
characteristics in detail. A breed standard includes much more
than just color, pattern, or hair length. In fact, color and
pattern alone do NOT define a cat breed, since most cat breeds
include cats of a wide range of colors and patterns.
The following are NOT cat breeds:
- Calicos and
Tortoiseshells
- Cats of these patterns are
found in many breeds, as well as in the domestic population.
There is an excellent FAQ at
http://www.fanciers.com/cat-faqs/tricolors.shtml which
offers much more information.
- Extra-toed,
Polydactyl, aka "Hemingway" Cats
- Polydactyl cats have extra toes
on one or more of their feet. This condition is called
polydactyly, and is the result of a not uncommon genetic
mutation. The condition is also hereditary, and polydactyl
parents often pass the trait to their offspring. It can occur
in any cat breed, but it is considered a defect, and these cats
should not used for breeding. The cats are sometimes called
"Hemingway Cats" because Ernest Hemingway was said to be fond
of them, and there is a colony of them around his house on Key
West. For more information, see:
http://www.breedlist.com/articles/polydact/polydact.html
- Ginger, Marmalade,
Orange Tabby Cats
- These are reddish-orange tabby
cats - cat fanciers refer to the color as "red" rather than
"orange". This color is found in many cat breeds, as well as in
the domestic population.
- Maltese (Gray) Cats
- Solid gray cats are sometimes
called "maltese" cats. Cat fanciers refer to this color as
"blue". While there are several cat breeds (Chartreux, Korat,
and Russian Blue) that come ONLY in this color, this color is
also found in many other cat breeds as well as in the domestic
population.
- Tuxedo Cats, Jellicle
Cats
- These are black and white cats
with white paws, chest, and belly, and often some white on the
face. This color can be found in many cat breeds, as well as in
the domestic population.
What Breed is My Cat?
Less than 1% of the cats in the
*world* are pedigreed cats - i.e. cats of a specific breed. Most
cats are simply members of that wonderful melting pot called
felis domesticus - with its seemingly infinite variety.
What makes a cat a member of a
specific breed is its ancestry - its pedigree. If the cat's
parents were registered cats of a particular breed, then the cat
is a member of that breed. So even though a cat may LOOK like a
pedigreed whatever, it isn't considered a member of that breed
unless you have the pedigree to back it up.
For more detailed information,
read the excellent FAQ at:
http://www.breedlist.com/faq/purebred.html
Copyright © 1994-2000
Laura Gilbreath,
lgil@cts.com
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