Different Cat Breeds: How to Identify Pet Cats

Family Felidae: 37 species in 18 genera belonging to 3 subfamilies, found worldwide except Antarctica; evolved in the Late Eocene Era, about 37 million years ago,

Sub family Felinae: 29 species, found worldwide except Antarctica; evolved about 10 million years ago

Genus Felis (small cats): six old species, including the wildcat and domestic cat, found worldwide; evolved in the Pliocene Era, about 5.3 to 3.6 million years ago

Domestication and the religious cat cult evolved in the ancient Egypt. In the 5th and 6th Pharaoh dynasties (c. 2465 – c. 2150 BCE), cats were proclaimed as sacred animals. However, Egyptians did not begin to domesticate cats until 1500 BCE.

Apart from Egypt, cats were also domesticated in other civilizations. Ancient Chinese and Greek art and literature dating back to 5^th century BCE depicts domesticated cats. Sanskrit texts written around 1^st century BCE, in India, mention domestic cat. The Japanese and the Arabs knew domesticated cat in the 7^th century CE. A document in Britain, dating back to 936 CE, states a cat protection law.

Cats were domesticated because they were sacred animals and were very useful in protecting granaries and crop from rodents. These days this original reason behind the domestication of cat is lost in the urban areas and slightly present in the rural areas. Now cats are used as pets for companionship and show.

About 40 distinct cat breeds have been recognized. Ancestry of some of these breeds goes back to the time of antiquity. The ancestry of individual cat breed can be traced by referring to the cat mummies, and the ancient statues and drawings available in different cultures. The tabby and Abyssinian are the descendents of sacred Egyptian cat because the present day tabby and Abyssinian look similar to the cat mummies, statues and drawings in Egypt.

The Persian cat, whose exact origin is unknown but Iran is suggested, is believed to be a mixed breed cat. The tailless Manx, the hairless Sphynx and curly-coated Devon Rex are mutant genes. The ancestors of all Egyptian cats come from Africa. The Siamese cat is believed to have Asian ancestry even though no living species of Asian cats have been found. The history of Japanese Bobtail goes back to more than 1,000 years in history. This cat breed, which was very common in the medieval Japan, is rare these days.

Each breed of cats has special features and habits, and is unique in its own ways. Each breed can provide you companionship for many years. If you are a cat owner or want to own a cat, you must definitely know about the different breeds. Knowing the breed of cats will provide you the necessary information on how to take good care of your feline friends.

House cat has two or three breeding seasons in a year. Cat breed can be recognized through its, facial features, color and texture of the coat, and body shape and size. Different breeds of cats have different looks. The main difference between different cat breeds is the variation of color and texture of the cat coat. Cats can be distinguished by the color and texture of their fur, body shape and size, tail, ears, and face cut. Some of the distinct cat breeds are Persian, Siamese (with different color variations such as blue point, lilac point, chocolate point), the long-haired Himalayan (similar to the Siamese in coloration), tabby, Abyssinian, Burmese, Manx, Rex, and Russian blue.

Commercial cat breeding is very difficult because mating can be controlled only when the male and the queen (breeding female) are confined. Cats are genetically rigid, therefore there are little opportunities for commercial breeders. The facts related to characteristic and features inheritance are quite unknown because there has been little scientific breeding.

Most of the breeds of cat can be grouped into two different categories:

Longhair

Shorthair

Based on the color of coat, longhair and shorthair breed both have different subcategories. The coat color includes white, cream, silver, smoke, tortoiseshell, tabby, red, blue etc. Some of the colors and patterned colors in a cat can be genetically linked with the sex or condition of the cat. For instance, calicos, tortoiseshells, and blue-cream cats – most of the time – are females; and blue-eyed white cats could be deaf.

Longhair cats are distinguished with their long flowing coat. The coat colors are solid colors, bicolor, or patterned colors . The solid colors in longhair breeds are black, white, red, blue, and cream. Bicolor cat coat includes black and white, red and silver etc. Patterned coats include white with black streaks, silver and black; tabby, calico, blotches of silver; blue-gray and cream, or blue-cream; tortoiseshell and white; and cream, red, and black. Some of the longhair cats include Himalayan, also called colorpoint, Birmans, Turkish Angora, Ragdoll, Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest cat etc.

Shorthair breeds consist of British Shorthair, American shorthair, Bombay (pitch-black colored) Bengal (gray-white stripes), Manx (tailless), Sphynx (hairless) etc. Shorthair cat has round head, round eyes, ears rounded at the tips, sturdy built up, and strong-boned legs.

Shorthair cat breeds have short hair. Their coat color maybe similar to longhair breeds. However, the most common coat colors in shorthair breed are tabby colors such as brown, silver, blue, and red. Blue-cream color is rare in shorthair.

Special characters of the Siamese cat

• Light color in the body and dark color around the feet, tail, legs, and face
• Slanted blue eyes
• Muscular
• Round heads
• Color points
• Social, communicative, noisy, playful
• Attention seeking
• Emotionally high maintenance
• Short hair
• Weighs between 6 - 16 pounds
• Around 15 - 20 years of life span

The Siamese cat has round head; flexible, long body; long, slim tail; slim legs, and slanted blue eyes. Some Siamese may also have crossed eyes, curly tails, or muscular body. The Siamese cat is small and agile. It is regarded as the most intelligent house cat. It is affectionate and loyal, but can be destructive sometimes. Siamese cat is highly vocal.

Even though Siamese cats are named after Siam (old name of Thailand), its origin as a breed is unknown. The Siamese cat is a popular breed of cats. They have been domesticated in Thailand and some parts of Asia since a long time, however, they did not reach Europe until late 19^th century.

The British took Siamese cats as gifts to England. From England, these cats made their way to America. According to widely held belief in Thailand, Siamese cats protect royal palaces and monasteries from evil spirits. This exotic feline creature is believed to bring good fortune to its owner.

The Siamese cat is partially albino. When the kittens are born, they are white or cream colored, but later develop dark points such as dark brown (seal point), blue gray (blue point), milk-chocolate brown (chocolate point), pinkish gray (lilac point), or reddish orange (red point) on ears, face, legs, and tail.

Characteristics of Persian Cat

• Gentle and sweet
• Long hair
• Great companion
• Not very demanding
• Big eyes
• Pleasant voice
• Communicative
• Passive
• Easy to keep
• Needs too much grooming
• Expensive
• Playful, affectionate, defensive, languid

Normally, the Persian cat is white in color, however, it can come up with various colors. Based on the color of the coat, Persian cats are grouped in seven categories such as solid, silver and gold, tabby, shaded and smoke, particolor, bicolor, and Himalayan. Persian cat is identifiable with its long flowing coat.

Persian cats are loving companions. They don’t climb and jump much, they are not destructive, they love to hang with humans and bask in the sun. Persian cats are indoor cats, which mean they are prone to coat damage and disease when they roam outside. They can live up to 20 years.

Persian cat has long and dense fur. In order to protect the coat (fur), frequent bathing and combing is necessary for Persian cat. They also must be kept indoor so that the majestic coat is preserved. Periodical combing is necessary to prevent hairballs in Persian cat.

Tabby refers to a grey or tawny (a light brown to brownish orange color) streaks, pattern or a patchy coloring.

Tabby cat is a shorthaired cat with a grey or tawny coat having black spots or patches. Tabby or tabby cat is also used to refer the queen (a breeding female cat).

Tabby is one of the most common cat coat colors. It is seen in pure breed cats as well as mixed breed cats.