Cat Breeds With Pictures

Cat breeds with pictures

Someone who doesn´t know about them, will says that all cats are equal. However, there are over 50 different cat breeds. Some of them are the result of chance or natural evolution, while others have been created by crossing genetically various breeds. However, the characteristics of all cats in the world is derived from five origin females, lost in the past evolution. Abyssinian History One example of naturally selected breed is the Abyssinian cat. Abyssinia is a region of Africa, now known as Ethiopia. By the year 1860 the first specimens of this breed were taken to England, a country that historically has been able to raise the finest specimens of these animals. During the first decade of the twentieth century, the first Abyssinian cat came to the United States. This is a short-haired animal, in most cases in shades of brown. Is a extremely agile and slim cat, that needs space for intense physical activity. His eyes are almond shape.

www.howtocareacat.com

History Although no one knows positively when or where the Abyssinian first appeared, the best known tale is that this breed is a direct descendant of the sacred cats worshiped as the physical manifestations of the gods in the temples and palaces of the ancient Egyptians some 4,000 years ago. Abyssinians do look remarkably like the cats depicted in Egyptian murals and sculptures. An Abyssinian named Zula was transported from Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) to England at the end of the Abyssinian War in 1868, but whether the cat was native to that area is subject to speculation. Recent genetic studies indicate that the Abyssinian may have descended from a breed found in Southeast Asia and the coast of the Indian Ocean. Abyssinians do resemble the African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), the progenitor of all domestic cats. Since there is no written evidence linking Zula with this breed, some breeders maintain that the original lines died out and the Abyssinian was recreated by British breeders. Undeniably, the breed was established and refined by early British fanciers until World War II decimated the breed, forcing British breeders to start over from scratch. Today, the Abyssinian is second only to the Siamese in popularity among the shorthaired breeds. Appearance The original color of the Abyssinian was a ruddy-brown, but there are now a number of other colors, including red. Abyssinian kittens may not show the distinctive ticking until around two months. The final coat color can take months to show. The long-haired version of the Abyssinian is the Somali cat.


Personality Abyssinians aren´t for those who want decorative cats to match the rustcolored carpet, or for those who want cats that enjoy being picked up and cuddled. Courageous, curious, and high-spirited, when restrained Abys tend to become struggling bundles of fur with more than the usual number of elbows; however, that´s not to say that Abyssinians are aloof or standoffish. While Abyssinians will cheerfully entertain themselves, they are most happy when involved in every aspect of your life. They are particularly involved at dinner time. In fact, you´ll know it´s dinner time when small, furry, foodseeking missiles attach themselves to your legs! Abyssinians regularly perform antics for your amusement, earning them the reputation of being the clowns of the cat kingdom. They will often perch on shoulders, crawl under covers, and sit on laps purring madly before racing off to bat imaginary butterflies and make flying leaps at the tallest bookcases. Natural athletes, no closed room or cupboard is safe from their agile paws and inquiring minds. Tips: The maintenance of this cat is very simple, like most short-haired, because you can just brush or comb every once in a while. At the time of change is necessary to regularly remove dead hairs that emerge.


Bengal History The Bengal breed originated as a human-made hybrid of the Asian leopard cat and the domestic cat. The leopard cat (Felis bengalensis ) is a cat-sized inhabitant of southern Asia and is thought to be one of the closest of the modern undomesticated cat species to the ancient common ancestor of the cat family.

The leopard cat looks very much like a domestic cat, except for the larger, snapping eyes, pronounced whisker pads, longer legs, and brilliant leopard markings. It looks, in fact, like a miniature leopard. The Bengal began its journey toward becoming a recognized breed in 1963 when breeder Jean Mill of Covina, California, bought a female leopard cat from a pet store. At that time, leopard cats could be purchased in the United States, although today it`s illegal to sell them. She wasn`t trying to create a new breed of cat. She just wanted a unique pet. After several years, Mill thought the cat looked lonely, so she put a male domestic cat in the cat`s cage to keep her company. She wasn`t expecting a romantic relationship, but to Mill`s surprise, in 1965 her leopard cat produced a litter. Only one kitten from the litter survived, a female hybrid that Mill named KinKin. Mill contacted Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, New York, for advice on how to handle the hybrid, and was told that Kin-Kin was probably sterile. That, also, proved false. www.howtocareacat.com

Kin-Kin grew up, mated with her father, and produced two kittens. One was all black and had inherited the wild leopard cat temperament. It refused to let anyone near it. The other, a spotted male, inherited the sweet disposition of a domestic. After some consideration, Mill decided that creating a crossbred breed would benefit the plight of the leopard cats. Mill was dismayed by the plight of orphaned leopard cat cubs taken by hunters and sold to American pet stores. The cats generally ended up in zoos when the cubs grew to adulthood and reverted to their wild ways. Mill wanted to provide the American market with an acceptable spotted substitute. In the first crossings of leopard cat to Domestic Shorthair, the male kittens were infertile, as is the case with many hybrids. The females were usually fertile as were the male kittens in subsequent generations. However, many of those first hybrid kittens grew up to be nervous cats of uncertain temperament, similar to their wild relatives. It was only after the cats were several generations away from the leopard cat that the Bengal`s temperament became more predictable.

The standard for the Bengal, unlike other cat breeds, includes a description of the cat`s ideal temperament, describing it as confident, alert, curious, and friendly. Any sign of definite challenge disqualifies the cat in order to prevent temperament problems from being perpetuated in the breeding stock. TICA requires that show cats be bred Bengal to Bengal for at least four generations to ensure a docile temperament.


However, in some associations the Bengal is still considered the party crasher at the cat fancy cocktail party. The CFA does not accept any breeds with wild blood and only five associations (TICA, CCA, UFO, TCA, and CFF) allow Bengals to be shown. ACFA accepts Bengals for registration but does not allow them into the show halls because of concerns about the temperament of the breed. Reported concerns include extreme timidity, aggression (several judges were bitten), and a basic wariness of people and other animals. Personality

The Bengal may look like a wild cat, but breeders insist that the Bengal is as lovably friendly and docile as any fullblooded domestic cat. Fanciers describe Bengals as playful, gregarious, and energetic cats that have a generous dose of feline curiosity and that want to be involved with their owners. Not intimidated by water, they will sometimes join their owners for a swim, as long as it`s on their terms. Although show-quality cats must be four generations away (F4) from the leopard cat to be shown, previous generations of Bengals are sold as pets; therefore, it`s important to know what you are buying when acquiring a Bengal.

Before purchasing a second generation (F2) or third generation (F3) Bengal, be sure that the cat is free of temperament problems. Tips. His short hair coat makes it easy to keep a cat with a chamois glove occasionally to bring out the shine of her hair. www.howtocareacat.com

British shorthair The British Shorthair is native to Great Britain in the same way that the American Shorthair is native to America`s. Long ago it was transported there from somewhere else.

The British`s progenitor was a common street cat once called the European Shorthair. This breed (whose conformation is much different from the Brits you`ll see in show halls today) came to Great Britain some 2,000 years ago, courtesy of the Roman Empire. The Romans, who kept cats as pets and for rodent control, transported this shorthaired breed to northern Europe and eventually to their outlying provinces in the British Isles. For centuries, this rugged cat hung out in Great Britain`s alleys and barns. In the late 1800s cat fancier Harrison Weir, well known for his contributions to the emerging cat fancy, was instrumental in establishing the British Shorthair as an officially recognized breed. Through his efforts, British Shorthairs were featured in England`s first cat show at the Crystal Palace of London, and quickly became popular with the British cat fancy.


After the war, breeders dedicated to preserving the British Shorthair gained permission from the British Governing Council of the Cat Fancy to interbreed their Brits with other cat breeds to rebuild the gene pool. Persians were bred into the existing bloodlines, and shorthaired breeds such as the Chartreux were also added. These efforts transformed the Brit into its current form: a large, powerful mini-teddy bear with a full, round face and a placid disposition.

Early Grey

American cat fanciers took little notice of the British Shorthair until the 1960s, and it wasn`t until 1970 that ACFA recognized the blue British Shorthair under the now obsolete moniker British Blue. (Blue was, and still is, the most common color due to the large number of Chartreuxes and blue Persians bred into the bloodlines) The breed slowly earned supporters in the United States, and between 1970 and 1980 the remaining associations accepted the Brit into the North American cat fancy. Appearance The coat can be in almost any color and pattern. "It is shown in all colours and all divisions of the traditional category


Personality

If you`re looking for a cat that will loot your refrigerator and swing dizzily from your chandeliers, then the British Shorthair is not for you. Brits are quiet, even-tempered, undemanding cats with a bit of typical British reserve, particularly when they`re first introduced. When they get over their initial shyness, however, they become extremely faithful companions. The British Shorthair is a placid, easy going and calm cat, which makes this popular cat suited to people who rush around a lot. Their stable and balanced character makes them suitable for indoor and apartment living. Nonetheless, like all cats they are playful and alert when they want to be. British Shorthairs tend to show their loyalty to the entire family rather than select one person with whom to bond. British Shorthair breeders describe Brits as cats that like to keep a low profile, sweet and affectionate but not clingy inyour-face`s type cats. They tend to be independent and if left on their own can usually adapt quite well. The British Shorthair Cat is relatively quiet, in line with the cat's personality, in that they prefer to be near and with you rather than on you. This may be due to overheating when on you as their dense coats provide a high level of insulation. The Brit. SH is thought of as an intelligent breed of cat and has appeared in films, on TV and on cat food packaging (Whiskas and Sheba). Research (although to be honest it is not great research) indicates in fact that the British Shorthair is in the mid range of cat breed intelligence. TheSphynx cat is meant to be the most intelligent under informal testing.


Egyptian Mau History The Egyptian Mau is one of the oldest existing breeds of domestic cat, and the only naturally spotted one. Evidence in the form of depictions, paintings, and sculptures shows that spotted cats existed during the time of the Egyptian cat cult, and it is theorized that the predecessor of the Mau was the very same cat worshiped by the ancient Egyptians. Egyptian Maus joined the European cat fancy in the early 1900s. Fanciers in Italy, Switzerland, and France worked to develop the breed; however, as it did many purebred breeds, World War II decimated the Egyptian Mau population and by the mid-1940s the Mau was almost extinct. The efforts of the exiled Russian Princess Nathalie Troubetskoy brought the Mau back from the brink of extinction. While in Italy, she rescued some of the few remaining specimens. She was also instrumental in importing at least one Mau from Egypt via the Syrian Embassy. In 1956 Troubetskoy immigrated to the United States, bringing with her three Maus bred from her original stock. Upon arrival, Troubetskoy began her own Egyptian Mau cattery (Fatima) and began to promote the breed. The Mau soon collected a following of fanciers who wanted to preserve the rare and historically significant breed. Because of the small gene pool and because additional Maus were almost impossible to obtain from Egypt, a certain amount of inbreeding and outcrossing were required to continue the breed in North America. Selective breeding for temperament was also a priority, since disposition problems were noted in some bloodlines. Finally, in the 1980s breeder Cathie Rowan brought 13 additional Maus into the United States, paving the way for more imports. In 1991 breeder J. Len Davidson imported four more. This widening of the gene pool was vital to the breed`s health and well-being.


Personality

While fanciers might at first be attracted to the Egyptian Mau`s beautiful spotted coat, most become enthusiasts because of the breed`s temperament and personality. Maus, like their ancestors that were invited along on the duck hunts of their Egyptian companions, love to fetch. In fact, they love any play activity that mimics hunting behavior, and if allowed outside will become very competent (some might say savage) hunters.

That`s not to say they are not devoted to the humans who pay them homage. Fanciers describe them as fiercely loyal cats that generally don`t take to strangers. Once they bond with their human companions, they choose to be worshiped by their own family, rather than by the entire human race. While not overly talkative, Maus will let their owners know if something is amiss, particularly if that something concerns their food dishes. Their voices are usually melodious and quiet. When engaged in conversation with their human companions, Maus wag their tails, tread with their feet, and make a variety of sounds that fanciers call chortling.


Maine Coon History Maine Coons, like American Shorthairs, are considered native to America because they`ve been on this continent since the colonial days, and perhaps longer. How they got here in the first place and where their progenitors came from, however, is anyone`s guess, since none of the local colonists happened by with their camcorders to record the event.

A sea captain named Coon who in the 1700s brought longhaired cats with him on his excursions to America`s northeastern coast. Seafarers who used cats to control rodent populations on their sailing ships probably brought some longhaired buccaneers with them to the New World. Some of the cats went ashore when they reached the northeastern coast and established themselves on the farms and in the barns of the early settlers. Given Maine`s severe climate, those initial years must have been tough on cat and human alike. Only the breed`s strongest and most adaptable survived. Through natural selection, the Maine Coon developed into a large, rugged cat with a dense, water-resistant coat and a hardy constitution. In the early 1900s, as new and more exotic breeds were imported into the country, the cat fanciers of the era abandoned Maine Coons for Persians, Angoras, and other imports. By 1950 the breed had all but vanished. Fortunately, a small group of breeders kept this undercat from going under.


Breeders held Maine Coon-only cat shows and in 1968 breeders founded the Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Association. The associations that had snubbed the Maine Coon accepted them for Championship competition again and today the Maine Coon has regained its former popularity. Personality

No breed has a monopoly on love and affection, but there`s got to be some good reason that the Maine Coon has clawed its way up from near extinction to the prized place of America`s second most popular breed (according to the CFA`s registration totals). Maine Coon fanciers say that the popularity is due to the breed`s large size, intelligence, luxuriant coat, hardy disposition, and devotion to their human family. While Maine Coons are devoted, playful, and loving to their chosen humans, they can be reserved around people with whom they`re not familiar. Given time, however, even the most cautious adapt. As befits a former seafarer, Maine Coons are fascinated by water, perhaps because their thick coats are waterrepellent and won`t become annoyingly soaked as easily as a thinner coat would.


Persian

History Persians have been around for much longer than 125 years. Longhaired cats, including the ancestors of the modern Persian and Angora breeds, were first seen in Europe in the mid- to late 1500s, introduced by Roman and Phoenician caravans from Persia (now Iran) and Turkey, according to documents of the era.

Researchers believe the recessive gene for long hair appeared spontaneously in the cat population in the cold mountainous areas of Persia. An Italian traveler by the name of Pietro della Valle (1586-1652) is credited with bringing Persian cats to the European world in the 1600s. Both Angora and Persian cats are mentioned in the manuscript Voyages de Pietro della Valle. Other travelers brought Persian and Angora cats into France and then into England, causing them to be called French cats for a number of years. These cats quickly became popular in Britain. During this time and for centuries after, the Turkish Angora and Persian varieties (among others) were commonly crossed. At first, Angoras were preferred for their silky white coats. Eventually, however, the British fanciers came to favor the stockier Persian conformation. By the time of Weir`s cat show in 1871, distinct differences between the Persian and the Angora could be seen, the former being stockier with small, rounded ears, and the latter being slender and tall-eared. By the early 1900s the Persian had become overwhelmingly popular. Blue Persians were particularly prized, probably because Queen Victoria owned two. In the early 1900s the British Governing Council of the Cat Fancy decided that the Persian, as well as the Angora and Russian Longhairs, should be known simply as Longhairs, a policy that continues today. Each color is considered a separate breed in the British cat fancy. In North America, however, the Persian is considered one breed, regardless of color. In the late 1950s a spontaneous mutation in red and red tabby Persians gave rise to the "peke-faced" Persian, named after the flat-faced Pekingese dog.

Traditional blue persian cat

Appearance Persians are well known for their long, luxurious fur and their distinct, sweet expressions. Persians have a flat face and round eyes. Their heads are round and large, and the ears small and round-tipped. The body of the Persian is thick and stocky.

If you want your cats bouncing around like hyperactive popcorn, don`t buy a Persian. Persians are perfect companions, if you like placid, sweet-tempered cats. Don`t count on using your Persian pal as a furry doorstop, however. They love to play between periods of regal lounging on your favorite davenport. Persians are devoted to their humans, but can be selective in conferring that honor. You must earn their trust and love. They crave affection and love to be petted and fussed over, but won`t harass you for attention the way some breeds will. www.howtocareacat.com

They will, however, let their feelings be known if they are not getting the requisite amount of attention. Owning a Persian requires a significant time commitment. That beautiful coat requires daily grooming to keep it in good condition and free of mats. Because of the long coat and docile temperament, Persians should be considered indooronly pets. Many Persian fanciers keep at least part of the coat clipped, particularly the hindquarters and around the anus to avoid the accumulation of feces. Persians need a lot of grooming. Their long, thick fur can easily mat if not brushed on a weekly basis. Be prepared to spend at least 20 minutes a week grooming your Persian. Persians come in a large variety of colors and patterns, including solid, silver, golden, shaded, smoke, tabby, parti-color, bicolor and Himalayan.

Personality Unlike some other breeds, Persians don’t demand attention from their owners, and can be selective about who they prefer within a family. They do crave attention from their favorite humans, and love to curl up in your lap.

They aren't particularly demanding, but most will want to sit on your lap and be petted every day. Some develop a particular attachment to one person in the family, and will want much more time and affection from them than anyone else. They are good with other pets, and with children. They're very adaptable, and usually cope well if changes occur such as additions to the family, new pets or a house move. They don't like to be left alone for long periods of time, so if you're out during the day, it's better to keep them with another pet for company, because they do enjoy playing with interactive toys as well as other cats and dogs they grow up with.


Although they are not demanding, Persian cats enjoy spending time with their families and like to sleep curled up on a lap, they are not very active cats, Persian cats are not very independent and need the companionship of a human family, if not, they often prefer another pet for company.

Ragdoll History The Ragdoll is a breed whose origins are surrounded by controversy and tall tales. According to various stories, the foundation cat, Josephine, produced unremarkable kittens until she was struck by a car in the early 1960s. After her recovery, all of her subsequent litters produced kittens that displayed Ragdoll characteristics: large size, non-matting fur, the tendency to relax in a person`s arms like a child`s rag doll (hence the name), and serene dispositions.

Also rumored was the kittens`s insensitivity to pain (which, according to breeders, is not true). The Ragdolls of America Group (a group formed to gain acceptance for the Ragdoll in the Cat Fanciers Association) says that Josephine was a feral white Turkish Angora-type cat that resided on the property of a Mrs. Pennels in Riverside, California. After her car accident, Josephine mated with a feral black and white mitted longhaired tom and produced a solid black male kitten named Daddy Warbucks and a seal pointed bicolor female named Fugianna.


Another litter followed, sired by a solid brown longhaired tom. This tryst produced a seal point female named Tiki and a black- and white-mitted male named Buckwheat. The breed`s founder, the late Ann Baker, came into possession of these cats, and all subsequent generations can be traced back to them. After years of selective breeding, the Ragdoll developed into the breed we know today. Ann Baker created her own registry for Ragdolls in 1971 called the International Ragdoll Cat Association (IRCA). She also franchised and trademarked the Ragdoll name. The RagaMuffin is newest development the Ragdoll scene. RagaMuffin is similar, not identical, conformation temperament to Ragdoll.

the on The but in and the

While the Ragdoll is accepted in only four colors and three patterns, the RagaMuffin also comes in red point, lynx point, and tortie point, as well as the spectrum of Persian colors and patterns, plus mitted and mitted with blaze. Breeders say that the RagaMuffin is not a new breed. Although all Ragdolls are descendants from the original Ragdoll lines that Ann Baker developed, RagaMuffin breeders split from IRCA much more recently than the RFC breeders, in 1993, in fact. To avoid breaking their contracts with Baker and violating Baker`s trademark on the Ragdoll name, they renamed their breed the RagaMuffin. Currently, the RagaMuffin is only accepted for Championship in the recently formed UFO, although they are accepted for registration in ACFA.


Personality

Docile, mild-mannered, and congenial, Rag-dolls make ideal indoor companions. One of the nicest features of these cats is their laid-back, sweet personality. They are playful but are not overactive.

Known to adapt easily to their environment, Ragdolls get along well with children and adults, as well as cats and dogs. They are easily trained to stay off the counter and are affectionate without being overly demanding. They have soft, polite voices, even at dinnertime, even though they are renowned for their enthusiasm for food.

Russian blue History The most commonly held theory regarding this breed`s origin is that Russian Blues were brought to Great Britain in 1860 by British sailors from the White Sea port town of Archangel (Arkhangelsk) in northern Russia. Their thick coats give credence to the theory that they developed in a cold climate, and, according to accounts, blue shorthairs still exist in Russia. The Russian Blue is not known to be related to the other three shorthaired solid blue breeds: Thailand`s Korat, France`s Chartreux, and Britain`s British Blue (now called the British Shorthair). The four breeds have distinct differences in coat, type, and personality, although the Korat, Chartreux, and Russian Blue share a similar silver-blue sheen. Since all four of these breeds have been

around for so long that their ancestries are shrouded in legend and conjecture, a common origin is certainly possible. In 1871 a Russian Blue was shown at the first cat show at the Crystal Palace in London, under the name Archangel Cat. At this point, Russian Blues were shorthaired, solid blue felines with foreign body types. From photos and published sources of the time the original coat was thick, dense, glossy, and colored a light silver-blue. Russian Blues competed in the same class with all other shorthaired blues, despite obvious differences in type. Since the round-headed, cobby British Blues were favored in the show halls, the svelte Russian Blues rarely won. Finally, the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy acknowledged the breed and in 1912 the Russian Blue was granted a class of its own. The breed then made progress until World War II when it almost became extinct, as did many other breeds. During the 1940s and 1950s two independent groups of breeders worked to resurrect the Russian Blue by crossbreeding the few hardy survivors with other breeds. In Britain, breeders crossed the Russian Blue with bluepoint Siamese and British Blues. Because of the Siamese influence, the British Russian Blue?s moderate foreign body style became more extreme.


At the same time, Scandinavian breeders attempted to recreate the breed by crossing blue cats from Finland with Siamese cats that carried color factors that would enhance the solid blue coloration. These cats were larger and had larger heads and shorter, denser coats than British Russian Blues. Hard work by dedicated breeders has improved the Russian Blue bloodline to the point that American Russian Blues have even been exported to Europe to improve their bloodlines. Personality

Russian Blues are gentle, genteel cats, and are usually reserved or absent when strangers are around. When they`re with their own beloved humans, however, they are affectionate and playful. Russian Blues are active but not annoyingly so.

They like nothing better than to spend time retrieving a favorite toy or chasing sunbeams. They willingly entertain themselves, but prefer that their favorite humans join in the fun. When you`re home, they follow you around, unobtrusive but ever-present companions. The slight upturn to the corners of the mouth makes most Russian Blues appear to be forever smiling. Russian Blues like their usual routine and dislike environmental changes more than the average cat. They particularly dislike changes to their dinner schedule. They are also fastidious about their litter boxes and will complain if they`re not spic and span.


The members of this breed are polite, quiet, and well-behaved. It`s easy to train them to stay off counters and out of off-limit areas with a simple “No”, but Russian Blues seem to think politeness should go both ways and take offense at being made to look silly. You can trust them to know when you`re laughing at them and they won`t soon forget it either.

Siamese History The Siamese is one of the oldest breeds of domestic cat and has a history as long and colorful as the cat itself. The Siamese is also (arguably) the most recognizable breed on the planet. These sleek cats with the beautiful baby blues and outspoken nature originated in Thailand (formerly Siam, thus the breed`s name), where they were treasured by members of royalty as companions and were thought to inherit the transmigrated souls of royalty en route to the hereafter.

Early stories and myths involving the Siamese are plentiful, including fanciful tales that account for the cat`s traits. One such story tells how sacred Siamese temple cats, charged with guarding a valuable vase, curled their tails around the vase and stared at it with such intensity that their eyes became crossed. Another story tells of Siamese cats appointed to guard princesses`s rings: The cats kept the rings on their tails and the tail kinks developed to keep the rings from sliding off. Due to its popularity, the breed has been used in the matrix of many modern cat breeds, including the Ocicat, Himalayan, Burmese, Tonkinese, Snowshoe, and myriad Oriental breeds (Oriental Shorthair, Oriental Longhair, Colorpoint Shorthair, Colorpoint Longhair, Balinese, and Javanese). Personality

Some cats seem to think that a purr or a friendly rub speaks louder than words. Siamese are not of this school of thought and are known for their talent for communicating their ideas and desires clearly to their chosen humans. www.howtocareacat.com

If you can`t be drawn into dialogue, they`re happy to keep up a running monologue for your enlightenment. No meaningless meows, these, but real attempts at communication, according to Siamese fans. To some cat lovers, who prefer their felines to be seen and not heard, the Siamese rasp (some would say yowl) can be a bit annoying. But Siamese worshipers wouldn`t have it any other way. Determinedly social upon their humans, involvement in your lamb, they want to may go.

and very dependent Siamese crave active life. Like Mary?s little follow wherever you

Siamese can be unpredictable in their behavior and can appear aloof and disinterested, but it?s all an act. Siamese need to be treated with respect and patience and require lots of affection if they are to develop a close, caring relationship with their human companions. Siamese will pine if left too often alone.

Appearance Siamese come in four or more colors, depending upon the cat association to which you belong. The CFA recognizes four Siamese colors: • • • •

Seal Chocolate Blue Lilac point (called frost in some associations).

Solid blues and browns were well documented in the Cat-Book Poems, so it`s not surprising that Siamese cats possessing the recessive gene for the dilute factor, which changes seal to blue and chocolate to lilac, were appearing in Siamese lines early on.


Siamese in red (also called flame) or cream point, tortie point (mottled mixtures of black and red or their dilute colors on the point areas, also called tortoiseshell), or lynx point (stripes of color on the point areas) are called Colorpoint Shorthair in the CFA, although most of the other cat associations consider these color variations of the Siamese.

The red and cream colors were produced by foundation crossings between Siamese, Abyssinians, and red Domestic Shorthairs. The Himalayan pattern, as the point-restricted style is called, is named after the rabbit that exhibits the same coat pattern.

The color is restricted to the face mask, ears, legs, and tail, while the body remains a lighter color. The concentration of color is kept to the point areas by a temperature-controlled enzyme that creates greater depth of color at the parts of the body farthest away from the cardiovascular system.

The cooler the environment, the darker the color becomes. Siamese kittens are born white, because of the warmth of their mother?s body, and develop their point color as they grow.


Cat Breeds With Pictures

Recommend Documents