Meow-Cats

Scottish Fold Cat

The Scottish Fold cat breed is truly of royalty. This sweet-tempered, short haired breed has an unusual trait for which it gets its name: their adorable, folded ears. This breed’s small ears fold forward or downward, sometimes giving the appearance of not having any ears at all. This trait is traced back to a barn cat in Scotland that carried the mutated gene, thus becoming the basis for the breed. Unfortunately, while the trait is adorable, the gene is also associated with a rather painful skeletal disorder. This breed is a favorite for many, as they are sociable yet not demanding.

History Of Scottish Fold Cats

All Scottish Fold cats can trace their ancestry back to the original Scottish Fold called Susie, who was found on a farm in 1961. She gave birth to two kittens that also had the characteristic folded ears. One of them was bred to then found the line of the existing breed. The characteristic folded ears are a result of a dominant gene. The Scottish Fold cat is also known as the Highland Fold, Scottish Fold Longhair and Coupari.

Types Of Scottish Fold Cat Breed

Scottish Fold cats can give birth to both kittens with folded ears and with straight ears, forming two separate type, although the ones with straight ears cannot be considered Folds.

Physical Attributes of Scottish Fold Cats

The most obvious characteristic of the Scottish Fold Cat is the folded ears. All cats are born with straight ears, but those with fold in their dominant gene will start showing the fold in 21 days. The Scottish Fold cats are medium sized cats. Their bodies, heads, face as well as eyes are rounded. They have medium to short legs. They can be longhaired or shorthaired and can have many different colors and combination of colors.

They typically weigh up to 11 pounds and grow up to 30 inches long. They have a soft, short coat, with a long-haired variant being much less common. Their coat colors typically come in brown, gray, black, red, cream, and white. These adorable love-bugs also have stunning eyes, usually of green, blue-green, and gold. Though they may have skeletal issues, it doesn’t necessarily affect their lifespan, which is up to 14 years!

Personality of Scottish Fold Cats

The Scottish Fold cats are sweet natured and placid and can easily adapt to people as well as other domestic animals. They are very affectionate, intelligent and playful as well as loyal.

They are known for sleeping on their back, in what is dubbed as the ‘Buddha position’.

Caring of Scottish Folds

The Scottish Fold cats do not need any specific grooming apart from regular brushing. However, it should be noted that they are prone to Polycystic Kidney Disease, Cardiomyopathy and Osteochondrodysplasia.

Sadly, they aren’t hypoallergenic, so those with allergies may wish to consider another cat breed, such as the Lykoi breed. Overall, the Scottish Fold breed is a great choice for those searching for a loving, affordable, and intelligent new family member, just don’t expect them to listen, but then again, what cat does? This breed can be found through trusted breeders, though it’s recommended you check your local shelter first.

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Ocicat – Domestic Ocelot

Many people are drawn to the Ocicat because of its appearance. This exotic-looking cat makes people stop and stare, but not many know about this man-made cat.

History of the Ocicat Breed

The Ocicat was the result of an experimental breeding program in 1964 while trying to breed an Any-point Siamese, by a cat breeder by the name of Virginia Daly, who lived in Berkley, Michigan. Her daughter gave the cat the name Ocicat, because of the resemblance to the Ocelot (wild cat) and the name has now been given to the entire breed. The Ocicat (Abyssinian and Siamese) was later crossed with the American Shorthair, which gives the cat its silver colors. The broad gene pool also gives the Ocicat a broad genetic background making for a healthy breed. They are known to live as long as eighteen years!

The first Ocicat was neutered and sold as a pet. But, when the parents mated again, their litter included many kittens that resembled the first Ocicat and these became the founding line of the Ocicat breed.

Types of Ocicat

Ocicats have twelve colors that are recognized for show competitions. The approved colors are tawny, blue, chocolate, cinnamon, dilute class, silver, fawn, blue, lavender, and any of them with silver: blue silver, ebony silver, fawn silver, cinnamon silver, chocolate silver et cetera.

Ocicat Physical Attributes and Characteristics

The most noticeable characteristic of the Ocicat is its resemblance to its wild cousins, although, in fact, its DNA has no wild gene. They are a mixture of the Abyssinian, Siamese and later American Shorthair cats. The Ocicat is a large, athletic animal with a solid and well muscled body. It has a short light coat that glows with a satin sheen. Ocicats are medium sized, shorthaired cats. Males can weight anywhere from 9 to 14 pounds (4-6 kg.) and sometimes more, while the female Ocicat usually weigh around 6 to 9 pounds (3-4 kg.). The eyes are almond-shaped. With the exception of blue, all eye colors are possibly. Their larger boned, muscular body makes them look heavier than they actually are. The ears at a 45 degree angle.

Temperament and Personality of Ocicats

Although wild looking, temperament wise they are not. Like most cats, the Ocicat is a curious, playful, active creature. The Ocicat is full of energy. The Ocicat is an outgoing breed and are extremely dog-like. Some Ocicats can be trained to fetch, walk on a leash, and other basic commands like come, sit, lie down, stand, sleep and even speak! This is usually something one would associate with a dog. They like playing with toys and enjoy splashing in water. Ocicats are very intelligent, very people-friendly and are considered to be extremely devoted to their owners. Because of their intelligent nature, you should keep them challenged by giving them puzzle toys and teaching them tricks. They do not always like staying home alone. They are very friendly to strangers and devoted to their owners which makes them a perfect family pet.

Health Concerns

The Ocicat is a fairly healthy breed with no specific health problems to the breed. Their diet is the same as any other domestic cat.

Grooming

Ocicats have short, satiny coats which require very little grooming. Just the occasional brushing and bathing will do. As not to ruin their satiny coat, a rubber curry brush should be used when grooming. The rest is the basic care giving to any cat: vet visits, nail trimming, etc.

Caring of Ocicats

Ocicats love the company of people and need cat-friendly people who can spend a lot of time with them.

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Munchkin Cat – Cat-Dachshund

History of Munchkin Cat Breed

Munchkin cats are a relatively new breed of cats. They are identified by their unusually short legs. This, however is a natural genetic mutation, not manmade. There have been sightings of several short legged cats in the US and in Europe, but a captive breeding program was only introduced in the early 1990’s in the US, which led to the establishment of this breed.

Types of Munchkin Cat Breed

These cats come in four distinct sizes: Standard, Super Short, VW Microbus and Rug Hugger. They are also separated into two groups for shows: Longhaired, which has a semi-long plush coat and Shorthaired, which has a medium plush coat.

Physical Attributes of Munchkin Cats

The Munchkin cat is a small to medium sized cat, with abnormally short legs. This however poses no risk to its spine which is absolutely normal. Their legs may be slightly bowed. The Munchkin cats comes in all colors and patterns.

Personality of Munchkin Cats

The Munchkin cat is considered to be sweet-natured, playful and intelligent cat. It likes being around people and responds well to good handling. This cat is outgoing and often plays with kitty toys. They like to run and chase. They also have a tendency to sit up like a rabbit.

Caring for Munchkin Cats

The Munchkin cats are a happy, healthy and hardy breed of cats and so not require any specific caring measures.

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Norwegian Forest Cat

History of Norwegian Forest Cats

The Norwegian Forest cats are known as ‘skogkatt’ or ‘skaukatt’ in Norway, ‘skog’ and ‘skau’ meaning forest in different dialects. It is believed that the Norwegian Forest cat did come out of the forests about 4000 years ago. Legend has it that travelled the world with the Vikings, protecting their grain stores on land as well as on the sea, and even left their progeny on the shores of America.

Types of Norwegian Forest Cats

There are no specific types of Norwegian Forest Cats. However, they were not bred from any particular line and hence differ from line to line.

Physical Attributes of Norwegian Forest Cats

The Norwegian Forest Cats look like two different cats in summer and winter. Acclimatized to cold winters, they have a very thick, glorious coat during the cold months. In the spring, they shed their undercoat and look completely different. They also have fur in their ears, between toes and a large bushy tail to wrap around themselves. They are large cats, with males being larger than the females.

Personality of Norwegian Forest Cats

They are playful, intelligent cats. They love human company and do not enjoy being left alone for long periods of time. They like the outdoors and are considered to be skilful hunters. They like high vantage points and are always climbing trees outside or bookshelves, cupboards, etc. inside the house. They are not high strung, but patient and great to have among children. They are considered to be loyal. They are also known to be highly responsive cats and good talkers.

Caring of Norwegian Forest Cats

The Norwegian Forest Cats do not need much maintenance except regular brushing during the spring and summer when they are shedding.

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Himalayan Cat = Persian+Siamese

History of Himalayan Cat

The Himalayan Cat can trace its ancestry to the beloved Persian Cat. It is, in fact, almost identical to the Persian cat with the exception of blue eyes and point coloration. The Persian cat was cross bred with the Siamese cat and the resulting offspring were the founding line of Himalayan cats.

Types of Himalaya Cats

There are three different types of Himalayan cats based on their facial features. Show cats usually have very large eyes with the nose right in between. Breeder or pet Himalayan cats may have longer muzzles. The third type may have longer muzzles as well as smaller eyes than show cats.

Physical Attributes of Himalayan Cats

Not unlike Persian cats, the Himalayan cats have a round body with short legs. The Himalayan cats have very long fur which is usually white or cream in color. Their point coloration may be of a variety of colors like seal, blue, lilac, chocolate, red and cream.

Personality of Himalayan Cats

Himalayan Cats are considered to be intelligent, playful and sweet tempered. They are also very social. They love to play fetch or amuse themselves with kitty toys. They love human company and like to be petted and groomed frequently.

Caring For Himalayan Cats

Since the Himalayan cat is a long haired breed, it needs to be brushed daily and bathed weekly. If you want to enter your Himalayan cat into a show, you may even have to bathe it daily, depending on its coat. They may be prone to Polycystic Kidney Disease due to their Persian ancestry.

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Havana Brown Cat – Very Brown Cat!

History of Havana Brown Cat Breed

The Havana Brown Cat is a hybrid cat, developed with careful planning for a specific genetic design. The aim was to produce a self brown cat. While the breeding suffered during the World Wars, it was taken up with gusto in the post war period. The name Havana Brown has been used to describe the color genetics for self browns. On the other hand, some believe that it was called Havana because it matched the color of Havana cigars. This breed is also called the ‘Swiss Mountain Cat’.

Types of Havana Brown Cats

There are no specific types of Havana Brown cats.

Physical Attributes of Havana Brown Cats

The first noticeable feature of the Havana Brown cat is its glistening mahogany colored coat, which is smooth, luxurious and closely cropped. The other distinctive feature is the head which is longer than it is wider. It has a prominent nose and beautiful oval shaped green eyes. Its body is firm and muscular and they are typically heavier than they look. There are no markings on their body.

Personality of Havana Brown Cats

Havana Brown cats have a charming personality and a melodious voice. They are playful and they often use their extended paw to reach out and touch and feel out curiosities. They also use similar gesture to get the attention of humans. They like human company and can generally adapt to most situations.

Caring for Havana Brown Cats

There are no specific measures prescribed for the caring of Havana Brown Cats. Only love :)

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Egyptian Mau Cat

History of Egyptian Mau Cat Breed

There is no record of the origin of the Egyptian Mau cats and it is fraught with uncertainty. It is, however, considered to have descended from wild African cats. If one sees walls paintings of Ancient Egypt, one will easily be able to identify the ancestors of the modern day Mau. The word mau literally translates to ‘cats’ in the Middle Egyptian language.

Types Of Egyptian Maus

There are no specific types of Egyptian Maus.

Physical Attributes of Egyptian Maus

The Egyptian Mau is a small to medium sized cat and has slender, muscular bodies. It’s body is randomly spotted and it has banded legs and tails. It has gooseberry green eyes, distinctive mascara lines and a worried expression on the face. It has a graceful cheetah-like stride. Its coat is typically in one of these five colors- silver, bronze, pewter, smoke and blue/pewter. It is the fastest of all domestic cats, thanks to a unique skin flap extending from the flank to the back knees.

Personality of Egyptian Mau Cats

Egyptian Mau cats are known to posses musical voices and can chirp and chortle amongst other sounds. They also do a happy dance when extremely joyous. They are extremely intelligent and loyal. They are considered to have a slightly dog like personality.

Caring For Egyptian Maus

Egyptian Mau cats are far more sensitive than other breeds. They need very warm temperatures. They are also likely to be more sensitive to medicine and anesthesia. They have the longest gestation period of 73 days.

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Cornish Rex Cat – The Cat Without Fur

History of Cornish Rex Cats

Although the Cornish Rex cats look remarkably similar to ancient Egyptian statues, they do not, in fact, come from Egypt. As the name suggests, they come from Cornwall in England. As a matter of fact, the Cornish Rex cats are a genetic mutation that originated from a litter of cats that was born in a barn in Cornwall. The male offspring was bred with the mother to produce two more kittens and the male amongst these two kittens was bred with a Siamese cat. The offspring of this pair are the foundation of this breed.

Physical Attributes of Cornish Rex Cats

While most cats have three types of hair in their coats – the outer fur, the middle layer and the undercoat, the Cornish Rex cat only have the undercoat. This coat is extremely fine and curly and falls in washboard curls. In fact, it is the softest amongst any breed of cats. It has a distinctive head and body shape.

Personality of Cornish Rex Cats

Cornish Rex cats are referred to as the “Greyhounds” of the cat world because of their sleek looks and their galloping way of running. They remain kittenish and playful throughout their lives. Many can be taught to play fetch, do acrobatic jumps or race other pets. Cornish Rex Cats are extremely intelligent, curious and adventurous. They enjoy the company of people and other pets.

Caring for Cornish Rex Cats

Due to the thinness of their coat, the Cornish Rex cats need warm living conditions and prefer to be indoors. They are likely to catch hypothermia if they remain outside during winters. They like to stay close to warm places like just under the light bulb, tops of computer monitors and laps and shoulders.

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British Shorthair Cat – Popular Breed In Cat Shows

History of the British Shorthair Cat Breed

The history of the British Shorthair cat can be traced to the time when Romans had brought over cats to Britain. These Roman cats were cross bred with British wild cats. The offspring of these cats were later cross bred with Persian cats to increase the thickness of the coat. Cats with this lineage are the British Shorthair cats.

Types and Colours of British Shorthair Cats

There are no specific types of British Shorthair cats, but they come in many colours: white, red, blue, black, lilac, cream, chocolate, fawn and cinnamon. British Shorthair cats can be bred in “self” or “solid”, which are all one colour, as well as the colourpoint, tabby, shaded and bicolour patterns. All colours and patterns also come in the tortoiseshell pattern, which is a combination of red and cream with other colours.

Physical Attributes of British Shorthair Cats

The British Shorthair cat is one of the largest breeds of cat around the world, the male being much larger than the female. They are very strong cats and have large, sturdy, muscular bodies. They have broad chest, shoulders and hips. They have a dense, plush coat that is usually described as crisp, given the way it breaks over the body’s contours. They have a round face, with full cheeks and a short and broad nose. Their eyes are large, round and widely set and they can be of many different colors, although copper or gold are most common. They live 14-20 years.

Personality of the British Shorthair Cats

British Shorthair cats are called the “Bulldog” of the cat world. They are very laid back and even if they do get mad, they don’t stay mad for too long. They can be very inquisitive and interested in what is going on, but they prefer to curl up instead most of the time.

Caring for British Shorthair Cats

Being such large cats, the British Shorthairs require a lot of food and nourishment- approximately 70 Kcal per kg of bodyweight per day. However, it must be noted that these cats, especially the ones that are neutered, are prone to become obese. In such cases, they will have to be out on a restricted diet.

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Birman Cat – Sacred Cat of Burma

Birman Cat is a domestic cat breed. It is not to be confused with the Burmese, which is a quietly separate breed.

History of Birman Cat Breed

It is difficult to find clear records about the origin of Birman cats. While legend claims that Birmans were kept by temple priests in North Burma, there are many factual and historical errors in this claim. Also, this legend borrows heavily from that of the Siamese cat. In any case, a few Birmans were brought to Europe in the late 19th century and they thrived because of the effort of a few breeders. However, they were almost wiped out during WWII, with only 2 surviving Birmans. This pair is the founding pair of post-war Birmans.

Physical Attributes of the Birman Cats

The Birman cat has a long, stocky body. It has semi-long hair, which is silky.

While the hair is not as thick as that of a Persian cat, it has a texture that never mats. Their coat is typically light in color, golden or eggshell white. Their coat is unusual because they have white ‘gloves’ on each paw. Their markings can be chocolate, blue, cream, lilac or pure seal. They have comparatively small ears and a Roman nose. They have beautiful sapphire blue eyes that remain blue throughout their lives.

Caring for Birman Cats

No specific caring measures are prescribed for Birman cats. Only love :)

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