Meow-Cats

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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Bengal Cat – Domestic Leopard

History of Bengal Cat

The Bengal Cat is a relatively new hybrid variety of cats creating by cross breeding a domestic cat with and Asian Leopard Cat. Their name is derived from the Latin name of its wild ancestor- Felis Bangalensis, and is not related to the Bengal Tiger. It was created to combine the appearance of the wild feline animals with the temperament of the domestic cat.

Types of Bengal Cat Breed

There are four different types of Bengal Cats. They can have one of the two separate patterns – spotted or marbled on one of the two different types of coats – brown or white. Bengal Cats can be both short haired or long haired.

Physical Attributes of Bengal Cat Breed

Bengals cats typically have ‘wild markings’, namely spots and rosettes as well as stripes. The spots and rosettes appear on the back and stripes elsewhere, including the forelegs. The Bengal cat also has ‘mascara’, i.e. dark/black horizontal stripes alongside the eyes. The Bengal Cat comes in several colors like brown, mink, sepia, silver and seal lynx point. The Bengal Cat is large and sleek, has a muscular body and a thick tail. Its hind quarters are slightly higher than its shoulders. It is the only cat that has gold or pearl dusting on it pelt which is satiny or silky smooth.

Personality of Bengal Cats

The Bengal Cat is considered to be a self-assured cat, both affectionate and playful. They love to play in water. They can also coo and chirp and love to jump and somersault.

Caring of Bengal Cats

No specific caring is required for the Bengal cat. However, if you are considering getting a Bengal Cat as a pet, ensure that it is at least four generations removed from the Leopard Cat. This will ensure its domestic temperament.

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American Bobtail Cat Facts

The History of American Bobtails

Legend has it that a cross-breeding between a domestic bobtail and a male tabby cat on an Indian reservation site on the late 1960’s resulted in the American Bobtail. The kitten was found by a couple and cross bred with a long tail female and the resulting offspring laid the foundation of the American Bobtail lineage. Unfortunately, none of the original bloodlines are still alive today. The American is not related to the Japanese Bobtail, despite the similarity in names.

Types of American Bobtails

The difference in American Bobtails lies in their coat- some American Bobtails have short haired coats, while others have long haired ones.

Physical Attributes of American Bobtail Cat Breed

The most notable physical attribute of the American Bobtail is its stubby, bobbed tail which is about a third or a half the length of a regular cat’s tail. Its coat can be described as shaggy, giving it the appearance of a wild animal. Their coat as well as eyes can be of any color. It is a medium to large cat.

american bobtail cat

Personality of American Bobtails

Owners and breeders of the American Bobtail have described it as an extremely playful, friendly, energetic and intelligent cat. In some cases though, it may be born scared and may take a little while to open up to its owners. They are considered to be great family cats as they get along with children as well as other animals. They are also known to be great climbers and can get out of cages, boxes and closed rooms easily.

Caring of American Bobtails

There is no specific caring required for American Bobtails, but they are known to have a lot of health issues, especially in older age.

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The Lovable American Shorthair Cat

American Shorthair. Origins

The American Shorthair cat originated in the United States, and is one of the oldest cat breeds in North America. This breed of cat comes in up to eighty different colors, and has several varying color patterns as well. The most common type of American Shorthair cat is the Silver Tabby, and it is also the most popular color of this type of cat. American Shorthair cats tend to be self sufficient and easy going and are therefore wonderful to have as pets.

Body Structure of the American Shorthair Cat

These are Cats built on large strong muscular lines with thick hard fur. Their faces are full cheeked with round eyes that are sometimes tilted. Another characteristic that the American Shorthair cats have are large heads that are longer than they are wide. They have slightly concave noses and their ears are round-tipped. These cats have legs that are muscular and of medium length. They tend to weigh between eight and fifteen pounds.

Great Friendly Lovable Pets

These cats make great pets. They are very affection and have a very calm disposition. They are low maintenance cats and do not need a lot of special care or frequent visits to the cat groomers. Their call is usually quite soft and low.

American Shorthair cats enjoy company and prefer not to be left alone. You will find that most owners have one or more other cats as company for their American Shorthair cat.

They are very friendly and playful, and get along well with other pets and children. Homes with lots of people or many kids are an ideal environment for these cats. They remain playful all their lives. They can be trained because they are very intelligent and clever. These great qualities make them the most popular pets in North America.

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The Gentle Persian Cat

Persian cats are among the most popular of cat breeds and they are also the longest known pedigree cats. Many of them tend to be white but they actually exist in a variety of colors and patterns. The breed has around sixty different color variations.

Persian cats typically grow from 10 to 15 inches tall and weigh between 7 to 12 pounds at maturity. Their unique characteristics include a rounded head, large eyes, and small rounded ears. This beautiful breed is very sociable even with strangers. A Persian cat makes a wonderful companion for every cat lover.

Characteristics Of The Persian Cat Breed

Persian cats are famous as a result of the long hair and body type. These cats have flat faces, small ears, short noses and wide chests. Their legs are sturdy with large paws.

The most unique trait of these cats is their thick, soft coat of fur with a ruff around the neck, and a tail that hangs quite low. These cats are a very expensive breed of cat and come in different types.

Persians are Good Show Cats

These cats are often seen participating in cat competitions, where they are separated into seven different categories based on colour. These colours of Persian Cats are solid, bicolour, shaded, tabby, silver, gold, smoke and Himalayan. Persians get noticed for their long, flowing coat as well as their colour.

Persian Cats are Good Companions

Persian cats are popular as they have very gentle personalities. They are wonderful companions to have and can be ideal as pets for children because they are very low maintenance and can therefore easily be looked after. They don’t require a lot of attention but they do enjoy being playful and affectionate. Persian cats are extremely vocal and can communicate well using their soft, pleasing voice as well as their eyes. They are not too active and do not jump or climb as much as other cats to. They tend to like spending lots of time lounging around and being admired.

Persians are Indoor Cats

Persian cats are best kept inside the house so you can protect their lovely coats. Going outside can easily damage their coats, and can also make the cats susceptible to diseases and common parasites. Grooming Persian cats is the only maintenance they need as they cannot maintain their own coats like most other breeds of cat. This can be timely work, because their fur is dense and very long. It needs to be brushed every day using a metal comb, otherwise their coat stands to get tangled up in hairballs, and it ends up looking oily and losing its shine.

Persian Cats Need Regular Baths

Unlike most other cats, you will be surprised to know that you also need to bathe Persian breed of cat regularly in order to keep its coat clean, healthy and looking its best. They also need to be dried fully after their baths. Trying to bathe a fully grown Persian cat will be a troublesome and very difficult activity, so start bathing it as a kitten to get them used to enjoying their regular baths.

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