No one knows for sure where the Abyssinian cat originated but it is among one of the oldest cat breeds. The very first Abyssinian arrived in England in 1868 and finally this breed was officially registered in 1882. Abyssinian’s come in various colors such as tawny, blue, cinnamon, ruddy, and fawn as well as black, blue and fawn silver. They have expressive almond shaped eyes which can be green, copper, hazel or gold. These cats are known to be extroverts and they love to be around people. When at home they are active and playful. To their owners they bring loyalty and intelligence and when meeting strangers these cats can be gentle and shy. Even though the Abyssinian has small paws it is a rather large cat with a strong build. Their large ears have tufts and their tails are long and graceful. Owners will come to realize that this breed of cat has a soft meow which is rarely heard.
The Aegean Cat breed hails from Greece and they were first discovered on the Cycladic Islands of Greece found in the Aegean Sea. The breed was officially recognized in the late 1900s. This breed can be found all over Greece. Aegean’s are lively and affectionate cats and ready to interact with their owners. Their fur can be red, cream, blue or black. These cats are a semi-longhaired breed and can be found in bi- and tr-colors with the prominent color being white. Of medium size they have a muscular body and their large, green eyes give them an oriental look. Known to be intelligent and friendly they quickly bond with people. This breed can be noisy as they tend to be pretty vocal and will meow whenever they want something from their owners. Aegean’s interact good with other animals and are quite good mousers.
The British Longhair breed came about as a result of crossbreeding between British Shorthair and Persian breeds somewhere in the 1870s. In most countries they are a certified breed. These gentle and loving cats come in a variety of colors and have a mild temperament and a good nature. Good to have around children as they tend to be affectionate and friendly and are tolerant toward young children. However it is not recommended to have them around children who tend to be overly boisterous. Owners must be aware that if these cats object to anything they will make sure that their objection is well known. At the kitten stage they are very playful but with age they mellow and become less so. Good at being alone they can amuse themselves. They tend to look stocky because they have broad chests, muscled backs with short legs and round paws. Being long haired they need daily brushing and around five minutes is recommended and when washed needs to be towel or blow-dried so it doesn’t catch a cold.
The British Shorthair breed is thought to have originated in Roman times. These cats were introduced to the United Kingdom to be working cats which would kill off the rodent population on farms and properties. They were left behind to interbreed with other British cat breeds when the Romans took leave in the second century AD. Eventually the true British Shorthair breed emerged. This breed has around 30 different colors. These cats wound up with so many different colors when during WWII they were practically wiped out and were once again interbred with various cats like the Persians. British Shorthairs have a powerful, muscular body with a broad chest and a short, thick coat. Their legs are short and strong with round paws. They are quiet, even-tempered cats which have a friendly and docile nature. With owners they’re neither vocal nor demanding but tend to be affectionate and loving. They are good around children and other pets and like to have a play-mate around. They’re good pets for apartments because they aren’t very active so they don’t create too much chaos. As this cat’s fur doesn’t tangle they can be brushed once a week.
Chartreux cats have been around since the 16th century when they befriended what were then known as”blue cats of France”. These two breeds just sort of came together. After WWI in order to preserve the Chartreux cats there was a breeding program started in the U.S. This cat breed is of a large size and the usual color is blue, gray. Chartreux cats like to be around the house. It is in their nature to love to”hunt” and”kill” their toys since they’re natural born hunters. These cats don’t mind when left alone. They are loyal and tend to get attached to their family but will also do alright with strangers. Chartreux cats overall are friendly and amiable and get along with other pets and children. Their fur is thick so it can become knotted easily and they require a lot of grooming.
Cornish Rex cats first came into the world in 1950 in Cornwall, England where they were born with curly fur. The Cornish Rex cat grew in popularity and sometime later a pregnant cat of this breed was sent to the U.S. for a breeding program. In size these cats range from small to medium. Cornish Rex cats have a wavy coat, come in various colors and have a somewhat small head. They have very soft fur and long slender legs. Cornish Rex cats are cats for extroverted people. Very active and love playing with toys. They love to get right into the middle of any family activity and are good companions.
Devon Rex cats hail from Devon, England and have wavy, curly fur. The first kittens of this breed were born in 1960. They range in size from small to medium and come in various colors. Devon Rex cats are active, playful and extroverted. They are great companions and playmates for other animals and for children. Loyal and dedicated cats. Very family orientated and a pleasure to have.
European Shorthair cats are an amazing hybridization of many different breeds from all across Europe. I happened that even though Scandinavian cats looked a lot different from other European Shorthair cats in 1982 Scandinavian cats became the only ones allowed to be called ”European Shorthair”. They range in sizes from medium to large and come in red, black, blue, cream, silver and smoke colors. Basically the European Shorthair is an intelligent, inquisitive and active cat that loves human company. They tend to be suspicious of strangers. Although they’re suitable house cats they’re not for households with young children as they each individual cat tends to have a different temperament.
Exotic Shorthair Cats are a hybridization of the Persian cat but bred to have a shorter coat. They are of medium size and come in a variety of colors. They’re sweet and docile cats which love their owners and tend to follow them about. By mewing softly they’ll beg for attention. Exotic Shorthairs are easy going and love to be around their owners often sitting on their laps. They are ideal for those who want a calm and friendly pet.
German Rex Cats came about in 1950 and officially began to be bred in 1957.The breed caught on and became popular but by the 1970s it had become rarer. There are attempts to restore the numbers of this breed. These cats are medium to large in size and come in colors – lilac, chocolate and color point. German Rex cats are calm and good-natured. With their owners they are amiable, friendly and affectionate. They tend to be loyal and enjoy the company of humans and other animals. Since German Rex cats are patient and playful they make wonderful family pets. They love to play with toys and share in play with their owners and since they don’t get quickly bored they enjoy staying at home.
Havana Brown Cats are also known as Swiss Mountain Cats and came about as a result of planned breeding. Black domestic cats, seal and chocolate point Siamese and at time Russian Blue cats were cross breed and the result was the Havana Brown. In the mid 1950s they were introduced to North America and in 1959 they were accepted by the Cat Fanciers Association. These cats are medium in size and chocolate brown in color. Havana Brown cats are known to be playful, gentle, charming, intelligent and people-orientated. Being curious they love to explore and tend to follow their owners about the house. They get along well with other pets and since they love companionship they’ll meow softly to their owners. Well suited for families with children. Require a weekly brushing or combing for their coat to look healthy.
Manx Cats supposedly originated ages ago on the Isle of Man off the coast of England. It is known that the”Manx Gene” is supposed to be a mutation. Their best known feature is that they count as the tailless cats and have a small stump of a tail. They are small cats that come in colors of cream, black, white, brown, red and blue. Manx cats are friendly, loving and affectionate and since they are active and playful they love being outdoors. These cats are wonderful hunters, loyal and protective of their homes. These traits have earned them the nickname”dog cats”. Manx cats don’t enjoy being idle and tend to follow their owners around and”talk” to them by meowing softly. They are best suitable for home owners since they don’t like being kept indoors all the time.
Norwegian Forest Cats are known in Norway as skoggkatt which literally translates to forest cat. They came about in Scandinavia around 4,000 years ago. They were begun to be bred in the 1970s and soon afterwards grew in popularity. Medium in size they come in many colors with the exception of seal point and chocolate. Norwegian Forest Cats are friendly, affectionate and enjoy being included in family activities. They are great with people and children however they’re not lap cats and prefer to rub against their owners meowing for attention. These cats love to play and will do well both indoors and out. Being outdoors they will actually fish if near streams and are known to have the talent of being able to climb down trees head-first.
Peterbald Cats originated in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1994. These cats came about as a crossbreeding between a Don Hairless and a domestic shorthair. They were accepted by the International Cat Association or TICA in 1997. These cats are medium in size and come in all kinds of color varieties and patterns. Peterbald Cats are very affectionate and loyal to their owners. They want constant attention but to get it are not too vocal and instead will follow their owners about to get attention. These cats are known to be intelligent and active and being full of energy they love to play. They get along well with other pets and children. Peterbald cats are suitable for people who have the time to spend with them. They are not loners. Although Peterbald Cats are hairless they’re not considered hypoallergenic so they still would not be good for people who are allergic to cat hair. Having a high metabolism they need more food than cats with fur. Must be frequently bathed to remove the body oils which they secrete. These cats are sensitive to the cold and must be kept very warm during the winter months. If they are outdoors they must have sun block on them as they could get sunburn.
Russian Blue Cats originated from the Archangel Isles in northern Russia and for this reason this cat is also known as the Archangel Blue. These cats were first introduced by sailors in northern Europe in the 1860s and by 1912 the Russian Blue cats had been given a class all of their own in cat shows. These cats are medium in size and their only color is blue-grey with a definite silver sheen. Russian Blue cats are gentle and affectionate that build a strong bond with their owners. They’ll be shy around strangers. Being highly sensitive toward their owners they’ll often sit patting their owner’s face when they appear to be sad. These cats get along well with children and other pets. Russian Blue cats are intelligent and playful but can tend to be quiet and soft spoken as well. They are good for apartment dwellers as they like the indoors and can be left alone for long periods of time to entertain themselves. They need to have their coats brushed once or twice a week. These cats tend to gain weight quickly and so their food intake should be monitored.
Scottish Fold Cats hail from Scotland and were developed in 1961 by farmers Mary and William Ross. The original Scottish Fold cat was a barn cat named Susie. They were once turned down in the U.K. because people tended to think that the folded ears of these cats were caused by impaired health. Once a breeding program was begun in the U.S. these cats gained in popularity. Scottish Fold Cats are medium in size and come in all kinds of color combinations. Scottish Fold Cats by nature are friendly, sweet natured and affectionate but are not lap cats and prefer to just lie near them. These cats are great hunters and very playful and although they are not too vocal they do have sweet, chirpy voices. Scottish Fold cats love sleeping flat on their backs. They do well indoors and out and get along fine with other pets and children. These cats don’t like to left alone so they aren’t suited for people who work long hours. Scottish Fold cat’s ears are delicate and they should be taken care of and cleaned as they are prone to ear mite infection. Since these cats tend to get overweight their diets must be monitored carefully. Some of the health problems they can have are polycystic kidney disease, cardiomyopathy and osteochondritis so regular vet check-ups are a must.
Siberian Cats have been around for thousands of years and come from Russia. These cats are among the three breeds which are known as Forest Cats. The other two breeds are Norwegian Forest Cats and the Main Coon. A lot of myths are associated with the Siberian Cat because it is Russia’s national cat. In 1990 the Siberian Cat breed was imported to the U.S. These cats are large in size and come in all kinds of color varieties. Oddly enough Siberian cats have been referred to as the dogs of the cat world. Mostly because they are gentle natured, friendly and extremely devoted to their owners. These cats enjoy human contact and are very fond of children. They will even respond to their owner’s calls and converse with them in soft chirpy voices. Siberian Cats love to be rubbed or scratched and can purr in laps for hours. Their coats tend to be looked at as hypo-allergenic and they can be good cats around allergy sufferers. Since they have dense coats they are well suited to winter conditions. Their coats should be brushed once or twice a week to help reduce the forming of hairballs.
Ukrainian Levkoy Cats are a pretty new domestic cat breed just developed in 2000. Cat breeders wanted to develop a cat of Ukrainian origin that had a unique appearance. Since these cats have bent ears they were named for the Levkoy plant which has bent leaves. Being rather new this breed is still not recognized by most cat fancier association around the globe. Even though some Ukrainian Levkoys have been exported to other countries they are mainly found in the Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian Levkoy Cats are medium in size and come in all kinds of colors and patterns. These cats tend to be gentle and friendly and get along with their family including children and other pets. They are loyal and rather vocal. They are indoor cats due to the fact that they are sensitive to extreme heat and cold. Ukrainian Levkoy’s are playful and can get bored easily so they need lots of toys and interactive activity. This breed produces more body oil than normal coated cats and needs to be frequently bathed. The folded ears have to be cleaned as residue builds up quickly between the folds. In winter they need to be kept warm and in the summer can be in danger of sunburn.
Animals are Wonderful 