cat breeds lecture

Cat Breeds

Overview of Specific Cat Breeds

• Persian
  • Also known as Longhairs in Europe.
  • Available in various colors, including solids, multi-colors, and tabbies.
• Domestic Shorthair (DSH)
• Domestic Medium Hair (DMH)
• Domestic Longhair (DLH)
• Scottish Fold
  • Recognized for its unique folded ears due to a natural dominant gene mutation.
• Siamese
  • Known for being extremely vocal and demanding.
• Manx
  • Features a genetically cropped tail, a dominant trait, meaning it must breed with a non-Manx to prevent stillbirths.
  • Prone to congenital spinal problems. When long-haired, referred to as a Cymric.

Cat Breeds by Unique Characteristics

• Maine Coon
  • Notable large, heavy-bodied cats.
• Burmese
  • Sable (dark brown with darker points) is the only color recognized in the U.S.
  • Features a shorter head compared to the Siamese.
• Himalayan
  • Resembles a color-pointed Persian breed.
• Abyssinian
  • Has a reddish coat, characterized by bands of different colors on each hair follicle.
• Russian Blue
  • Distinguished by its double coat that provides warmth.
• Somali
  • Same genetic background as Abyssinian but long-haired, likely stemming from Persian crossings.
• Rex (Cornish Rex or Devon Rex)
  • Known for their wavy hair coat.
• Turkish Angora
  • Features a well-plumed tail and easier grooming since it lacks an undercoat, with a finer bone structure.

Recognized Breeds by Cat Fancier’s Association

• Burmilla
• Chartreux
• Colorpoint Shorthair
• Cornish Rex
• Ocicat
• Oriental
• Persian
• Ragamuffin
• Turkish Van

Domestic Cat Breeds

Domestic Shorthair (DSH)

• A mixed ancestry cat not belonging to any particular recognized breed, characterized by a short fur coat.
• Distinct from British Shorthair and American Shorthair which are standardized breeds recognized by registries.
• The most common breed in the U.S., accounting for about 90-95% of the total feline population.
  • Also known by generic terms like house cat or alley cat (the latter often referring specifically to feral specimens).
  • The term "tabby cat" refers to a coat pattern but is generally used to describe these cats.

Domestic Medium Hair (DMH)

• Characterized by thick, double-coated fur.
• Exhibits all colors and patterns seen in cats, including tabby, patched tabby, and solid.

Domestic Long Hair (DLH)

• A fluffy cat of mixed ancestry, not tied to any particular breed.
• Possesses semi-long to long fur.
• Should be distinct from recognized breeds like the British Longhair or American Longhair.
• This group ranks second in popularity in the U.S., following domestic shorthairs.

Detailed Breed Descriptions

Persian Cat

• A long-haired breed recognized for its round face and short muzzle; also referred to as Persian Longhair.
• Its history remains somewhat mysterious; however, similar cats were depicted in hieroglyphs.
• Breeding standards mandate a shorter face compared to the original longer-nosed variants.
• A prevalent health concern within the breed is hereditary polycystic kidney disease, reportedly affecting almost half the population in some countries.

Scottish Fold

• Characterized by a natural gene mutation affecting cartilage, leading to distinctive folded ears.
• The "owl-like" appearance is a hallmark of the breed.

Siamese Cat

• One of the first distinctly recognized breeds from Asia, originating from the Wichianmat landrace in Thailand (formerly Siam).
• Gained popularity in Europe and North America during the 19th century.
• Features include blue almond-shaped eyes, a triangular head shape, large ears, and a slender, muscular body with point coloration.
• Societal traits include being social, intelligent, and playful into adulthood, with a tendency to engage in interactive games and seek companionship.

Manx

• Originating from the Isle of Man, the Manx breed features a genetic mutation leading to a shortened tail, with the most recognizable form being entirely tailless.
• Known for elongated hind legs and a rounded head; comes in almost all coat colors and patterns (all-white being rare).
• Valued as skilled hunters, often sought by farmers for rodent control and historically recognized as preferred ship's cats.
• Generally social, tame, and active in nature.

Maine Coon

• Noted as one of the largest domesticated cat breeds, sometimes referred to as "the gentle giant."
• Its characteristics include a prominent ruff along the chest, a robust skeletal structure, a triangular body shape, and a two-layered coat for protection against cold climates.
• Maine Coons come in a myriad of colors, with lilac and chocolate being the only exceptions for pedigree standards.
• Renowned for intelligence and a playful, gentle demeanor, they exhibit dog-like traits.

Burmese Thai

• Originates from Thailand, likely near the Thai-Burma border, having developed in the U.S. and Britain.
• Initially, all Burmese cats were dark brown (sable), but modern variations offer a wide color palette, although recognition varies.
• Renowned for a social and playful temperament; frequently vocal.

Himalayan

• Also called Himalayan Persian or Colorpoint Persian in Europe.
• This breed resembles the Persian cat but is distinguished by blue eyes and point coloration derived from crossing with Siamese.

Abyssinian

• Characterized as a slender, fine-boned, medium-sized cat with a wedge-shaped head and a straight profile.
• Features large, pointed ears and expressive eyes that can be gold, green, hazel, or copper based on coat color.
• Legs are proportionately long, leading to small oval paws and a long tapering tail.

Russian Blue

• This breed displays colors ranging from shimmering silver to darker slate grey.
• Known for forming close bonds with owners and recognized for their beauty and coat.
• The hallmark feature is its short, dense coat that maintains a unique stand-out texture.

Somali

• Often termed a long-haired Abyssinian; long-haired kittens appeared in Abyssinian litters due to a recessive gene.
• The gene’s introduction into the Abyssinian gene pool remains unclear.

Devon Rex

• Emerged in England during the 1970s, recognized as intelligent short-haired cats.
• Known for slender bodies, a wavy coat, and large ears; capable of learning complex tricks but may be challenging to motivate.

Turkish Angora

• One of the ancient breeds from Turkey, specifically from the Ankara region dating back to at least the 17th century.
• This breed is the source of both the white and long coat mutations.

Sphynx

• Characterized by a lack of coat, developed through selective breeding from the 1960s.
• Skin texture resembles chamois with fine hairs; whiskers may vary in presence or length.
• Skin color corresponds to the possible fur color; all familiar cat markings are present.

Munchkin

• A relatively new breed distinguished by very short legs caused by a genetic mutation.
• Recognition by The International Cat Association in 1995 prompted controversy regarding potential health issues.

Bengal

• Engineered to resemble exotic jungle cats, including leopards and ocelots, through selective breeding of hybrids with domestic cats.
• Bengals typically display bright orange to light brown coats; variations like “snow” Bengals are also popular.

Ragdoll

• Large, semi-longhaired cats celebrated for their captivating blue eyes.
• A pointed breed with a lighter body color contrasting darker points on the face, legs, and tail, bred for large, affectionate natures.
  • Size at maturity: Males: 15-20 pounds, Females: 10-15 pounds; full coloration and size achieved by 2 and 4 years, respectively.

Exotic

• Bred to meet the Persian standard except for the unique thick, plush, short coat that does not tangle easily, earning the nickname "lazy man’s Persian" for ease of grooming.

British Shorthair

• Known for their calm demeanor when mature; they exhibit an easygoing nature and frequent minimal communication.
• Typically very affectionate and adaptable
• Lack acrobatic agility and may display clumsiness; no breed-specific health problems are associated.

American Shorthair

• Known for longevity, robust health, and amiability with children and pets.
• Origin traced back to cats accompanying settlers from Europe, enhancing native skills as “working cats” alongside their pioneer owners.

Feline Colors & Coloration Patterns

Solids

• Solid colored cats present the same color throughout; termed "self" in some contexts.

• Most solid colors result from a recessive gene suppressing the tabby pattern, although mild shadow patterns may be visible.

• Specific solid color definitions:

  • Solid black: Entirely black body varying from coal black to brownish.
  • Solid blue: Blue-gray throughout, referred to as "maltese".
  • Solid white: Completely white, from a gene that suppresses color entirely, with young cats possibly showing faint smudges on their heads.

  Solid Colors Table

  • RED
  • BLACK
  • CREAM
  • FAWN
  • BLUE
  • SMOKE
  • CHOCOLATE
  • LILAC
  • CINNAMON
  • WHITE

Bi-Color Patterns

• Define cats with distinctly visible white markings added to their base color.
  • Examples include “black and white” or “cream tabby and white.”
• White markings can vary in size based on specific descriptors:
  • Mitted: white paws.
  • Locket: a white spot on the chest.
  • Buttons: small white spots on the belly.
  • Bi-color: about half white.
  • Harlequin: mostly white, with large color patches.
  • Van: primarily white with head and tail colored patches.
  • Tuxedo cat: specifically a black and white cat with distinct white areas.

Other Coat Patterns

Bi-Color Variations

• Snowshoe: Various white and colored relationships.
• Van: Mostly white with color primarily on the head and tail.
• Harlequin: High proportion of white with scattered color patches.
• Locket: Specific white chest markings.
• Mitted: Defined white paws.

Tabby Markings

• Characterized by stripes, originally thought to represent the first domesticated cat coloration.
• Types of tabby patterns:
  • Mackerel tabby: Long narrow stripes.
  • Classic tabby: Bulls-eye patterns.
  • Spotted tabby: Spot patterns.
  • Ticked/agouti: Appears in Abyssinians, with bands of color.
• Tabbies typically have white markings, such as bibs or vests.
• All tabbies sport thin pencil lines on the face and an “M” marking on the forehead.

Tabby Marking Descriptions

• Tabby "M": Distinct letter M marking on the forehead.
• Various patterns named: mackerel, classic, spotted, and ticked.

Tabby Colors

• Tabby patterns are the oldest and most prevalent.
• Color definitions indicate the relationships between marking colors and the coat base:
• Common colors include:
  • Brown tabby: Black stripes on brownish-gray ground.
  • Blue tabby: Grayish markings on a gray ground color.
  • Red tabby: Orange stripes on a cream background.
  • Cream tabby: Cream on pale backgrounds.
  • Silver tabby: Black markings on white.

Calico

• Color genetics linked to the X chromosome typically produce female calicos (XX), while male calicos (XXY) are rare and generally sterile.
• Distinct colors: black, orange, and white patches.
• Dilute calicos: Similar to calicos but with softer hues like grey, cream, and white.

Tortoiseshell

• Comprised of black and orange patterns, these cats are technically not tri-colored.
• Mainly female; often lack white but display swirling patterns of color.
• Dilute variants exist, showing grey and peach colors.
• Torbies are categorized as a mixture of tabby and tortie.

Pointed Patterns

• Defined by darker colors on the ears, muzzle, tail, and feet contrasting with lighter body coloration; this pattern represents colorpoint cats.
• Variants include Seal Point, Blue Point, Chocolate Point, Lilac Point, Cream Point, Red (Flame) Point, and showcase tabby in some forms.

Eye Color

• Eye color correlates with coat color.
• Pointed cats exclusively exhibit blue eyes; white cats may show blue, green, gold, or copper.
• Common eye colors span green to gold; variations indicate probable deafness in cats with blue eyes, especially among white cats.