cat breads part 3

The following cat list contains all the different cat breeds. Cats vary so much between breeds, it's sometimes difficult to believe they are the same species! If you have difficulty in choosing a cat breed, go through our cat list to read more about each of the different cat breeds and take a look at their pictures. Different cat breeds not only vary in looks, but also in temperament, personality and each breed has their own special history.

Egyptian Mau

Rare and astonishing are the perfect words to describe the Egyptian Mau. They are the earliest known type of domestic cat and existed several thousands of years ago. But through selective and strict breeding programs, the Mau preserved their traditional heritage making them more exotic than even Siamese and Persian breeds.

An Egyptian Mau is astounding. They can carry out eye-catching leaps and will play fetch for hours without even being trained. Owners will be amazed by the natural intelligence of the Egyptian Mau. They are affable but not as loud as oriental cats, they just love to be with humans and play is a part of their life.

The Egyptian Mau cat does not need special care but it is of utmost importance to give them high quality food. Feline Asthma is a severe illness to this breed though it is not lethal. They might have some allergic reactions to certain food or matter that they might swallow resulting to itchiness. Keeping them indoor is recommended for this reason.

Grooming the extraordinary Egyptian Mau is easier when the habit is started during their kitten hood. A daily combing or coat brushing is good for removing the shedding hair. Ears should be gently wiped with a damp piece of cloth. Tooth brushing is not required but occasional inspection of their mouth is suggested to look for any unusual build-up of plaque or dirt. Bathing the Egyptian Mau cat is necessary if you suspect it might have a skin problem. Use colour formulated shampoo according to the colour coat of the Egyptian Mau to avoid staining. A liquid dish detergent diluted with water usually do the trick for a greasy tail. Use a light cream or conditioner before the final rinse.

European Burmese

The European Burmese and the American Burmese share a common heritage. They were both derived from a single brown cat from Burma named Wong Mau.

The most noticeable difference between a European Burmese and an American Burmese is the color range. Because of an accidental introduction of the red gene in the U.K., The European Burmese has a total of ten colors. The 6 extra colors in addition to the existing Sable, Champagne, Blue and Platinum are red, cream, brown-tortie, chocolate-tortie, blue-tortie and lilac-tortie.

The European Burmese is a chic and stylish cat breed with modestly rounded, firm body curves and a medium length tail. Its head is slightly rounded with a strong chin and wide jaw at the base. It has a short, close lying and lustrous coat.

This breed has a natural sweet and intelligent personality. The European Burmese is regarded as outstanding pet and good companion to both people and other pets. Their personality allows them to be excellent sick-room assistant.

Just like any other pedigree, the European Burmese should never be permitted outdoors without supervision because they are prone to wandering. Keeping them indoors will keep them from getting infectious diseases or rabies and keep them from getting lost or stolen. The grooming a European Burmese is very minimal because of their short and naturally shiny coat. During shedding, a regular rub down with a rubber mitten is already enough to remove their dead hair. Claw clipping can be done when necessary but should be introduced during their kitten hood. At times when they become mischievous, disciplining a Burmese is not hard, a water spray will do the trick to keep them on guard.

Exotic Shorthair

What do you do if you love the calm personality of a Persian cat, but can't bear the idea of going through the effort to groom all that long hair? Get an Exotic Shorthair, of course! The Exotic Shorthair cat originates from the 1960s, when cat breeders crossed Persian cats with American Shorthair cats. The Exotic Shorthair closely resembles the Persian cat in character and also in looks - except for one difference, the short hair. You could say that Exotic Shorthair cats are Persians for lazy people.

The main shape for the face of an Exotic Shorthair is round: they have enormous round heads, round cheeks and a flat, short nose. Their eyes are round and wide spaced and the color changes according to the color of the coat. Ears are also wide set, small and round with fur on the inside. The Exotic Shorthair cat has a sturdy, muscular body, with a thick, short neck, broad shoulders and can weigh up to 6kg. It has a short, thick, low hanging tail that is also rounded at the tip. Essentially they look like Persians with short hair. The coat color can also come in all the colors of the Persian, and although fur is short, it's still denser and a little longer than that of the traditional shorthair. A show standard Exotic Shorthair should also preferably have longer tufts of fur between its toes.

Just like Persian cats, Exotic Shorthairs are also very good-natured, calm cats. They are one the most loyal and friendly cat breeds. They have inherited the calmness of the Persian cat, which makes them suitable to be kept in smaller apartments, but also inherited the more energetic personality from the American Shorthair. This makes Exotic Shorthair cats more playful than the normal Persian cat.

The Exotic Shorthair's coat doesn't require a high amount of grooming, but should be brushed once a week. They take a long time (up to two years) to become fully developed and mature. The only other special care that should be taken with an Exotic Shorthair is to regularly wipe its face to remove "tears".

Havana Brown Cats

Havana Brown cats' origins can be traced back to a hundred years ago as a division of the Royal Cats of Siam in South East Asia. They first appeared in Britain in the 1800s along with the arrival of the Siamese cats. But all modern the Havana Brown cats' ancestry can be traced back to the very first Havana Brown named Quinn's Brown Satin of Sidlo, a kitten of two brown cats namely Roofspringer Mahogany Quinn and Laurentide Brown Pilgrim of Norwood.

Aficionados of the Havana Brown believed that these cats got their name from being as brown as the color of rich Havana Tobacco.

This breed is beyond compare to other brown cats because the Havana has a unique gleaming and mahogany brown fur that is rich and smooth to touch. This is the only cat pedigree that requires a specific whisker color - their whiskers must be brown and match the color of the coat. The head of the Havana Brown is a little longer with a blushing red nose and its chin is remarkable. Its eyes are oval and vivid green while the ears are huge and round tipped.

The Havana Brown cats are classified as shorthair, thus there is absolutely no need for any special grooming treatment. Occasional bathing, nail clipping, ears cleaning, plucking any stray white hairs and coat brushing is enough to keep your Havana on its best.

The Havana Brown is a charismatic, lighthearted cat with a gentle voice. This breed is incredibly social and often found sitting along with a group of people. Unlike other cats, the Havana uses its paws to explore and satisfy its inquisitiveness. He touches and feels things around him. This cat enjoys training lessons and appreciates applauses that makes him a brilliant show cat.

Himalayan Cats

Some interesting trivia about the Himalayans is their several movie appearances since 1993. Himalayan cats have appeared in the movies Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco, Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers. Being in the spotlight boosted the popularity of Himalayan cats making them one of the most adored cat pedigrees.

Himalayans was created through the crossbreeding of Siamese and Persians. They are also known as the Color Point Persian in Europe. This breed inherited much of the markings of the Siamese and the coat length and temperaments of a Persian.

The most recognized coat colors of the Himalayan are blue, brown, lilac, chocolate, flame, red and cream. The color patterns can be light and dark striped. They are heavy-boned with a round head, short nose, round large eyes and small ears. The Himalayan’s most unique characteristic is their eye color, which is brilliant or deep blue.

Himalayan cats not only have an attractive appearance, but also a charming personality. These cats are thoughtful, smart and good companions. Most likely because of the Siamese influence, they tend to be more lively than Persian. They are trainable, interactive and can communicate with their harmonious meow.

The Himalayans require daily grooming. Giving them a bath every other day or weekly is recommended for this type of breed. Most owners of the Himalayans start bathing their cats since they were still kittens in order to accustom them to this routine.

Himalayan cats reach maturity very early. They are sexually precocious at a very young age, a trait they inherit from the Siamese. It is not unusual to see an eight month old Himalayan caring for her kittens. Early neutering is highly recommended for this breed.

Javanese Cat

The Javanese is a longhair breed of cat usually associated with the Balinese breed because they both come from the spontaneous mutation of Siamese. Javanese cats have a very similar body configuration and character traits to the Balinese breed, but the Cat Fanciers' Association distinguished the Javanese as a separate breed because of the much larger color assortment of Javanese cats.

The Javanese cats are known to have a particular personality associated to each color variation. Red and cream points are the most carefree and blasè of all colors. Javanese cats with these colors love their playtime.

Lynx points are the most popular pattern of the Javanese cats. Lynx point personalities appear to vary between the majestic and noble to the more imaginative, always busy with tricks and toys.

Tortie points are the giddy fair-haired or nutty redhead Javanese. They will loudly verbalize their minds and amuse you with their frolics.

Javanese cats also come in seal, blue, chocolate and lilac point colors. Those colors are shared between all three breeds (Javanese, Balinese and Siamese). However, Javanese cats with these point colors are not sold as pets. Javanese breeders solely use them in their breeding programs.

The Javanese cat's personality can be summed up as dynamic and playful, but exceedingly warm and sharp. Its beyond doubt that they enjoy human companion. Javanese cats have a range of voices depending upon what they want to communicate. They can easily become accustomed to their owners' routines and are always happy to accompany them.

Korat

From the other side of the world, in Thailand, Asia, originates one of the oldest cat breeds, the Korat. The Korat cat is surrounded by Thai legend and tradition. In Thailand it is nicknamed Si-Sawat, or Good Luck Cat and it is believed that the Korat will bring good fortune to its owners. The Korat is often given as a gift to bring good luck to its receivers. In 1959 the Korat cat breed was brought to America by Jean Johnson who discovered the breed while she was living in Thailand.

Korats are medium built, but solid and are heavier than they appear to be. Their coat is a shorthair coat and Korats can be found in only one color, a lavender shade of blue. Korats' coats are adapted to the hot and humid Thai climate; therefore they don't have an underdown and rarely needs to shed their hair. The Korat cat's eye color changes as it grows into maturity. As a kitten, it has an amber shade of eyes, which gradually changes until the eyes are a striking emerald green. Even under a spotlight, Korat eyes reflect green instead of the usual expected red.

As a result of its shorthair coat, a Korat doesn't need much brushing and grooming, although it will be very appreciated. Korats are very active cats and needs a lot of attention. They love living in pairs and become very attached to a partner Korat, so it is always a good idea to have two Korat cats as a single Korat will demand even more attention. In spite of their active nature, Korats are wary of loud or sudden noises and prefers living in a quiet environment and staying indoors.

Maine Coon Cats

The Maine Coon is a gorgeous broad-chested breed of cats. They have colossal and well-built rectangular bodies and long, flowing tails. The Maine Coon has high cheekbones, lengthy teeth, a medium head and a blunt ended chin.

Maine Coon cats are naturally strong and healthy. Among the cat breeds, they are the most competitive fighter and the one with highest chance of survival in harsh environment. The Maine Coon cats were once considered as working cats that could be found in ships and other trading areas. They were valued as the best rodent hunters in the olden time.

A Maine Coon is known to be an indigenous longhaired cat from Maine and one of the oldest natural cat pedigrees in North America. There is countless tales about the real lineage of the Maine Coons but not one is recognized as factual. One more rational theory is that the Maine Coon breed was developed from the mating between domestic cats of Maine and the cats from New England that came along with the sailors from America. When the sailors returned to New England, they took the Maine Coon cats with them. These cats that survived the harsh winters, produced litters that became the basis of the Maine Coon breed.

The popularity of the Maine Coon as a house pet started in 1860 when some people began noticing the intelligence of this cat and started sharing their amzing encounters with each other. They held country shows to exhibit the intelligence and beauty of their Maine Coon cats. Breeders then started to breed the Maine Coon with the aim of preserving the inherent physical attributes of this cat.

A Maine Coon may be physically tough but they are even-tempered. They are calm and like to be with people. They can get along with children and other animals. Most owners are delighted with their Maine Coon because of their entertaining tricks and easy-to-maintain shaggy coats.

Groovy Manx

Photograph by Jonik, August 15, 2004. Source Wikipedia Manx breed.

Manx cats are a tailless breed with a stout and rounded appearance. They have round eyes, round cheeks and a round head. They are generally shorter than other cat breed but they can take quite impressive leaps from high places in a house. They are also very fast and will be speeding around your house.

A Manx can be as playful as a small child. Their energy seems endless. They have remarkable dog-like attributes like burying their toys and forming a close attachment with their owner or their family.

The Manx cat can be classified either as a shorthair or a longhair. The only variation between the two classifications is the coat length. The shorthair has a double coat with a combination of soft coat and hard glossy outer coats. The longhair has a silky medium coat length.

Both shorthair and longhair Manx are regarded as one of the original breeds of cats from the Isle of Man. Books and publications from the 1800s show the very same Manx that we have today. Though this breed is famous for being tailless, there are some of them that have a short tail or even a full tail. Breeders discovered that they shouldn't breed two tailless Manx because the litters will be more likely to die due to spinal deformities.

Since the Manx has a dense double coat,dish detergent liquid can be used when bathing for removing grease from its coat. This can be followed by a good colour formulated shampoo. A thorough rinse is essential before and after a shampoo. For the final rinse, it is advised to mix about two tablespoons of vinegar for every two quarts of water to ensure that all soap has been rinsed out. A blow dry while brushing the hair on the reverse direction is preferred over basic drying because of their thick coat.