Tag Archives: cat facts

The British Shorthair: English Indeed!

The British Shorthair is the oldest breed of English cat and its ancestry can be traced directly to the domestic feline of ancient Rome. They were bred in the United Kingdom by the Victorians to resemble bulldogs, (which they sort of do). Known for their perpetual smile, Lewis Carroll chose this breed as the model for his famous Cheshire cat in “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” These cats are comparatively rare in the United States, although their faces are not. A British Shorthair silver tabby is the face of “Whiskas,” and the face of a British Blue is also used on … Continue reading →

The LaPerm Cat: One Curly Joy

Also known as the Alpaca Cat, this breed comes in all colors and patterns. A fairly new breed, what makes them stand apart from other is its unique and distinctive short-long curly coat. It can vary in texture from very wavy to corkscrew curls and even to long ringlets. The coat does not mat, making these animals easy to groom and care for. They usually weigh between 7 to 9 pounds. Their eye color can be anything and has no relation to the coat color. Although not completely hyper-allergenic, many people who are ordinarily allergic to cats can live with … Continue reading →

The Turkish Van Cat: An Ancient Delight

The Turkish Van also known as “The Swimming Cat” is believed to have originated thousands of years ago in the eastern part of Turkey, which is also known as Eastern Anatolia. The word “van” refers to their color pattern, which is restricted to the head and tail. This classic red and white “ringtail” pattern has been found on Hittite jewelry and armor and banners from a battle during the occupation of Armenia by the Romans display the image of a large white cat with rings on its tail. Rediscovered in the 1950s by two English women near Lake Van, they … Continue reading →

The Egyptian Mau Cat: A Noble History

Mau is the Egyptian word for cat and this breed is fascinating for a number of reasons. Not only does it have a very formidable history, cats of this breed are also delightful to know and striking to behold. Images of these cats are seen everywhere in Egyptian art, reflecting their importance in the religion, mythology and everyday life of this ancient culture. As such, they were worshipped as deities, cherished as pets and mummified and mourned upon their death. It is believed that these cats were domesticated from a spotted subspecies of the African Wild Cat. They differ from … Continue reading →

The York Chocolate Cat: A Sweet Delight

This breed of cat is fairly new, dating back only to 1983. Its name is partly derived from its place of origin, New York State. The very first York Chocolate kittens were born to housecats on a dairy farm. The sire was a longhaired black cat, the mother a black and white, also longhaired. Created by colour-selecting domestic longhaired cats, all members of the breed are solid chocolate or lavender, chocolate and white or lavender and white. They all have plumed tails, toe tufts and a neck ruff. These cats are medium to large in size and are big-boned and … Continue reading →

The American Curl: The Feline Peter Pan

The American Curl Cat, so called because of its truly unique ears that curl back from its head in a graceful arc, is hands down, the “Peter Pan” of the feline world. Dubbed thusly because they retain their kitten-like personalities throughout their lives, this breed began in California in 1981 with a longhaired female black cat with funny ears named “Shulamith. All legitimate pedigrees can trace their lineage back to her. The American Curl’s ears are lynx-like with long tufts fanning outward, and when selective breeding began in 1983, it was discovered that the ear-curling gene is autosomal dominant, which … Continue reading →

The Chartreux Cat: Viva La France!

The Chartreaux is a naturally occurring breed of cat that dates back hundreds of years. It is thought that these cats are descended from the “Cat of Syria” described as a cat with an ashy-gray coat and copper eyes, which was brought to Europe during the time of the Crusades. It is known for sure that by the onset of the 18th century, trade dictionaries identified “Chartreux” as a type of blue cat whose pelt was prized by furriers. Natural colonies of these cats were known to exist in Paris and isolated regions in France until the dawn of the … Continue reading →

The Australian Mist: A Shorthaired Delight

Formerly known as the Spotted Mist, these cats were developed in Sydney, Australia from a combination of more than thirty foundation cats, including Burmese, Abyssinian and Domestic shorthairs. The breed is the brainchild of Dr. Trude Straede (Nintu Cattery) and was developed over a period of nine years beginning in 1977. The breed was first recognized for champion status in the 1980s and the name “Australian Mist” was officially accepted in 1998. These lively and lovable house cats have inherited the best of all their sires; having the people-loving temperament of the Burmese, the intelligence and agility of the Abyssinian … Continue reading →

The Neva Masquerade: A Russian Beauty

This naturally occurring breed of cat along with its sister, the Siberian Longhair originated in Russia. It is considered the colour-pointed equivalent of the Siberian but it differs in type and is therefore technically a breed in itself. The Neva has only been known in Middle Europe since the fall of the “Iron Curtain.” All Nevas have “masques” and blue eyes. Their body hair is light with darker colors (points) in the colder body regions such as the face, ears, tails and legs. As with other semi-longhair breeds, the volume of fur depends upon the season, being much longer in … Continue reading →

The Munchkin Cat: Short, Sweet and Unique!

The Munchkin is a naturally occurring breed of cat that dates back to before World War II and was originally found both in Stalingrad, Germany and in Great Britain. Characterized by unusually short legs, this cat was often seen sitting on its haunches with its legs in the air, much like the stance of a rabbit. In 1953, it was called: “the Stalingrad Kangaroo Cat.” Actually, the gene responsible for the cat’s short legs is similar to that seen in some dog breeds, notably the Corgi, Basset Hound and the Dachshund. Somehow the breed disappeared from Europe and was rediscovered … Continue reading →