Pawprints and Purrs, Inc.

A Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization
All donations are tax deductible
Copyright © 1997 - 2008

Bachman Kiddens' Catcyclopedia

"A cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not." ~ Ernest Hemingway, American Novelist

H - Z

Himalayan
A gentle, laid-back, "people" cat, the "Himmie" is a cross breeding of the Persian, Siamese and Birman, picking up all the beautiful features of the three crossings - fully coated longhair, sturdy body and rounded eyes of the Persian, coloring and markings of the Siamese, and the blue eyes of the Birman.

A mature Himalayan's mask covers the face, but should not extend over the rest of the head. Some cats may have more extensive masks than others.

The eye color of this breed is less intense than in the Siamese, and the pointing is softer in the longer coat; masks are generally less dense and body color is paler.


Human "Cat" Speech
All languages are rich in cat proverbs and cat sayings: from Spain, "A cat with gloves cannot catch mice"; from Italy, "Old cats mean young mice"; from the Netherlands, "The man who does not love cats will never get a pretty woman"; from Britain, "Curiosity killed the cat."


Hunting
The hunting instinct is buried deeply in the mind of even the youngest kittens. Rather than just eat its food, a kitten prods it, as it would an animal brought back from the hunt, to check whether it is safe to approach.


Japanese Bobtail
Sociable and inquisitive, this cat still exists only in small numbers as it is bred by very few breeders worldwide. The breed's short tail makes a full, fluffy pompom. It is highly gregarious but easily bored and, when bored, can be mischievous.


Kitten
If a kitten is taken away from its mother before completing its twelve-week suckling period, it suckles its owner instead, kneading with its paws and sucking skin or clothing. Some genetic lines of the Siamese breed suckle wool items, such as sweaters, when they are adults.

A kitten's brain is almost fully developed at birth. By seven (7) weeks of age, most areas have matured. Skills are acquired fastest in this developmental stage; learning before seven weeks is more important in cats than in dogs.


Korat
Some of the newer breeds have achieved huge popularity in a short time, while some of the older ones, such as the Korat, still retain a certain rarity value. Known in its native Thailand for centuries, the breed was not recognized for showing in the West until 1965.


Kurile Island Bobtail
Until recently, there was only one widely known bobtailed breed, the Japanese. With the advent of a more open attitude in the countries of the former Soviet Union, new breeds are emerging, among them some surprises such as the hitherto obscure Kurile Island Bobtail breed.

This breed originated in the Kurile Island chain, which runs from the easternmost point of Russia to the tip of Japan's Hokkaido Island. Its coat, conditioned by harsh winters, is long and thick, and its build is sturdy. A friendly breed, it nonetheless retains its independence.


Lifespan
Expected lifespan for the domestic cat is between nine (9) and fifteen (15) years. The longest lifespon ever claimed for a domestic cat is 36 years, a tabby cat named Puss, which lived from 1903 to 1939 - longer than the record for any domestic dog.

It is claimed that pedigree cats do not live as long as nonpedigree ones. At least one lived beyond 30 years: a Seal Point Siamese named Sukoo, living in southern England, reached the age of 31 in 1989.

Spayed and neutered cats, on average, live three to five years longer than intact ones. This is because they are less likely to become embroiled in damaging fights and, for the same reason, are more resistant to infection.


Maine Coon
Strong, tranquil, and luxurious to both sight and touch, the Maine Coon has recently become an outstandingly popular companion. Easygoing and companionable, many men find the large breed appealing. At the turn of the twentieth century, the breed lost ground to the Persian, but survived because farmers recognized its excellent hunting ability.

Maines look their best in winter when the heavy, glossy coat is at its most luxurious. The coat is undoubtedly that of a farm cat. Despite being long and thick, it requires surprisingly little maintenance, and it is water repellent, so it is fortunate that bathing is rarely necessary.

While the breed enjoys the company of people, it is not a dependent breed, but is content to pursue its own activities; some owners report that these include swimming. Females retain their dignity more than males, who tend to be slightly goofy.


Manx
The full-cheeked face of the Manx show its roots in the typical random-bred British cat. The head should be broad and rounded, with a straight nose and firm chin.

The lack of a tail is the breed's most obvious visible characteristic, but it's "bunny hop" gait is just as unique. It there is any single word that encapsulates the Manx, it is round - round-bodied, round-eyed, round-rumped, and round-headed. However, Manx cats may be "stumpies" - with short tails, or "tailies" - with almost natural, but perhaps kinked, tails. Stumpies and tailies make excellent pets, but show cats are all rumpies.

The Manx is one of the stoutest of all cat breed. The Cat Fanciers' Association showing Standard states that the proportion of the body to the legs should be such that, taken together, they describe a square. The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy Standard calls for the cat to have "good breadth of chest." All call for the cat to be tailless with a rounded rump.


Norwegian Forest
Breeds that develop in harsh climates such as the Norwegian Forest Cat or the Maine Coon, show their origins in their coats. They tend to have water repellent topcoats and thick, insulating undercoats. Swathed in a thick, black coat for winter, the breed could pass for one of the fierce cats of Nordic legend. Eye color is unrelated to coat color, so black selfs may come with eyes of glowing gold or "witch's cat" green.

The Norwegian type should always remain elegant. While large and robust, the build should not appear stocky, and the facial features should be angular and give an impression of alertness, rather than be rounded or "sweet."

Somewhat reserved with strangers but calmly confident with people it knows, its large size and long hind legs give it a commanding presence. Norwegian breeders like to think of the "natural cat" as their little lynx. While it makes a gentle housecat, it defends its territory vigorously. It is a superb climber and hunter, and owners who live near streams report that their Wegies fish.


Oriental Shorthair
In physique and temperament, the breed is a Siamese, but in solid coat colors. Today, over half of Siamese descendants are self or bicolor, and fewer than a quarter are pointed. There were also solid cats among the first Siamese to be brought to the West.

Blue Oriental Shorthairs were imported from Thailand in the 1800s, but these could also have been Korats. There could be no confusing the breeds today; the blue Oriental has the characteristic elongated build and slanted eyes of the breed.
New colors and patterns continue to be developed. Many of the genes for these cats have been present since Our Miss Smith, the breed's Siamese founding mother, gave birth to green eyed, brown coated kittens in the 1950s.

Every owner can tell you that the Oriental Shorthair's favorite place to be is between you and your book, newspaper, or keyboard. These active and athletic cats are also outrageously gregarious - breeder call them shameless flirts.


Persian
The first documented ancestors of the Persian were imported from Persia into Italy in 1620 and from Turkey into France about the same time. For the next two centuries, their descendants were status symbol pets.

Among the first longhair breeds was the Persian, or Longhair. Over the years, the coat of this breed has been bred to ever greater length, and many other breeders clip their cats when not showing, since they must otherwise groom the cats several times a day. The shaded and tipped Persians epitomize elegance. The extraordinarily long coat is highly unlikely to turn up in nonpedigreed domestic cats. However, the shading, the dramatic black eyeliner, and the outlined nose all appear in nonpedigreed cats. Early Persians were less compact than they are today, with short, not flat, faces. Breeders in Europe still select them for their moderate noses, but American show judges have tended to prefer a flatter face. The Chinchilla is one longhair coat color that has generally avoided the breed's radical facial shortening; South Africa even has its own Standard within the breed, allowing it to have a longer nose.

While the breed is known as quiet cats, Persians are not entirely passive. In Britain and mainland Europe, pedigreed cats have more access to the outdoors than they do elsewhere, and they will guard their territory and catch and kill prey with surprising ease, given their shortened faces.

Today's breeding for large heads has increased the need for Caesarean deliveries.

The chocolate Persian came from a Persian-Havana cross in the 1950s, and is now accepted in all major registries. Chocolate Tabbies and Torties inevitably followed. As in many breeds, the British Standard calls for mingled colors, while the North American registries prefer patches.


Polydactyl
The gene for polydactyly, or extra toes, is the result of a dominant mutation. Polydactyl cats were among the early populations of Boston and Halifax (USA cities); this trait is now more common in these places than anywhere else in the world.


Ragdoll
Ragdolls were first bred in 1960 by a California breeder who claimed the cats went limp when handled. The breed's success resulted from the demand for placid, indoor-dwelling cats. Similar breeds are now being developed, all with equally cozy names.

Mostly know for its famously placid disposition, the Ragdoll is a big and surprisingly heavy cat. Its medium-long coat has a soft texture and does not readily mat. Ragdolls are essentially pointed cats, born white and slowly developing color and pattern over two years.

In profile, the face should have a very gentle break for the nose, which is of medium length. The head is large, with full cheeks and rounded muzzle. The ears are medium sized, wide at the base and rounded at the tips. The eyes are large and oval, slightly slanted.


Random-Breeds
By far the most popular and widely owned domestic cat is the humble, random-bred household pet. Even in countries with high populations of pedigreed cats, these self-selected cats outnumber them four to one.


Russian Shorthair
A cautious cat, the Russian Shorthair is sensitive to changes in its environment and controlled in its activities with strangers. Its most vivid features are its thick, lustrous coat and its emerald green eyes. This is a gentle breed and an ideal indoor companion.

The Blue Russian Shorthair is considered lucky in Russia and images such as nineteenth century engravings are given to brides.


Siamese
Possibly the world's most instantly recognizable cat breed, the Siamese has had its share of controversy. The first cats often had crossed eyes and kinked tails, characteristics that are rare today.

The Siamese originated in a mutation in Asia over five hundred (500) years ago. In Thailand, these cats were revered by Buddhist monks and royalty. They made their way to the West in the late nineteenth century, appearing at a British show in 1871. The popularity of the breed peaked in the 1950s.

Actively inquisitive, often resoundingly vocal in their demands, the breed is absurdly gregarious with a chatty nature in its relationships with people. Generally, the Siamese live long lives, but they may be more prone than other breeds to inherited heart disease.

New colors and tabby stripes have augmented the original four Siamese colors since the 1960s. "Shadow-points" and silver-points also exist, but have never won wide recognition. Regardless of their new color varieties, these cats are Siamese both in spirit and conformation.

The breed has long been among the preferred pets of the stars, from Jean Cocteau to Anna Pavlova. Even today, the Siamese can still count celebrities such as actress Anjelica Huston among its fans.


Siberian
Famed for its harsh winter, the homeland of the Siberian breed favored large, sturdily built cats wih thick, protective coats. Sturdy does not mean staid, however; these are active and highly agile cats. While socialible, it is disinclined to play the passive lap cat.

Originally, there was a great predominance of tabby coats in the Siberian, as is to be expected of a breed that developed outdoors, where natural enemies abound. Tabbies of all patterns continue to make up a fairly high proportion of the breed.

The appearance of the Siberian is more reminiscent of a wildcat than any other breed. The face is also unique: great breadth and oval, slightly tilted eyes, give a distinctly wild and decidedly Asiatic cast. Russian cat clubs wish to see this wild appearance preserved.


Singapura
The Singapura breed's temperament and physical attributes are widely reputed to be a natural result of selective pressures. In Singapore, most cats are feral and nocturnal. Cats that attract the least attention are more likely to breed successfully, leading to small size, a quiet voice, and a retiring disposition. The Singapura is at the smaller end of the feline scale.

The breed's name is Malaysian for Singapore, where the cats were first found. Their destinctive, and only recognized, coat, is a ticked tabby in a color called sepia.

The coats of Singapura kittens seldom meet the breed Standards for adults: they are longer in relation to the small bodies, and also show less developed ticking. Even quite young kittens show the "cheetah lines" that run from inner corner of the eye to the whisker pads.


Sphynx
Although hairless cats have appeared at different times, the Sphynx is not truly hairless - it is coved with a short, silk "peach-fuzz" down the texture of soft suede. Each empty hair follicle has an oil producing gland. With no hair to absorb the oil, Sphynxes need to be cleaned daily.

Colors in the Sphynx are often warmer than they are in cats with coats, because the natural pink of the skin shows through. A blue may, in some lights, look closer to a lilac in other cats. The jugged ears, large eyes, and elfin face shows the influence of the Devon Rex.


Somali
With its bushy tail, arched back, and appearance of walking on its tiptoes, the Somali is one of the world's most popular newer breeds. By the late 1970's, the breed was fully accepted in North America. It appeared in Europe in the 1980s. By 1991, it had gained worldwide recognition.

The Somali has a ticked coat; each hair on its body has three to twelve bands of color. The bands are darker than the ground color and produce a glossy, vibrant shimmer when the cat is in full coat. Its striking facial markings resemble theatrical eyeliner. It's an active breed, living up to its wild looks.


Tiffani
The Tiffani, essentially a longhaired Burmese, is the only longhaired cat in the Asian breed group. In temperament, they combine the traits of their parent breeds - Persian and Burmese - to great advantage. They are lively, but show restraint.

Sepia pointing is allowed in self Tiffanies; the long coat prevents them from being mistaken for Burmese.


Tonkinese
A recent short-haired American hybrid, the Tonkinese was created by crossing Siamese and Burmese. In its early days it was sometimes referred to as the Golden Siamese, and this name was used in print as recently as 1961.

The body of the lilac Tonkinese is pale dove gray with a pinkish cast, and the points are a darker shade of the same color. Kittens are often lighter than adults, although they should develop distinct prointing fairly early. Eye color can range from light blue to green.

The playful Tonkinese makes a congenial pet. Fastidious and easy to groom, they train easily and are readily adaptable to a harness or leash. A healthy and hardy cat, this breed has an extensive vocabulary and delights in chatting with humans.

The pointing on the Chocolate Tortie Tonkinese is less apparent when overlaid with tortie or tabby coat patterns, but the mask and legs should still be darker than the body.


Turkish Van
With its incredibly soft coat, and large, rounded eyes, this breed might appear to be the ideal, soft-centered lap cat. However, because these cats have descended from rural cats in areas where life is difficult, they have retained a life and spirit of their own.

The Turkish Van pattern occurs in naturally high numbers in the cat population in the Near East, but is rare elsewhere. Its unusualness impressed visiting artists in the nineteenth century, and in many paintings of bazaar and camp scenes, a Van-patterned cat is shown.

The original appearance of the breed when it came to the West was chalk-white with red markings on the head and tail and amber eyes. The color markings of the Van's head should not extend below the level of the eyes, or beyond the base of the ears at the back.


Wildcats
Wildcats have thrived in climates ranging from the harsh winters of Scotland to the burning scrub of Africa. They have evolved into a range of types, with differences subtle enough for some to argue that they are closely related, diverse enough for others to see them as a separate species.

Reference:
Morris, Desmond, Cat World

Page URL: http://www.sniksnak.com/catcyclopedia2.html