| Cats have been breeding themselves for thousands | | | | Persian cat, which to this day, don't understand why. |
| of years. From day one, cats were utilized for one | | | | The Siamese cat is also a popular breed although has |
| reason and one reason only - hunting and killing | | | | been rumored to be a destructive and foul tempered |
| rodents. As time has gone by, people began to breed | | | | animal. |
| cats for companionship and social acceptance. They | | | | Throughout history, cats have been known to be the |
| were a unique breed of animal that became more | | | | highest self-producing breed due to the short |
| than just a mouse-catcher. Soon, different classes of | | | | gestational period and the lack of controlling their |
| cats began to emerge and were soon bred | | | | freedom to roam. Female cats in heat have very little |
| exclusively to these types of breeds for the purpose | | | | control over what happens when a male cat senses |
| of competition. These days, people register their | | | | the biological calling that comes from their scent. This |
| unique breeds of cat in hundreds of cat shows a | | | | can happen over and over again to one female cat |
| year for sport. | | | | during her prime kitten-bearing years. The sad thing is |
| It has been determined that there are approximately | | | | that with each of her litters, the pattern continues |
| over 40 distinct breeds of cat according to the | | | | with each generation which is why we have such an |
| largest cat breed registry, Cat Fancier's Association. | | | | epidemic of homeless cats roaming our planet. |
| There are about 30 other breeds of cats that are | | | | With most cats, it's hard to tell what specific breed |
| not specific breeds for show but are generally a type | | | | they may be. Most people don't choose a cat based |
| of house cat. They do not fit exclusively in any | | | | on breed but more so by their color. Some breeds of |
| particular class of cat breed for showing purposes | | | | cat you can positively identify as a specific breed |
| and generally fall under the "household pet" category. | | | | just by looking at them. You may not know what |
| Many cat breeds have family roots going back millions | | | | the breed is called but you will notice that they look |
| of years. One breed, the Japanese Bobtail cat can be | | | | different than a run-of-the-mill house-cat. |
| traced back more than 4,000 years in history. They | | | | Just like dogs, specific breeding of cats has become |
| were common and well-known occurrences | | | | increasingly popular over the years. People read about |
| throughout medieval Japan. In the present day | | | | a new breed of cat that have certain characteristic |
| however, these cats are but a myth of someone's | | | | they are looking for and will gladly pay a fair amount |
| big imagination throughout Japan and the whole world. | | | | of money for a breed of their choice. To a lot of |
| The most common cat breeds are found in the North | | | | people, this seems silly to do considering there are so |
| American region. The alley cat is considered a "breed" | | | | many cats out there that need good homes but I |
| of cat but really refers to a cat that was born in | | | | actually feel the same way about specific dog breeds |
| desperate circumstances such in alleys and secluded | | | | as well. There are just too many homeless animals |
| areas only to defend themselves in life's unpredictable | | | | out there and to "order" a specific breed of animal |
| situations. They are generally not people friendly | | | | just to your liking is ridiculous in my book. I will go to |
| animals and never become domesticated or live any | | | | the shelter any day of the week to save an animal |
| place outside of the surroundings to which they | | | | before I would buy one from a breeder...but that's |
| came from. One very popular type of cat is the | | | | just me. |