| Some cat breeds are low maintenance, while others | | | | breeds and most house cats reflect the traits of one |
| require frequent brushing. Cat breeds are not as | | | | or more of the different cat breeds. |
| different from each other as different dog breeds | | | | Feline Behavior |
| but there are still some mighty different types of | | | | Knowing what normal cat behaviour is will help in |
| cats out there. Some cat breeds are people-pets and | | | | training felines and treating problem cat behaviour. |
| there are other cat's breeds that prefer to be aloof | | | | Play-motivated aggressive behaviours are commonly |
| and independent. Some cat breeds are more prone | | | | observed in young, active felines less than two years |
| to spells of silence, but sometimes individual cats of | | | | of age. Play incorporates a variety of behaviours, |
| the more vocal breeds are also not very talkative. | | | | such as exploratory, investigative and predatory, and |
| Cats Are Unique | | | | provides young cats with opportunities to practice |
| Cats have amazing abilities to hear, see and smell. | | | | skills they would normally need for survival. Treats |
| Cats will also turn their ears back when they are | | | | can help during playtime, but try to limit their use as |
| playing or to listen to a sound coming from behind | | | | positive rewards for behaviour modification. Felines |
| them. Felines will also use contact to communicate | | | | are highly social; a primary difference in social |
| urgency, from gentle reminders of feeding time to a | | | | behaviour between cats and dogs (to which they are |
| demanding insistent rub. Cats involved in a conflict | | | | often compared) is that felines do not have a social |
| may extend their fully bristled tail straight into the air | | | | survival strategy, or a "pack mentality", however this |
| and turn their body sideways to appear larger. | | | | only means that cats take care of their basic needs |
| Traits of the Cat Breeds | | | | on their own. With proper training and reinforcement |
| Some cat breeds require a great deal of brushing and | | | | of social behaviour, poorly socialized cats can become |
| maintenance to keep them happy and healthy and | | | | more social over time. Hunting has likewise become |
| others only shed twice a year. Breeds are more | | | | central to their behavior patterns, even to their |
| often differentiated by their bodies and faces, and | | | | predilection for short bursts of intense exercise |
| sometimes distinctive physical characteristics such as | | | | punctuating long periods of rest. Scratching behaviour |
| tailless or folded ears. Remember that no kitten is | | | | seems enjoyable to the cat, and even declawed cats |
| alike but, much like purebred dogs, different breeds | | | | will go through elaborate scratching routines with |
| of cats tend to have their own unique traits that | | | | every evidence of great satisfaction, despite the |
| may or may not affect your decision. Some cat | | | | total lack of results. |
| breeds tend to be better with children or other pets, | | | | Conclusion |
| while other breeds of cat are commonly more aloof | | | | Some of the most popular cat breeds are Persians, |
| and prefer a more solitary existence. | | | | Himalayans, Ragdolls, Siamese and Maine Coon. The |
| What to Expect In Domestic Cats | | | | more aloof cat breeds are: Norwegian Forest, Russian |
| Domesticated felines eat fairly little vegetable matter. | | | | Shorthair and Nebelung. Although it is true that most |
| Domestic cats are usually white, black, yellow, or | | | | cat breeds are known to have certain traits, felines |
| grey and sometimes have markings of a different | | | | are very much individuals and a cat of a breed noted |
| color. Domestic mixed-breed cats are generally | | | | for its independence could be in fact very dependent. |
| characterized by long, thin tails, straight ears, and | | | | With a little research, however, you are sure to |
| short hair of a variety of colorations. While most | | | | determine which cat breeds are suited to your own |
| domestic felines are not purebreds (only 3% belong | | | | situation. |
| to a certain cat breed), there is a wide variety of | | | | |