| For the first 8,000 years of their relationship with | | | | Other breeds reflect new aesthetics. Ocicats and |
| humans, cats pretty much took care of their own | | | | Savannah cats are wild-hybrids -- the result of |
| breeding. People kept them for one purpose - hunting | | | | breeding wild cats with domestic cats - which fill a |
| rodent - and they are already perfectly designed for | | | | desire for some cat lovers to have a "wild" pet. The |
| that. More than 100 years ago, however, we began | | | | Cornish Rex, with its soft, wavy coat and curled |
| systematically breeding cats to appeal to our | | | | whiskers, is a dramatic, visual contrast to the typical |
| aesthetic tastes. Hair length, color, coat pattern, as | | | | smooth-coated cat. Likewise, the "hairless" Sphynx |
| well as head and leg proportions contribute to the | | | | cat is a breed for the esoteric cat fancier. |
| "look" of specific breeds. | | | | Because the Sphynx cat has little hair, the cat needs |
| Look at enough cat bodies and faces, and you'll see | | | | to be bathed periodically. This is an easy task with a |
| two distinctly different types. | | | | cat that has been accustomed to a bath from |
| Faces are either triangular or rounded. Bodies that are | | | | kittenhood. |
| lean and slender belong to the lithe oriental, or foreign | | | | Sometimes, cats are just "ordinary felines." |
| breeds. Short legs supporting a broad, compact body | | | | "Domestic" is the veterinary term used to classify |
| are characteristic of a "cobby." Mixed breeds usually | | | | cats of unknown heritage. Cats in these categories |
| have an "in between" body type. | | | | are broken into groups as domestic short hair (DSH), |
| There are more than 70 distinct breeds of cats that | | | | domestic long hair (DLH) and domestic medium length |
| are recognized by formal cat registries. Some | | | | hair (DMH). Some people classify cats based on living |
| registries recognize only about 40 breeds, because | | | | circumstances; house cat or alley cat, but these are |
| they exclude those such as Bengals which are hybrids | | | | not true breeds. |
| of domestic and wild cats. Some "breeds" are simply | | | | Hair length and texture contribute to a breed's "look, |
| variations of primary types. For example, a Balinese | | | | " but color is not a reliable identity factor. Black cats |
| cat is a longer haired type of Siamese cat. | | | | with white paws, belly, and chests are referred to as |
| Some breeds have roots that go far back in history. | | | | "tuxedo cats," but this is simply a description of coat |
| The Japanese Bobtail, distinguished by a short, | | | | pattern found in both domestic and "exotic" breeds. |
| rabbit-like tail, can be traced more than 1,000 years. | | | | Tortoiseshell and calico coated cats are sometimes |
| The Egyptian Mau cat retains the physical | | | | referred to as "ginger," "marmalade," or "orange |
| characteristics of ancient Egyptian cats found in | | | | tabby" cats, making them sound like specific breeds. |
| ancient paintings. | | | | In reality, they are just descriptors, much like |
| With an elegant body that is randomly spotted, | | | | "green-eyed Asian" or "brown-eyed European." While |
| banded legs and tail, communicative eyes and an | | | | it is true that some cat breeds only come in one hue |
| ellegant cheetah-like stride, it is no wonder that the | | | | (Russian Blues and Korats only show gray) most |
| Mau attracts such a tremendous amount of attention | | | | breeds display a range of coat color and pattern. |
| at shows. | | | | |