A-Z: Cat Breeds (2)

A-Z: Cat Breeds (2)


Over 8 posts, I am going to go through cat breeds, and cover some basic titbits about the breeds; a little bit of history surrounding the breed, including the original use for the breed, and some other interesting facts.

This, the second, post will cover D-F of cat breeds. In the follow-up posts I will look into cat breeds from G-I, J-L, M-O, P-R, S-V, and W-Z… basically I am doing an A-Z of cat breeds, covering 1-3 breeds per letter.

If I do not cover the breed of your cat in this post, and you would like me to; please leave the breed in the thoughts comment box below, or post it via the contact page, or get in touch via any social media pages listed at the end of each post – this way I can include your breed in another post (either the follow-up, or a repeat with different breeds). Do the same if you want more information than I have provided on any particular cat breed, or if you would like to share a photo of your cat(s)!

D

Devon Rex

Country of Origin: England (Devonshire)

Lifespan: 13-15 years                                         Breed Size: Medium

Hair/Fur Length: (Very) Shorthair                Colour(s): All colours/patterns

Breed History: In the late 1950’s/ early 1960’s Miss Beryl Cox found that a feral cat in her care had given birth to a rather odd-looking curly-haired kitten within the litter. The kitten had pixie-like features and wavy curls; she bred from him to continue the gene.

Outstanding Physical Trait:  The pixie-like features and large ears; and of course the unique, curly coat!

Devon Rex
Devon Rex

E

Egyptian Mau

Country of Origin: Egypt

Lifespan: 15-18 years                              Breed Size: Small/Medium

Hair/Fur Length: Shorthair                  Colour(s): Bronze, Silver, Smoke

Breed History: Spotted domestic cats have been recorded in ancient Egypt; it is that the current Egyptian Mau is a decent of these. The breed almost disappeared in Europe, prior to the First World War. However, in 1956, the Egyptian Mau was brought to America by Russian princess, Nathalie Troubetskoy; who established a programme of selective breeding to save the breed from extinction.

Outstanding Physical Trait: The wild-looking, spotted coat pattern.

Egyptian Mau
Egyptian Mau
Exotic Shorthair

Country of Origin: America

Lifespan: 12-15 years                              Breed Size: Medium

Hair/Fur Length: Shorthair    Colour(s): White, blue, black, red, cream, chocolate and lilac;
silver, blue and gold chinchilla.

Breed History: Developed as a shorthair version of the Persian in the late 1950s; when American cat breeder crossed a Persian with a brown Burmese. Later breeders crossed the Persian with the American Shorthair and Russian Blue.

Outstanding Physical Trait: The shorthair is a distinct physical trait, as it was bred for this to differ from the longhair of the Persian. Like the Persian, they have flat faces; with big, round eyes and round faces.

Exotic Shorthair
Exotic Shorthair

F

Foldex (a.k.a. Exotic Fold)

Country of Origin: Quebec, Canada

Lifespan: 12-15 years                                                  Breed Size: Medium

Hair/Fur Length: Short/med/longhair                  Colour(s): All colours and patterns

Breed History: Developed in 1992 by cross breeding the Exotic Shorthair (above) with the Scottish Fold (see post 7). However, it was not accepted as a breed until 2006 (but only in Canada, at present).

Outstanding Physical Trait: The folded ears (giving this breed its name).

Foldex
Foldex

All images are open source, Google images, or my own – or photos donated for use by the pet owners.


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