A-Z cat breeds – Ali's Animal Answers

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A-Z: Cat Breeds (7)

Posted on January 18, 2018January 2, 2018 by Alis Answers

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 seventh, post will cover S-V of cat breeds. In the follow-up (and final) post I will look into cat breeds from 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)!

S

Scottish Fold

Country of Origin: Scotland, UK

Lifespan: 11-15 years Breed Size: Medium

Hair/Fur Length: Shorthair and Longhair

Colour(s): White, Blue, Cream, Red, Silver, Cameo, Brown, Tortoiseshell, Black – in solid colouration, bi-colour, tri-colour, tabby, ticked/spots.

Breed History: The origin of this breed is said to stem from a mouser in a farmer’s barn in 1961; a white cat with unusually folded ears, named Susie. Susie mated with a local tom cat; a local shepherd named William Ross acquired one of the kittens and named her Snooks. William bred Snooks, and then bred one of her kittens with a British Shorthair, which resulted in a litter of “lop eared cats”. While the Scottish Fold is generally Shorthaired, from Susie the trait for Longhair has been passed down – a Longhaired Scottish Fold is often known as a Highland Fold.

Outstanding Physical Trait: The folded ears. kittens are born with straight ears, which may fold at about 3 weeks old (they do not always fold). The fold could be a single – a fold half way up the ear, or a double – where the ears sit tighter to the head, or a triple – where the ears lie flat against the head (which is the desired ear fold for show cats).

Sphynx

Country of Origin: Toronto, Canada (not Egypt as many think due to the name)

Lifespan: 10-15 years Breed Size: Medium

Hair/Fur Length: Hairless Colour(s): All colours and patterns

Breed History: Developed as a breed in the mid-1960’s, when a domestic shorthair had a hairless kitten in her litter (named Prune). Prune was a male, and bred with furred cats (including the Devon Rex) to try and produce more hairless kittens. The results of the breeding of Prune was litters that had kittens both with and without fur. The hairless kittens were subsequently bred and the breed developed into the mid-late 1970’s. Some of the hairless kittens were also exported to Europe, where the breed was developed there.

Outstanding Physical Trait: The lack of hair/fur.

T

Tonkinese

Country of Origin: USA

Lifespan: 15-18 years Breed Size: Medium

Hair/Fur Length: Semi-Longhair

Colour(s): Champagne, Blue, Natural, Platinum – in solid, point, and mink patterns.

Breed History: The modern version of this breed that we see today is a cross between the Siamese and Burmese, developed in the 1950’s. However in the 1880’s it was a breed in its’ own right, but were known as Chocolate Siamese, and was very close genetically to the Siamese and the Burmese. In the 50’s they went by Golden Siamese but by the 60’s they were renamed to Tonkinese.

Outstanding Physical Trait: The oriental but fuller look – not quite a slender as most oriental type breeds.

U

Ukrainian Levkoy

Country of Origin: Ukraine

Lifespan: 15-19 years Breed Size: Medium

Hair/Fur Length: Hairless Colour(s): All colours and patterns

Breed History: A cross between the Donskoy (or Russian Hairless) and the Scottish Fold (above) – this is a hairless cat with folded ears, artificially bred 2000-2001 for their unique appearance.

Outstanding Physical Trait: The lack of hair/fur coupled with the folded ears.

V

Van Kedishi (a.k.a. Turkish Van)

Country of Origin: Eastern Turkey (Lake Van region)

Lifespan: 12-17 years Breed Size: Medium

Hair/Fur Length: Semi-Longhair

Colour(s): Traditionally white with auburn throughout. Modern accepted colours include white with cream, black, blue, tortoiseshell (tortie), blue tortie, blue tabby, brown tabby, tortie tabby or blue tortie tabby.

Breed History: There is a myth relating to the origin of this breed; the Van Kedishi cat was on Noah’s Ark during the flood. Noah’s Ark came to rest on Mount Ararat when the flood was over, which is said to be not too far from Lake Van, and is where these cats headed once they cam off the Ark. It is also said that the coloured markings on their fur are due to God blessing the animals as they came off the Ark. Thought to have originated in the Lake Van region of Turkey, and to have existed there as a domestic breed for centuries, but first brought to Britain in the 1950’s.

Outstanding Physical Trait: The van colour pattern – white with colour on the head and tail only.

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

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A-Z: Cat Breeds (3)

Posted on February 19, 2016January 19, 2017 by Alis Answers

This, the third post, will cover G-I of cat breeds. In the follow-up posts I will look into cat breeds from 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)!

G

German Rex

Country of Origin: Germany (as the name suggests)

Lifespan: 12-14 years Breed Size: Medium

Hair/Fur Length: (Very) Shorthair

Colour(s): White, Blue, Black, Cream, Red, Brown, Frost, Platinum, Fawn, Chocolate, Chestnut, Cinnamon, Lavender, Champagne, Seal.

Breed History: So it goes that the first German Rex was a female feral, curly-coated, black cat. She was discovered shortly after the end of the Second World War by Dr. R. Scheuer-Karpin. She rescued the cat after seeing her wandering the gardens of the Hufeland Hospital, amongst the ruins of East Berlin. Dr. R. Scheuer-Karpin named her Lammchen (Lambkin) because of her lamb-like curly coat. Lammchen possessed the same gene for curly fur that is in Cornish Rex; and produced many litters. In 1957, she was cross-bred with one of her offspring; and the first litter of German Rex’s resulted from that mating.

Outstanding Physical Trait: The pixie-like features and large ears; and of course the unique, curly coat! (Unique to the Rex breeds.)

H

Havana Brown

Country of Origin: England

Lifespan: 14-16 years Breed Size: Medium

Hair/Fur Length: Shorthair Colour(s): Chocolate

Breed History: In the early 1950s, a UK breeder called Isobel Munro-Smith was trying to breed Siamese but with black points as opposed to the standard seal brown. She was doing this by mating Seal Point Siamese with black shorthaired cats. In 1952 she had a litter with 3 black kittens, and also discovered a brown male kitten in the litter, with similar shape to a Siamese with the same characteristically large ears and long tail; and is thought of as the first recognised Havana.

Outstanding Physical Trait: The chocolate-brown colour of the coat is the trademark of this breed.

Highlander

Country of Origin: England (Devonshire)

Lifespan: 13-15 years Breed Size: Large

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

Breed History: Minority breed which was initially established in 2004; but the breed was not properly defined until 2005. Bred to be a domestic breed with the appearance of a wild cat; without using any wild cats to contribute genes.

Outstanding Physical Trait: The wild-like features and patterned coat; the curled ears, with tufts; usually this breed has a short tail ranging from 1 inch in length to hock (back leg “knee-joint”) length.

I

No domestic breeds beginning with this letter.

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

A-Z: Cat Breeds (2)

Posted on January 15, 2016December 24, 2016 by Alis Answers

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!

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.

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.

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).

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

A-Z: Cat Breeds (1)

Posted on December 16, 2015January 19, 2017 by Alis Answers

This, the first, post will cover A-C of cat breeds. In the follow-up posts I will look into cat breeds from D-F, 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)!

A

Abyssinian

Country of Origin: Originally believed to be Ethiopia (f.k.a. Abyssinia – hence the name); now believed to be along the Coast Egypt

Lifespan: 14/15 years Breed Size: Medium

Fur Length: Shorthair Colour(s): Ruddy, sorrel, chocolate, lilac, blue, fawn and silver

Breed History: Officially first recorded in Britain in 1882. One of the first was Zula; she was the first of this breed to be brought over from Abyssinia – this was in the 1860’s, by Captain Barrett-Leonard. The breed standard was set in 1889, which makes the Abyssinian breed one of the earliest (recorded) pedigree breeds. This breed has always been a companion, and a show (pedigree) breed.

Outstanding Physical Trait: The Abyssinian cat has large, tufted ears – giving it a look of alertness. All colour varieties have ‘ticked’ coats – the most common colour (Ruddy) is a golden colour with black ‘ticks’.

American Bobtail

Country of Origin: America (as the name suggests)

Lifespan: 12/13 years Breed Size: Medium

Fur Length: Shorthair and Longhair Colour(s): All colours

Breed History: Originally, it is believed to be, the offspring of a short-tailed brown tabby cat and a seal-point Siamese. This breed was then developed, and the breed standard written and rewritten, until today’s breed standard and the breed pictured below was achieved.

Outstanding Physical Trait: The ‘bobbed’ tail – measuring approximately one-third to on half of the length of an average cat’s tail.

B

Bengal

Country of Origin: America

Lifespan: 10-15 years Breed Size: Medium

Fur Length: Shorthair Colour(s): Orange/brown, or white

Breed History: Said to be a cross between a domestic cat and the Asian Leopard Cat in the late 1880’s – early 1900’s. Today’s Bengal cats are said to be the produce of the offspring of these wild X domestic; however not retaining any wild cat DNA in current breeding lines.

Outstanding Physical Trait: Markings giving a “wild” appearance with large spots/ rosettes, and a pale underside.

C

Chartreux

Country of Origin: France

Lifespan: 19/20 years Breed Size: Medium

Fur Length: Shorthair; double-coat Colour(s): Blue or Silver

Breed History: The true origin is unknown, however the theories surrounding this breed are;
– the breed is thought to have been name after the Carthusian monks (of South Africa),
– or after the Spanish wool, Chartreux Pile (due to their dense, woolly coat),
– or that they originated from Iranian mountains, hence the need for the thick coat.
In the late 1920’s they started to be selectively bred in Europe, which led to the breed standard we know today; being officially recognised in American in 1970.

Outstanding Physical Trait: Due to the shape of the head, and the roundness of the face, this breed appears to be smiling – and is known for its’ “smile”.

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

Upcoming posts

Posted on November 29, 2015November 28, 2015 by Alis Answers

In 2014 I covered A-Z of dog breeds, with some basic facts and other titbits. The posts covering the A-Z of dog breeds can be found by clicking the lettered categories A-C, D-F, G-I, J-L, M-O, P-R, S-V, and W-Z – in which the breed you’re searching for is found in.

Border Collie dog - own image — Border Collie dog – own image

If the breed you’re looking for has not been covered, but you would like it covering, please get in touch, using the information in bold at the end of this post.

Following on from dog breeds, I will now (over 8 weeks) cover cat breeds.

Domestic Short-hair cat - own image — Domestic Short-hair cat – own image

If you have a cat, and would like me to include the breed in the upcoming post, please get in touch with the breed of your cat, using the information in bold below.

Tag: A-Z cat breeds

A-Z: Cat Breeds (7)