| With the exception of a few true cat fanciers, | | | | unique an organized effort was made to retain his |
| Americans have traditionally been less particular about | | | | bloodline and genetic pattern. Interestingly, this |
| the bloodlines of their cats than of their dogs. Cats | | | | genetic mutations has not appeared anywhere in the |
| were most commonly seen on farms and they | | | | world other than the United States. The American |
| worked to help keep down the vermin population. As | | | | Wirehair's temperament is docile and calm and a great |
| cats have become more of a companion than a | | | | pet for a so-called "couch-potato". |
| farm-hand there has been a steadily increasing | | | | 10. Persian - Persians are documented in hieroglyphic |
| interest in cat breeds, their purity, and pedigree . The | | | | paintings dating back to 1684 B.C. They are the most |
| Cat Fanciers' Association is dedicated to the | | | | popular of the pure bred cats and come in many |
| preservation of the purebred and recognizes 39 | | | | colors that are divided into seven color divisions. One |
| pedigreed cat breeds. Listed below are 15 of these | | | | of the seven color divisions is referred to as |
| breeds along with some information about the | | | | Himalayan. Himalayans are the most common of the |
| breed's characteristics and history. | | | | Persians and are often inaccurately thought to be (by |
| 1. Russian Blue - The Russian Blue is a gentle, friendly | | | | those outside of the true cat-fanciers group) a |
| cat with a distinct appearance. These cats have | | | | unique breed. Persians are sweet and require a stable |
| dense, thick, short coats that come in one color: blue. | | | | living environment with consistent routines. The |
| In contract to the blue fur the cats have bright | | | | Persian coat requires significant maintenance including |
| green eyes and are known equally for their beautiful | | | | daily brushing and frequent baths. To avoid |
| appearance as they are for their unassuming | | | | unpleasant outcomes, this routine should be |
| dispositions. | | | | established when the cat is very young. |
| 2. Ragdoll - The Ragdoll is a large cat that has been | | | | 11. Bombay - In 1953 Nikki Horner, from Louisville, |
| bred to be affectionate and people oriented. They | | | | Kentucky set-out to develop a new breed of cats |
| love to play and some have been taught to come | | | | whose appearance was similar to the black panther |
| when called. The Ragdoll has a medium length coat | | | | of India. She bred a sable Burmese with a |
| that lacks an under coat which makes maintenance | | | | black-coated, copper-eyed American Shorthair. Over |
| of the cat easier than many other long-hairs. Ragdolls | | | | time she consistently bred a solid colored black cat |
| are easy to live with and fit well into the lives most | | | | unique from all other cat breeds. The Bombay, |
| families. | | | | named in tribute to the Indian black -panther, was |
| 3. Cornish Rex - Although the Cornish Rex looks | | | | introduced to the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) in |
| similar to images of ancient Egyptian cats it originated | | | | 1976. The Bombay is an athletic, outgoing, and |
| in Cornwall, England in 1950 where it was discovered | | | | affectionate cat that has been known to be leash |
| in a littler of barn cats. These cats are distinct in | | | | trained. They make terrific family pets. |
| appearance with an egg shaped and sized head, | | | | 12. American Shorthair - The American Shorthair |
| huge, erect ears, and enormous green-yellow eyes. | | | | originated from cats that were brought over on the |
| This cat has an extremely unusual coat that is soft, | | | | Mayflower to rid the ship of mice. These cats were |
| fine, very short, and grows in waves. The Cornish | | | | likely British Shorthairs and although they can be |
| Rex is affectionate, playful, and retains its kitten like | | | | similar in appearance to the mixed-breed domestic |
| antics throughout its lifetime. | | | | cat, American Shorthairs are a unique genetic breed. |
| 4. Siamese -The Siamese cat, originally from Thailand, | | | | According the Cat Fanciers Association, the |
| is an acutely intelligent and inquisitive animal. It is | | | | difference between a domestic cross bred cat and |
| thought to be the oldest of all domestic. The | | | | an American Shorthair is that, "a pedigreed cat can |
| Siamese is a people lover. He will regularly tell his | | | | consistently produce kittens of the same physical |
| family how much he cares for them with his loud | | | | conformation, coat quality, and temperament, while a |
| meows. | | | | random-bred cat cannot. Years of selective breeding |
| 5. Main Coon - The Main Coon Cat is a large, | | | | and the careful recording of many generations of |
| native-American long-haired cat. It is revered in Main | | | | cats guarantee that each litter of kittens will have |
| for its mousing talents. The Main Coon is a social | | | | specific qualities. American Shorthairs are playful |
| animal that is particularly good for families with | | | | companions for the entire family. |
| children or dogs. | | | | 13. Somali - At first glance the Somali cat looks like a |
| 6. Abyssinian -Although the name suggests that this | | | | feral or wild cat. It resembles a fox in its color and |
| cat is from Ethiopia (formerly Abyssinia), they are | | | | movement. Its looks are deceiving because the |
| actually from India. The name "Abyssinian" came | | | | Somali is a sweet, quiet natured cat with an intelligent |
| about when the cat was initially brought to England | | | | and social disposition. Because it is slightly larger than |
| by way of Abyssinia. Abys are one of the most | | | | many other purebreds, the Somali is great for families |
| intelligent cats and although they are not "cuddly" | | | | with small children. |
| they love their people, are inquisitive, and want to | | | | 14. Exotic - Exotics are sometimes affectionately |
| help you with whatever you're working on. | | | | referred to as the lazy man's Persian. They are bred |
| 7. American Bobtail - The American Bobtail looks | | | | to match every standard of the Persian except one: |
| startlingly similar to a wild Bobcat. It has a dense | | | | coat length. Exotics have short, thick hair that does |
| coat, a stocky build, and a naturally occurring bobbed | | | | not mat or tangle. They are wonderful pets for |
| tail. American Bobtails are noted for their "dog-like" | | | | people that love the Persian breed but don't have |
| personalities and their devotion to their families. | | | | the time or discipline required to maintain a Persian's |
| American Bobtails have been used as therapy cats in | | | | coat. |
| treatment programs because they have been found | | | | 15. Siberian - There is little known about the Siberian |
| to be very well-behaved and sensitive to people in | | | | other than that the earliest documentation of the cat |
| distress. | | | | dates back 1000 years. Because there is so little |
| 8. Ocicat - Originating in Michigan in 1964 the Ocicat is | | | | documentation about Siberians it's difficult to know |
| a mix of Abyssinian, Siamese and American Shorthair. | | | | the true standards of the breed. The first Siberian |
| It is the only spotted domestic breed selectively bred | | | | was brought to the United States in 1990 and |
| to emulate the cats of the wild. Although the Ocicat | | | | despite the cats instant popularity they are still |
| has an exotic and wild appearance its personality is | | | | extremely rare in the U.S. Siberians come in a wide |
| very domestic and well suited for life with a family. | | | | range of colors and have a medium length, dense |
| 9. American Wirehair - The American Wirehair was | | | | coat. Siberians are extremely friendly and behave |
| first seen in upstate New York in 1966. The lone cat | | | | similarly in temperament to many of the terrier dog |
| was a spontaneous mutation in a litter of barn cats. | | | | breeds. Additionally, there is evidence that Siberians |
| Healthy, genetic mutation is a relatively common | | | | cause fewer reactions in many cat allergy sufferers. |
| occurrence but the difference with the American | | | | Siberians were recognized by the CFA in 2000. |
| Wirehair is that because his characteristics were so | | | | |