Posted by Jeanne on January 28, 2009
Odd but not unusual is the tailless Manx cat, which comes from the Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea off the coast of northern England. Historically, the first Manx landed in 1588, when they deserted the sinking ships of the Spanish Armada. The sea-roving Spanish, in turn, appear to have picked them up during their travels from either Japan or the Asian continent.
The Manx is an energetic and resourceful cat that hunts not only rats and mice, but snakes as well. It is a courageous critter and fears no dog alive.
Part of its strength and speed comes from its curious build. Its fore-legs are, ideally, very short and its hind legs long. This elevates the rump, which classically should be round as a ball, with a small dimple at the base of the spine where the tail begins in other cats. This results in a bobbing walk and a tendency to leap frequently while running. The Manx does not hop like a rabbit, however, despite what has often been said by many people.
Over-all, the Manx is small and compact. The ears are pointed. The fur is silky and comes in all the usual colors.
Taillessness, incidentally, is an uncertain characteristic. Manx kittens occasionally are born with tiny, rudimentary tails, which seems to disturb them not at all.
Posted by Jeanne on January 16, 2009
There are more than 500 million domestic cats in the world with many different breeds. The International Progressive Cat Breeders Alliance (IPCBA) recognizes 73 cat breeds, while the more conservative Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) recognizes only 41.
Developing and registering a new breed of cat is a long, involved process, and not every attempt is successful. For example, the CFA steadfastly refuses to admit cats bred from “wild stock,” such as the Bengal or the Savannah. However, these breeds are both accepted by The International Cat Association (TICA) and IPCBA.
A cat must have a traceable lineage going back several generations to be registered as a pedigreed cat. The term “purebred” is not used by breeders or the cat fancy in general, but is a popular term among the general public.
Despite the vast number of cat breeds, there are basically only two categories of cat: long-haired and short-haired. Within them there are many recognized breeds and several varieties about whose classification as breeds cat experts and fanciers have earnest, inconclusive discussions. As a type, the cat has been remarkably consistent for a very long time.
In the cat world, as elsewhere, the common people far outnumber the aristocrats. It is a safe guess that 99 out of any 100 cats encountered will be plain, ordinary citizens belonging in the boundless company of Domestic Shorthairs. This is the proper name for the group carelessly called “alley cats,” and while it does contain a number of woebegone and misbegotten creatures, it is not to be sneered at. It is a breed, and prime cats have emerged from it to win top prizes at cat shows.
The deluxe breeds in the remaining 1 per cent include the longhaired Persians (and/or Angoras) and the short-haired Siamese, Burmese, Abyssinian, and Manx. There are also several in-between groupings, such as the Blues and Tortoise-shells, which may be long- or short-haired and are classified primarily by color. The Blues, for instance, include the Maltese, Russian Blue, British Blue, and so on.
