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.
Posted by Jeanne on December 15, 2008
Cats can be great pets for people who are looking for an animal but want one that is a little more independent. There are, of course, many other considerations to take into account before rushing out and buying your cat based on a picture or vague description.
A good question that you need to consider is if you are looking to get a male or a female cat. There is a vast difference between the two species just as there is with humans or any other type of animal. Males tend to be a larger cat than females and also boast a more extrovert personality.
If you do decide to get a male, you have to make the decision on whether the cat is going to be neutered. When a male cat is not neutered, he tends to have a much different personality. You might find that he sprays urine all over, will try to roam, and might just pick fights with other cats if there are any in the house or outside. When you choose to neuter him, you will be able to avoid a lot of these tendencies.
Females have different traits than males do. They are a more careful and gentle than males. They tend to be quieter as well. Again comes the question on whether or not to spay your female feline companion. If you choose not to, you will be looking forward to dealing with her heat cycles and all that they entail, especially not a good thing if you have any unneutered male cats in the house.
Once you have made a decision on whether the cat will be male or female, you need to decide how much hair that you want to contend with. That is, do you want to get a long-hair cat or a short-hair cat? Even though you may think that you want a particular breed, it might not match up with what you want in a cat. This is really a choice that depends on your personal taste.
Long-haired cats might seem great to one person and a total nuisance to another. If you choose to go with a long-haired cat, you need to understand that it will be up to you to keep your cat groomed and looking nice. Just think about your own hair. If you have long hair, then you need to keep it brushed or combed on a daily basis. A long-haired cat is no different. He needs his owner to comb his lustrous locks on a regular basis so he doesn’t begin to look like a scraggly cat.
Again, you have to realize that when anything has long hair it tends to shed. If none of this sounds like fun or appealing in any way, it might be a good indication that you are not looking for a long-haired cat such as a Persian, but a short-haired cat instead.
Now that you have the first two factors of choosing a cat decided, you next need to decide how much money you really want to spend. When you go to buy a cat, you can choose from mixed breeds or purebred cats. When you buy a mixed breed, there isn’t quite as much to worry about because you don’t have to worry about all the pedigree issues and such, plus they aren’t going to cost quite as much.
On the other hand, all of that changes when you plan to buy a purebred. There are certain precautions that you will have to take before you buy a purebred cat. First, you need to research the different breeding establishments to make sure that they are of good reputation. It won’t hurt to do a little bit of research and to even visit different establishments, ask questions, and look at the cats that they are offering before you actually buy one.
The last question is one of preference; do you wish to buy a kitten or a cat? Many might jump to the answer of kitten, but there is much to consider before making such a decision. You need to realize that a kitten is in essence a baby and requires a lot more time and attention than a grown cat does. It’s not to say that an older cat doesn’t require time and attention, but normally they are quite a bit easier to care for than a baby kitten.
Once you have all of the questions answered, you feel a little more informed about what type of cat you want to buy. You can always go to different pet shops or breeders and ask whatever questions about the breed that you can think of. You can also talk to any friends or family members that own their own cats; they will have a wealth of information that they might be more than happy to share with you if you ask. Also, searching on the internet is a great way to learn more information about certain breeds and how to care for your kitten or cat.
