CATS

The Sphynx Cat

2010-05-23T14:08:00.000-07:00

History

The first documented report regarding the Sphynx cats existence was given by the German naturalist, Johann Rudolph Rengger in his book, “Natural History of the Mammals of Paraguay”, in 1830. Rengger supported their bare appearance was the result of a natural mutation developed on cats taken from Europe to Paraguay in the 1600’s due to the change in climate.

For some time they were called “Mexican Hairless Cats” and were considered very rare and valuable, worthing $1000 each. After all known hairless cats had passed away, cat fanciers were convinced that the breed had extinct.

Fortunately other hairless cats appeared in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1936, in Paris, France in the 1930’s and in Ontario, Canada in the 1960’s and again in 1978. Of interest though were the Paris cats, who had turned up from time to time in litters born to a certain pair of Siamese cats. Breeding experiments revealed certain genetic factors. When the French hairless cats or their parents were bred to other Siamese, their kittens had normal length coats. Hairless kittens resulted only from repeat breedings between the original hairless kitten producing Siamese or from breedings between two hairless cats. This indicated that the mutation gene responsible for hairlessness is recessive, at least among cats with normal length coats.

Over time their name evolved from the less flattering “Mexican Hairless” to the more regal name with the Egyptian flare, the “Sphynx”.

In 1966 in Toronto, Canada a domestic cat gave birth to a male hairless kitten, named Prune. The kitten was forced to mate with its mother, which produced one more naked kitten. Together with a few naked kittens found later it became the primogenitor of the breed.

The first Sphynx breeders, however, faced a number of problems: the genetic pool was very limited, breeders had rather vague ideas about Sphynx genetics and many kittens died.

In 1978 an Ontario, Canada Siamese breeder found three hairless stray kittens on the streets of her town. In 1983 two of the kittens, Punkie and Paloma, were shipped to Dr. Hugo Hernandez in the Netherlands, where they were bred to a white Devon Rex. It is believed that the descendants of these cats are the foundation of today’s Sphynx breed.

The Sphynx breed continued to gain popularity in the 1990's and in 1994 was accepted by the American Cat Fancier’s Association (ACFA) Championship class. In 1988 was gained approval by the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) Miscellaneous class and in 2002 started competing in the CFA Championship Class.

Personality
The Sphynx personality has been aptly described as a cross between a cat, a dog and a monkey. They are highly active, alert, mischievous and playful. Powerful jumpers, they love climbing to high places and will go to great lengths to get to the highest spot in a room. They are also extremely agile cats with an inquisitive nature and will explore every corner of their homes.

Warm and affectionate, the Sphynx cats bond with their chosen humans very closely. However social, they are very dependent upon them and crave for active involvement in their lives. They need to be treated with respect and patience and require lots of affection if they are to develop a caring relationship with their human family. They will follow them wherever they go and may get depressed if left too often alone.

Sphynx are very intelligent cats and can be trained to perform commands. They get on very well with children and other pets. In addition they make wonderful companions for people who are looking for a baby in their home or for someone who has never had children and would like to have a less demanding on.

Care
Kittens
When you introduce a kitten to your home let it find its own way out of the basket and allow it to explore one room at a time. Make sure that all doors and windows are shut, to prevent the kitten from escaping.

Kittens are very often frightened by children or other pets that are new to them. Children should therefore be recommended to be quiet and wait for the kitten to adopt to the new environment, while other animals should be introduced later, gradually and one at a time. Remember that adult cats might attack to the baby cat, since they confront it as a competitor and therefore as an enemy.

Talk to your kitten and encourage it to play with a toy but do not overwhelm it with extreme attention.

Kittens need warmth, since they miss their mother and litter mates. If there is not some form of heating in the room at all times, you had better buy a heated bed from a pet shop. Even when adult, a short haired cat should never be left alone in an unheated room at night or in cold weather without some basket or bed with warm bedding in it.

Kittens and adult Sphynx
Although Sphynx cats lack of coat, they are not maintenance-free. Body oils that would normally be absorbed by the hair, tend to build up on the skin and therefore regular cleaning, usually in the form of bathing, is necessary; one bath a week is usually sufficient. Fill up the sink half way with warm water, squeeze a little anti-microbial/anti-fungal shampoo onto a wet wash cloth and bathe them just like they were a baby. Be careful not to get any shampoo in their eyes. Make sure to keep a dry towel close by so you can dry the cat off quickly.

Care should be also taken to limit the Sphynx cat's exposure to outdoor sunlight at length, as they can develop sunburn and photo damage similar to that of humans.

Due to their lacking of tufts, Sphyx tend to get more dirt build up than any other cat. You should therefore clean their ears once a week to keep them clean and prevent infections. Consult your vet on choosing the proper cat ear cleaning solution and use it to remove the excess of wax, debris and dead tissues.

Sphynx also lack of eyelashes, which can result in dirt in the corners of their eyes. Gentle wiping with a damp with clean water washcloth will take care of this.

Due to the lack of hair on their feet, you will also need to clean their nails. To do this, gently press on their toes to make their claw stick out. Then simply wipe them clean with a damp washcloth or a baby wipe.

Sphynx care also includes caring for their teeth. They should be checked periodically and brushed with a special wipe to prevent teeth and gum diseases. In the market there are also a lot of cat toys, specially designed to remove food wastes and prevent teeth irritation.

A litter tray must be available at all times and kept in the same place. Solid matter and wet lumps should be removed from the tray frequently and the litter renewed when necessary. The tray should be washed and disinfected frequently. Rinse thoroughly after disinfecting and allow drying before use. Cats are very fussy and will not use a dirty tray.

Never give a cat any drugs that have not been prescribed for it; many human drugs are poisonous to cats. Seek veterinary advice immediately if you suspect any form of poisoning.

Make sure that toys or parts of them cannot be swallowed. Plastic bags and rubber bands can be extremely dangerous, since they do not show up on an X-ray.

Sphynx cats may require a slightly higher caloric intake than other breeds, since their bodies are constantly working hard to keep their body warm. So if an average active cat needs about 300 kcal/ day, Sphynx need a little bit more. In the market you will find meals specially designed for active cats as well as for Sphynx cats. These meals provide maximum energy and meet the breed’s increased needs, helping sustain this naked cat's singular metabolism. They contain L-carnitine to ensure the maintenance of muscle mass and sodium phosphates to slow down the build up of tartar. Furthermore some meals offer an antioxidant complex made up of vitamins C and E and taurine to protect against free radicals, as well as adapted levels of minerals and L-carnitine to help maintain good heart function.

Sphynx have a lifespan of 15 years or more and are recognized by cat fancy associations as being a healthy robust breed. Lack of hair, however, can cause health issues with kittens in the first weeks of life due to susceptibility to respiratory infections. Reputable breeders will not let their kittens go to new homes without being at least 12 weeks of age to ensure the kitten is mature enough to cope in a new environment.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) has been reported to affect young to middle aged Sphynx cats. The certain disease is usually discovered during a routine annual health checkup. The vet will hear a faster heart rate and perhaps congestion sounds in the lungs, while the pulse feels weak. Luckily, HCM can be treated with special medical care.

Breed standards
According to the Cat Fanciers’ Association, the most distinctive feature of this cat is its hairless appearance. The Sphynx is of medium size with a surprising weight for its size. Females are generally smaller than males. The body feels warm and soft to the touch, with a skin texture akin to either a soft peach or a smooth nectarine.

Their head forms a modified wedge, slightly longer than it is wide, with prominent cheekbones, a distinctive whisker break and whisker pads giving a squared appearance to the muzzle. The skull is slightly rounded with a flat plane in front of the ears. The nose is straight and there is a slight to moderate palpable stop at the bridge of the nose.

The cheekbones are prominent and rounded, defining the eyes and forming a curve above the whisker break.

Their chin is strong, well developed and forming perpendicular line with upper lip.

Their ears are large to very large, broad at the base, open and upright. When viewed from the front, the outer base of the ears should begin at the level of the eye, neither low set nor on top of the head. The interior of the ears is naturally without furnishing.

Their eyes are large, lemon-shaped, with wide-open center while coming to a definite point on each side. They are placed at a slight upward angle, aligning with the outer base of the ear and set apart with the distance between the eyes being a minimum of one eye width. There is no restriction regarding the eye color.

Their body is of medium length, hard and muscular with broad rounded chest and full round abdomen. The rump is well rounded and muscular and the back line rises just behind the shoulder blades to accommodate the longer back legs when standing. The boning is medium.

Their neck is medium in length, rounded and well muscled, with a slight arch.

Their legs are medium in proportion to the body, sturdy and well muscled with rear legs being slightly longer than the front.

Their paws are oval with well-knuckled toes, five in front and four behind. The paw pads are thick, giving the appearance of walking on cushions.

Their tail is slender, flexible and long while maintaining proportion to body length. It is whiplike, tapering to a fine point.

Although the certain breed is hairless, short, fine hair may be present on the feet, outer edges of the ears the tail, and the scrotum. The bridge of the nose should be normally coated. The remainder of the body can range from completely hairless to a covering of soft peach-like fuzz whose length does not interfere with the appearance of hairlessness. This coat/skin texture creates a feeling of resistance when stroking the cat. Wrinkled skin is desirable, particularly around the muzzle, between the ears and around the shoulders. There are usually no whiskers but if whiskers are present they are short and sparse.

Finally, all colors and patterns, in any combination, found in felines are acceptable in the Sphynx.

The British Shorthair

2010-02-14T03:13:00.000-08:00

Do you remember the Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderland? Have you ever noticed the silver tabby on Whiskas? The blue cat on Sheba packages?

Well, unquestionably the British Shorthair is a popular breed:

History

The ancestors of the British Shorthair were brought to England during the Roman period. Originally they were used as working cats, catching rodents.

In 1870, Harrison Weir, father of the Cat Fancy conceived the idea to hold a Cat Contest. Arrangements were settled and in 1871 the first official cat show was held in Chrystal Palace. The Best in Show prize was awarded to a 14 years old female blue tabby British Shorthair, owned by Mr. Weir himself.

World War I brought a dramatic slowdown to the cat fancy in England. By its end, the interest in pedigreed cats was regained, but breeders had difficult time finding worthy, registered British Shorthair to work with. They therefore began to outcross them with Persians. However, since the British Shorthair was an established breed, the Council of the Cat Fancy objected and ruled that these hybrids could not be registered or shown as British Shorthairs. It took three generations of breeding for these cats to regain the official breed standards and be eligible for registration as British Shorthairs.

During World War II the breeds drama repeated and it wasn't until 1980 that the Cat Fanciers Association granted the British Shorthair Championship status and its populary started regaining ground.

Personality

British Shorthairs are an easygoing breed of cat. They have a stable character and take well to being kept as indoor cats, making them ideal for apartment living. They are especially gentle and placid around children and other domestic animals and do not make noise, unless there is something really wrong, like they are hungry.

The Brits are wonderful cats for people who work full-time, as they are fairly independent and happy to amuse themselves while you are out. As kittens they are playful, however adult British Shorthairs tend to be less active than the other breeds. Although quiet, these intelligent creatures are very affectionate, confident and good natured.

Brits can be quite shy to begin with, but when they become more familiar with their surroundings they are extremely loyal pets. Many cats of other breeds tend to bond with just one person in a family rather than everyone, but British Shorthairs show their affection to the whole household.

Care
Kittens 
When you introduce a kitten to your home let it find its own way out of the basket and allow it to explore one room at a time. Make sure that all doors and windows are shut, to prevent the kitten from escaping.

Kittens are very often frightened by children or other pets that are new to them. Children should therefore be recommended to be quiet and wait for the kitten to adopt to the new environment, while other animals should be introduced later, gradually and one at a time. Remember that adult cats might attack to the baby cat, since they confront it as a competitor and therefore as an enemy.

Talk to your kitten and encourage it to play with a toy but do not overwhelm it with extreme attention.

Kittens need warmth, since they miss their mother and litter mates. If there is not some form of heating in the room at all times, you had better buy a heated bed from a pet shop. Even when adult, a short haired cat should never be left alone in an unheated room at night or in cold weather without some basket or bed with warm bedding in it.  

Kittens and adult British Shorthairs 
British Shorthairs require minimal grooming to maintain their short crisp coat. Normally all that is needed is a quick brush through the coat once a week. Use a comb with metal bristles and an elastic grip and work through her fur from head to tail to remove dead and loose hair. Be extra-gentle near her chest and belly to avoid injuring your Brit. Take under consideration that the extremely plush coat of this breed sheds considerably during the seasonal change. Extra brushing is beneficial at this time to remove as much loose hair as possible before your cat swallows it and develops hairballs.

There are a lot of hairball remedies in the market, however I highly recommend using virgin olive oil as a remedy. Adding a few drops in their meals will help them get rid of their hairballs in the most effective and natural way.

Even clean cats pick up fleas so check for these while grooming. Flea dirt can usually be seen as small brown specks particularly around the neck and base of the tail. When placed on damp cotton wool 'flea dirt' slowly dissolves producing bloody streaks.

Ask your vet for a safe and effective flea-control product and do not forget that other animals in the house will also have to be treated. The cat's bedding should be washed or replaced. Your vet will also be able to supply products that will prevent this unpleasant phenomenon.

In addition you should clean their ears once a week to keep them clean and prevent infections. Consult your vet on choosing the proper cat ear cleaning solution and use it to remove the excess of wax, debris and dead tissues.

British Shorthair care includes caring for their teeth. They should be checked periodically and brush with a special wipe to prevent teeth and gum diseases. In the market there are also a lot of cat toys, specially designed to remove food wastes and prevent teeth irritation.

A litter tray must be available at all times and kept in the same place. Solid matter and wet lumps should be removed from the tray frequently and the litter renewed when necessary. The tray should be washed and disinfected frequently. Rinse thoroughly after disinfecting and allow drying before use. Cats are very fussy and will not use a dirty tray.

Never give a cat any drugs that have not been prescribed for it; many human drugs are poisonous to cats. Seek veterinary advice immediately if you suspect any form of poisoning.

Make sure that toys or parts of them cannot be swallowed. Plastic bags and rubber bands can be extremely dangerous, since they do not show up on an X-ray.  

British Shorthairs do not have serious congenital health problems, while their known for their longevity; They live up to 20 years, so expect this relationship to be long term.

Obesity can become a problem for them as middle age approaches. Their fondness of a good nap definitely doesn't help burn off excess calories, but this can be combated by serving a well-balanced nutrition. Nowadays, you can find in the market cat meals specially designed for the needs of British Shorthair. These meals provide all essential vitamins and minerals, as well as optimal levels of protein to help maintain their muscle mass and support their joints, high levels of L-carnitine, chondroitin, glucosamine and omega 3 fatty acids. In addition, they boost their oral hygiene and support their cardiac function.

British Shorthairs weigh 11-22 pounds (5-10 kilos)and need an average of 300kcal per day (70 gr of dry food) to stay fit and healthy. However note that this can change as per the cats weight and lifestyle.

The commonest health issues of the British Shorthair are hearth diseases.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the commonest form that affects young to middle aged cats. It is usually discovered during a routine annual health checkup as your vet will hear a faster heart rate, and perhaps congestion sounds in the lungs. If left undiagnosed, the most common indication of HCM is pain, associated with blood clot formation in the aorta. HCM is treated with diuretics, such as furosemide, diltiazem and nitroglycerine ointment. Some cats respond to Essential Fatty Acid (EFA) supplements and the antioxidants Selenium and vitamin E.

Other heart diseases that affect British Shorthairs are:

Thromboembolism, a blood clot in the aorta where the latter divides into the femoral arteries taking blood to the hind legs. Affected cats cry out and cannot use their hindlimbs, which are cool to the touch.

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) that causes small blood clots in the body, is most likely triggered by other diseases and can be treated by finding and eliminating the cause.

Increased heart rate caused by an overactive thyroid. The heart's chambers dilate and the blood pressure increases. The treatment should concern the whole cat, not just the hyperthyroid state.

Breed Standards

According to the Fédération Internationale Féline, the British Shorthairs possess a medium to large overall appearance. Their head is round and massive with a broad skull and a strong chin. Their nose is short, broad and straight with a slight indentation, however not with a stop as in the "Exotic". Their ears are small and slightly rounded at the tips, set wide apart.

Their eyes are large, round and wide opened set also wide apart. The recognized eye colors are copper or deep orange, blue, odd eyed and green or bluegreen, however green is preferred.

The Brits possess a muscular and cobby body with a broad chest and strong and solid shoulders and back. Their neck is short, still very strong and well-developed. In addition their legs are short and strong, ending up to round and firm paws.

Their tail is short and thick, with a slightly rounded tip and their coat is short and dense, with a good undercoat and fine texture. The recognized coat colors and patterns are the following:

White
Black/Blue/Chocolate/Lilac/Red/Cream
Black/Blue/Chocolate/Lilac tortie
Smoke
Black/Blue/Chocolate/Lilac tortie
Golden shaded/shell
Tabby
Silver tabby
Golden tabby
Van/Harlequin/Bicolor
Van/Harlequin/Bicolor smoke
Van/Harlequin/Bicolor tabby
Van/Harlequin/Bicolor silver tabby
Colorpoint
Tabby point colorpoint

The Chinchilla Cat

2010-02-08T22:57:00.000-08:00

Most people are aware of the Chinchillas, the rodents. Some heartless even wear them (please stop this madness). However, only cat lovers know that there is a fine cat breed under the certain name:

History

The Chinchilla is one of the first cat breeds that human ever developed. The idea was to create a Persian breed of a paler coat and this was carried out by patient, selective breeding over many years. Whereas the early Silver Tabbies and Smokes possessed the essential characteristics of the present day cats the earliest recognizable progenitors of the Chinchilla would hardly be recognized as ancestors of the cats that are currently to be seen on the show bench.

The origin of the breed was a female called Chinnie, born in 1882. It was uncertain whether the name "Chinnie" was given to this cat because the term "Chinchilla" was already in use or whether the later term was introduced as a variant of her vague resemblance of the Chinchilla rabbit or the rodent of that name.

Chinie’s parents were both prize winning cats. Unfortunately no photographs of her or her parents have survived. It seems likely that she was a mackerel striped Silver Tabby or even a long-haired spotted tabby. Weak markings in such patterns would give something vaguely resembling the product of a cross between today's Chinchilla and Blue.

Chinnie was bred by Mrs. Hurt of Sandal Mayner near Wakefield, UK. She was bought by Mrs. Vallance and was apparently regarded as sufficiently unusual by the standard of the day for her owner to try to perpetuate her coloring by mating her to a suitable male. Such a mate was found in Fluffy I a very pure Silver with undecided tabby markings, who won first prize and medals in the Silver Class at Maidstone, Cheltenham and Ealing, and second prize at Ryde. The record of the next few years is a catalogue of hopes raised only to be wrecked by fate that must be familiar to many who have ever laid plans for breeding.

The mating of Fluffy I and Chinnie in 1885 produced a male, Vezzoso and a female, Beauty, later to be known as Beauty of Bridgyate. Vezzoso became Best in Show at the Albert Palace in 1885, was first in the Silver class at Louth and Maidstone, second at Frome and third at Lincoln.

The mating between Chinnie and Fluffy in 1886 produced Fluffy II, who took first place at crystal Palace, Best in Show at Brighton and second place at the Albert Palace and Ealing shows.

Beauty, who had been bought as a kitten by Miss Howe of Bridgyate, after selective breeding had three litters of kittens.

The first litter did not meet the breeders expectations. However, from that time onwards, greater success attended these efforts and the next mating of Beauty, which was with a Smoke, Mrs. Shearman's Champion Perso, gave the legendary Ch Silver Lambkin, who is generally regarded as the first Chinchilla. Once this cat matured the breeding and perfection of the Chinchilla was undertaken with enthusiasm, with the result that the first class for this breed alone was instituted at the Crystal Palace Show in 1894.

Personality

The Chinchillas share almost the same personality with the Persian cats. They have a very sweet nature and would suit better to quiet and peaceful households. They are mostly decorative cats and prefer to lie around all day.

As a matter of fact, chinies are lap cats and prefer to spend most of their day inside. Their easygoing and gentle personality makes them ideal for city apartments. However, they don’t mind change and adjust quickly to any new environment in which they might be placed.

Chinchilla cats are also very affectionate and can become quite attached to their human family. Actually they enjoy spending time with their owners and participating in daily activities. They make loyal partners and though they are not very demanding, they love to be petted and would often want to sit on the lap of their owner.

Despite of their easy going demeanor, Chinchilla cats hate to be left alone. As a matter of fact, chinies hide an extrovert nature and enjoy attracting attention. They are social creatures and make great pets for people of all ages. Unfortunately, some breeders do not recommend them as pets for very young children who may be tempted to pull the hair, which the cat is unlikely to tolerate.

Care

Kittens 

When you introduce a kitten to your home let it find its own way out of the basket and allow it to explore one room at a time. Make sure that all doors and windows are shut, to prevent the kitten from escaping.

Talk to your kitten and encourage it to play with a toy but do not overwhelm it with extreme attention.

Kittens and adult Chinchillas

Chinchillas should be brushed daily to avoid the coat knotting and matting. Special attention needs to be paid to the underarms and under the tail and tummy, areas where the fur may rub and knots occur more commonly. Use a comb with metal bristles and an elastic grip and work through her fur from head to tail to remove dead and loose hair. Be extra-gentle near her chest and belly to avoid injuring your Chinie.

If grooming is neglected, even for a few days, the coat can become very tangled and unless the cat is extremely tolerant, it may not appreciate the discomfort involved in restoring the coat to a knot-free condition. Besides, if loose hair is not removed on a daily basis, it will be swallowed by the cat, creating hairballs in the stomach.

In order to avoid the development of hairballs, it is highly recommended to add some virgin olive oil in the Chinchilla’s meals. There are also a lot of effective hairball remedies in the market, however nothing compares to olive oil.

Even clean cats pick up fleas so check for these while grooming. Flea dirt can usually be seen as small brown specks particularly around the neck and base of the tail. When placed on damp cotton wool 'flea dirt' slowly dissolves producing bloody streaks.

Eyes can become runny and must be wiped with a soft, clean cloth or tissue to keep clear of debris. Tear ducts can become blocked while foreign bodies such as dust in the eyes can cause corneal ulcers. Both conditions need veterinary attention.

Never give a cat any drugs that have not been prescribed for it; many human drugs are poisonous to cats. Seek veterinary advice immediately if you suspect any form of poisoning.

Make sure that toys or parts of them cannot be swallowed. Plastic bags and rubber bands can be extremely dangerous, since they do not show up on an X-ray.  

Chinchillas weigh 8-15 pounds (4-7kg). The average suggested quantity of daily food intake is 50 grams of dry food, meaning 200 kcal/day. This of course varies as per the cat's weight and lifestyle.

A balanced and rich in vitamins, protein and fiber nutrition will help prevent most health problems such as obesity and moreover develop a rich and shiny fur. In the market there is now available food specially designed for longhair cats that aid in the natural purging of hairballs, contribute to their oral health and help maintain skin integrity and combat hair loss and dandruff. You could even try formulas specially designed for Persian cats. These formulas contain Omega 6 to meet the nutritional demands of maintaining a shiny and beautiful long coat and soluble and insoluble fibers that increase digestive activity to eliminate hairballs naturally.

Chinchillas live 12-15 years. Their commonest health problems are cardiomyopathy, a heart condition which can develop early in life and is usually fatal and polycystic kidney disease that affects cats between 3-10 years and is also usually fatal.

Breed Standards

The Chinchilla cats possess a round open head, with a broad firm and well developed chin. Their ears are medium sized with round tips, well tufted and set wide apart.

Their eyes are large, round and wide open, set well apart. Their color can be either emerald or blue/green, which is highlighted by a black or dark brown contour.

Their nose is medium in length and broad with a slight break in profile. There should be adequate nose leather and nasal apertures, however the nose should not be snub.

The Chinchilla cats possess a short neck and a medium sized body, not as strong as the Persians', but with a better bone structure. Their legs are short and thick and their paws are round, firm and tufted.

The tail should be well furnished, while its length should be in proportion to the body.

As for the coat, this should be dense and long on body, with full ruff and brush. The hair should be shorter on the head and the forelegs. The texture should be fine, soft and silky, glossy in appearance and standing away from the body.

The undercoat's color, finally, should be pure white and the coat on the back, legs, flanks, head, ears and tail should be tipped with black. This tipping should be evenly distributed giving the characteristic sparkling silver appearance. The face and legs may be very slightly shaded with the tipping but the chin , ear tufts, stomach and chest must be pure white.

The Persian cat

2010-02-08T22:55:00.000-08:00

History
Persia is the ancient name of Iran, which of course implies the breed's origins and age. The Persian people considered them very valuable and treated them like true treasures.

They were first brought to Europe by the Italian Pietro della Valle. Mr. Della Valle had spent many years in the Middle East witting about it and when it was about time to return to Italy, he realized that he had to take some gifts with him. And since jewels, spices and silk had become more than a common Middle East souvenir, he came up with a more unique idea. He took with him four pairs of gray longhair cats and that is how the first Blue Persians entered the Western civilization.

Personality
Persians are very affectionate and loyal cats. They crave attention and like to be played around with. Though they are not very demanding, they love to be petted. They will sit on your lap, follow you around the house and sleep in your bed during cold nights.

Their playful and in the meantime calm nature, makes them ideal for families with children or other pets. They do not mind new members in the household, on the contrary they are very adaptable and accommodating.

Although they get attached to all family members they usually show special affection for a particular individual in the house. They are sweet and gentle, but need to feel secure in their environment. They prefer an atmosphere of serenity, love and reassurance.
Finally, Persians are very dramatic. They love to pose and will drape themselves like Royalty on your furniture, enhancing the decor and covering it with their signature long hair.

Care
Kittens 
When you introduce a kitten to your home let it find its own way out of the basket and allow it to explore one room at a time. Make sure that all doors and windows are shut, to prevent the kitten from escaping.

Kittens are very often frightened by children or other pets that are new to them. Children should therefore be recommended to be quiet and wait for the kitten to adopt to the new environment, while other animals should be introduced later, gradually and one at a time. Remember that adult cats might attack to the baby cat, since they confront it as a competitor and therefore as an enemy.

Talk to your kitten and encourage it to play with a toy but do not overwhelm it with extreme attention.

Kittens need warmth, since they miss their mother and litter mates. If there is not some form of heating in the room at all times, you had better buy a heated bed from a pet shop. Even when adult, a short haired cat should never be left alone in an unheated room at night or in cold weather without some basket or bed with warm bedding in it.  

Kittens and adult Persians
Be prepared for Persian cats require a lot of care.

The average total length of the hair on a Persian cat is over 230 miles, no wonder why their fur needs to be brushed daily with the help of a metallic brush. The brushing movements need to be repetitive, however delicate as the Persians’ skin is highly irritable. To get rid of tight knots, use a brush with wide-teeth first and dissolve them gradually. If you neglect this daily routine, your Persian will develop tight knots and become aggressive during the next grooming. Besides, regular grooming will improve the blood circulation and help avoid many unpleasant and long-lasting infections and allergies.

Persian cats, just all longhaired cats run a higher risk of developing hairballs. In the market you will find a lot of hairball remedies, however I highly recommend using virgin olive oil as a remedy. Adding a few drops in their meals will help them get rid of their hairballs in the most effective and natural way.

Even clean cats pick up fleas so check for these while grooming. Flea dirt can usually be seen as small brown specks particularly around the neck and base of the tail. When placed on damp cotton wool 'flea dirt' slowly dissolves producing bloody streaks.

Persian cats care includes caring for their teeth. They should be checked periodically and brush with a special wipe to prevent teeth and gum diseases. In the market there are also a lot of cat toys, specially designed to remove food wastes and prevent teeth irritation.

A litter tray must be available at all times and kept in the same place. Solid matter and wet lumps should be removed from the tray frequently and the litter renewed when necessary. The tray should be washed and disinfected frequently. Rinse thoroughly after disinfecting and allow drying before use. Cats are very fussy and will not use a dirty tray.

Never give a cat any drugs that have not been prescribed for it; many human drugs are poisonous to cats. Seek veterinary advice immediately if you suspect any form of poisoning.

Make sure that toys or parts of them cannot be swallowed. Plastic bags and rubber bands can be extremely dangerous, since they do not show up on an X-ray.

Nutrition

Female Persians weigh 8-12 pounds (4-5.5 kg) and males more than 12 pounds. The average suggested quantity of daily food intake for female Persians is 70 grams of dry food, meaning 300 kcal/day while males require 100 grams of dry food, meaning 400 kcal/day. This of course varies as per the cat's weight and lifestyle.

I suggest feeding your Persian dry food and particularly almond shaped kibbles in order to make food easier for them to grasp. Cats with flat facial characteristics use the lower side of their tongue to pick up kibbles which is why an almond shape kibble is easier for them to eat.

A balanced and rich in vitamins, protein and fiber nutrition will prevent most health problems such as obesity and moreover help them develop a rich and shiny fur. In the market there are now available formulas specially designed for Persian cats. These formulas contain Omega 6 to meet the nutritional demands of maintaining a shiny and beautiful long coat and soluble and insoluble fibers that increase digestive activity to eliminate hairballs naturally.

Health
Persians live 10 to 15 years on average. The modern brachycephalic Persian has a large rounded skull, a shortened face and nose and serious health problems. This facial conformation makes the breed prone to breathing difficulties, skin and eye problems and birthing difficulties.

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) affects the 36%-49% of adult Persians and causes kidney failure. Symptoms include excessive drinking and urination, reduced appetite, weight loss and depression.

Other health problems that can affect Persians are progressive retinal atrophy, a degenerative eye disease with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance, basal cell carcinoma, a skin cancer which shows most commonly as a growth on the head, back or upper chest and Chédiak-Higashi syndrome that sometimes affects blue smoke Persians. White Persians with blue eyes are prone to deafness.

Breed Standards
According to the Fédération Internationale Féline, Persian cats are of medium to large size. Their head is very well balanced and round, with a rounded forehead and a strong chin. Their nose is short and broad with a definite stop, however not a snub one. Their cheeks are full and their jaws are broad and powerful.

The Persian cats possess small, round-tipped and well tufted ears, placed very wide apart and rather low on the head. Their eyes are large round and open, set wide apart. As for the recognized colors, these are the following: deep blue, copper or deep orange, green, blue green and odd eyed (one eye deep blue and the other copper or deep orange).

The Persian's neck is short and strong and the overall body cobby, with a broad chest. Their legs are short and thick and their paws large and round with tufts between the toes.

Their tail is short and bushy, with a slightly rounded tip and in proportion to the length of the body.

And now the best part, the coat! Its structure is long and dense and the texture is silky. The officially registered colors and patterns are the following:

White
Solid
Tortie
Smoke
Silver shaded/ shell
Golden shaded/ shell
Tabby
Silver tabby
Golden tabby
Van/ Harlequin/ Bicolor
Van/ Harlequin/ Bicolor smoke
Van/ Harlequin/ Bicolor tabby
Van/ Harlequin/ Bicolor silver tabby
Colorpoint
Tabby point colorpoint

The Ragdoll

2010-02-08T10:04:00.000-08:00

The story of the Ragdolls begins with a car accident...

History
Back in the 1960's in the state of California, Ms. Pennels had a white longhair cat named Josephine. Josephine, a semi-feral cat of Persian/ Angora type, once got hit by a car. Thanks to the UCLA hospital's vets, the poor creature not only survived but completely recovered.

However, when Josephine returned home she had lost her feral attitude. Instead she was calm, peaceful and rather sociable and so were the kittens of all of her following litters.

Mrs. Ann Baker, a neighbor and breeder noticed Josephine's "mutation" and decided to reproduce her. Baker actually believed that Josephine was subject to a secret government genetic experiment during treatment at the hospital and claimed that it made Josephine docile, relaxed when picked up, and immune to pain.It was her who named her Ragdoll due to this tendency to go limp and relaxed when picked up.

Ragdolls were selectively bred over many years for desirable traits, such as large size, as well as the striking pointed coloration.

Mrs. Baker, in an unusual move, spurned traditional cat breeding associations to set up her own registry, the International Ragdoll Cat Association (IRCA). She even registered the name Ragdoll and enforced stringent standards on anyone who wanted to breed or sell cats under that name. The Ragdolls were also not allowed to be registered in other breed associations.

In 1975, a group led by Denny Dayton broke rank with IRCA with the aim of gaining mainstream recognition for the Ragdoll. This group eventually developed the Ragdoll standard currently accepted by major cat registries.

In 1994, a second group decided to leave the IRCA and form their own group due to increasingly strict breeding restrictions. This group later established the Ragamuffin breed. Because Baker owned the rights to the name "Ragdoll", no offshoot groups could call their cats Ragdolls until the trademark on "Ragdoll" was not renewed in 2005.

Today there are over 500 breeders worldwide and the Ragdoll breed stands on solid ground, despite its controversial early years and development.

Personality

Ragdoll cats are very loving and devoted creatures. They are loyal and affectionate and prefer spending their time with their human family. Ragdolls are so laid-back that they are considered about the most non-aggressive breed, so much so that they will even refuse to fight when attacked. For this reason, it is advisable to keep them indoors.

Ragdolls are known for allowing you to hold them like a baby and going completely limp in your arms like a rag doll. They are known for their intelligence and can be trained to fetch or act tricks. They respond at the hearing of their name and love to greet strangers at the door.

Families with Ragdolls will tell you that they are the perfect cat. They are known to be so gentle that they will play without using their claws, which makes them ideal for children. They are also very well mannered cats and very easy to handle. Docile but in the meantime playful, Ragdolls can adopt to all kinds of families and become a loving member.

Care

Kittens
When you introduce a kitten to your home let it find its own way out of the basket and allow it to explore one room at a time. Make sure that all doors and windows are shut, to prevent the kitten from escaping.

Kittens are very often frightened by children or other pets that are new to them. Children should therefore be recommended to be quiet and wait for the kitten to adopt to the new environment, while other animals should be introduced later, gradually and one at a time. Remember that adult cats might attack to the baby cat, since they confront it as a competitor and therefore as an enemy.

Talk to your kitten and encourage it to play with a toy but do not overwhelm it with extreme attention.

Kittens need warmth, since they miss their mother and litter mates. If there is not some form of heating in the room at all times, you had better buy a heated bed from a pet shop. Even when adult, a short haired cat should never be left alone in an unheated room at night or in cold weather without some basket or bed with warm bedding in it. 

Kittens and adult Ragdolls
Ragdolls need a thorough grooming at least twice weekly and ideally on a daily basis in order to maintain their coat in top condition. Regular grooming will improve the blood circulation and help avoid many unpleasant and long-lasting infections and allergies. Special attention needs to be paid to the underarms and under the tail and tummy, areas where the fur may rub and knots occur more commonly, however note that the Ragdoll coat usually does not mat. Use a comb with metal bristles and an elastic grip and work through her fur from head to tail to remove dead and loose hair. Be extra-gentle near her chest and belly to avoid injuring your Ragdoll.

During the moulting season it is absolutely necessary to groom them every day in order to prevent them digesting loose hair and getting hairballs.

There are a lot of hairball remedies in the market, however I highly recommend using virgin olive oil as a remedy. Adding a few drops in their meals will help them get rid of their hairballs in the most effective and natural way.

Ask your vet for a safe and effective flea-control product and do not forget that other animals in the house will also have to be treated. The cat's bedding should be washed or replaced. Your vet will also be able to supply products that will prevent this unpleasant phenomenon.

In addition you should clean their ears once a week to keep them clean and prevent infections. Consult your vet on choosing the proper cat ear cleaning solution and use it to remove the excess of wax, debris and dead tissues.

Ragdolls care includes caring for their teeth. They should be checked periodically and brush with a special wipe to prevent teeth and gum diseases. In the market there are also a lot of cat toys, specially designed to remove food wastes and prevent teeth irritation.

A litter tray must be available at all times and kept in the same place. Solid matter and wet lumps should be removed from the tray frequently and the litter renewed when necessary. The tray should be washed and disinfected frequently. Rinse thoroughly after disinfecting and allow drying before use. Cats are very fussy and will not use a dirty tray.

Never give a cat any drugs that have not been prescribed for it; many human drugs are poisonous to cats. Seek veterinary advice immediately if you suspect any form of poisoning.

Make sure that toys or parts of them cannot be swallowed. Plastic bags and rubber bands can be extremely dangerous, since they do not show up on an X-ray.

Female Ragdolls weigh 8-15 pounds (4-7kg) and male Ragdolls 12-20 pounds (5.5 - 9 kg). The average suggested quantity of daily food intake for female Ragdolls is 70 grams of dry food, meaning 300 kcal/day and for male Ragdolls is 100 grams of dry food, meaning 400 kcal/day. This of course varies as per the cat's weight and lifestyle.

A balanced and rich in vitamins, minerals, protein and fiber nutrition will help prevent most health problems. You may want to try meals specially designed for Maine Coons with adapted levels of magnesium, sodium, potassium, arginine, EPA & DHA, taurine, L-carnitine, and antioxidants (vitamins E & C and green tea and grape polyphenols)that support and maintain their cardiac (heart) function. Moreover, they reinforce the barrier role of the skin and reveal the natural beauty and color of their coat. They also encourage a good oral-dental hygiene and support the joints of their heavy skeleton.

Ragdolls are generally healthy cats and live to be 12 years old or even more. Their most severe threat is feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a disease that affects young to middle aged cats. It is is usually discovered during a routine annual health checkup, as the vet will hear a faster heart rate and perhaps congestion sounds in the lungs. The pulse also feels weak.

If left undiagnosed, the most common indication of HCM is pain, associated with blood clot formation in the aorta. HCM is treated with diuretics, such as furosemide, diltiazem, and nitroglycerine ointment. ACE inhibitors, can be beneficial, while some cats respond to essential fatty acid (EFA) supplements and the antioxidants selenium and vitamin E.

Hip dysplasia can also be seen in Ragdolls. Symptoms include swaying or waddling walk, and/or knock-kneed. Due to his difficulty in moving, your cat may appear to be lazy.

The condition begins as the cat is growing, caused when the hip joint develops improperly and results in a loose fitting and malformed ball-and-socket joint. Hip Dysplasia is aggravated by excessive use of the joint and it eventually develops into arthritis.

An X-ray is required to make a definite diagnosis.

Although the case is not curable, you can take measures at home to make your pet more comfortable. Keep the environment warm and dry, don't let your cat jump or exercise heavily, neither become overweight. In severe cases, you may consider joint surgery. Nonsurgical options include giving your cat painkillers whenever his pain becomes severe, acupuncture and gold bead implantation. The combined use of nutritional anti-oxidant supplements and glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate are very helpful in treating the condition and reducing joint pain.

Breed Standards
According to the Cat Fancier's Association, the Ragdolls are a medium to large, moderately longhaired, blue-eyed pointed cats. The point markings may be covered by a range of white overlay patterns. Ragdolls are slow maturing, reaching full coat and color at about three years of age.

Their head is proportionately large with a broad, modified wedge that is equilateral in shape, where all sides are of equal length as measured from the outside of the base of the ear to the end of the gently rounded muzzle. It forms a flat plane between ears, while the cheeks are in line with the wedge. When the whiskers and fur are smoothed back, the underlying bone structure is apparent.

Their eyes are large and oval. They are set wide apart and moderately slanted, complementing wedge. Their color can be nothing but clear blue.

Their ears are medium-sized, set wide apart and moderately flared, continuing the line of wedge. They are wide at base with rounded tips and tilted forward.

Their profile is slightly curving; ending in a straight, medium-length nose.

Their chin is well-developed, strong and in line with the nose and the upper lip.

Their body is large, long, broad and solid, with a heavy boning. It should be firm and muscular, not fat. It has a rectangular shape, with a heavy and strong neck, a full chest and equal width across shoulders and hindquarters.

Their legs are heavily boned and moderately long. The hind legs are longer than the front ones. The fur is shorter on the front legs and longer on the hind, with full, feathery britches.

The paws are proportionately large, round and feather-tufted.

The typical Ragdoll tail is long, with full plume.

The coat is moderately long, characterized by abundant guard hairs and minimal woolly undercoat. It flows with the body and appears short on face, longer on the ruff, shorter on the shoulder blades and lengthening toward the tail.

The recognized Ragdoll coat patterns are the following:

The colorpoint: The points include the mask on the face, the ears, the legs and the tail. The colour of these points is of a darker shade than the body colour and a clear contrast is seen between the point colour and that of the body.
The van: color on the crown of the head and the tail only.
The bicolor: white fur combined with another color.
The mitted: Same as pointed, but with white paws and abdomen.

Finally, the officially accepted point colors are seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red and cream. Consequently, there are 19 officially accepted pointed patterns:

Seal point
Chocolate point
Lilac point
Red point
Cream point
Seal lynx point
Chocolate lynx point
Blue lynx point
Lilac lynx point
Red lynx point
Cream lynx point
Seal-tortie point
Chocolate-tortie point
Blue-cream point
Lilac-cream point
Seal-tortie lynx point
Chocolate-tortie lynx point
Blue-cream lynx point
Lilac-cream lynx point

The Siamese cat

2010-01-24T03:46:00.000-08:00

Also called the "Moon Diamond" this breed is one of the most popular in Europe and North America:

The legend

Once upon a time there was a Siamese Princess. The Princess went to have a bath in a stream and being afraid of losing her rings while bathing she looked around for somewhere convenient to place her jewelery. She then noticed that her favorite cat had crooked his tail for her benefit. Ever since that time all Siamese cats have been born with a tiny kink at the end of their tails to hold the Princess' rings.

History

The pointed cat known in the West as "Siamese" is one of several breeds of cats from Siam (now called Thailand) described and illustrated in manuscripts of the 18th century, called "Tamra Maew" (Cat Poems).

However, apart from these poems, there is no clear record of Siamese cats as a breed until late 1800s. In 1884 the departing British Consul-General Gould was given a pair of Siamese cats by the Siamese king as a farewell gift. The gift was considered a great honor since the cats came from those bred in the palace by the royal family. The General brought the two cats, Pho and Mia, back to Britain as a gift for his sister, Lilian Jane Veley. The descendants of these cats, 'Duen Ngai', born March 1885 and 'Kalohom' and 'Khromata', born July 1885, were exhibited by Mrs. Velvey at the 17th Crystal Palace Show in October 1885. In 1886, another pair of Siamese cats and two kittens were imported by a Mrs. Vyvyan and her sister in Britain. The Siamese cats were so extraordinary that they captured immediate attention and in 1902 England founded its first Siamese cat fancier's club.

Regarding USA, in 1878, President Rutherford B. Hayes received "Siam", a gift from the American Consul in Bangkok. This cat was the first documented Siamese to reach the United States, and predates the Siamese's arrival to the UK by 6 years. In April 1909, The Siamese Cat Society of America was founded and the first standard for the Siamese Cat was approved.

During the 1950s and 1960s the breed's popularity reached its peak and Siamese cats appeared in movies or animations such as 'Bell, Book and Candle', 'That Darn Cat', 'Incredible Journey', and 'Lady and the Tramp', making the Siamese breed even more famous.

Personality

Warm and affectionate, the Siamese cats bond with their chosen humans very closely. However social, they are very dependent upon them and crave for active involvement in their lives. Siamese need to be treated with respect and patience and require lots of affection if they are to develop a caring relationship with their human companions. They will follow them wherever they go and may get depressed if left too often alone.

Siamese are vocal and demanding, capable of conveying their wants in a range from mews to loud raspy calls. They are capable of communicating their desires clearly to their chosen humans starting a dialogue with them. In case their attempts to communicate won’t work out, they will start an endless monologue. If you prefer quiet, lap cats, the Siamese cats are not for you, actually you might find them annoyingly talkative and wish they came with a mute button.

On the other hand, Siamese cats can be unpredictable in their behavior and can appear aloof and disinterested. Nonetheless, that’s all an act, for Siamese are curious and active. Highly intelligent, this breed can be trained to perform commands and tricks and has proven to be a viable competitor in feline agility. They love the challenge of these feats, and will find creative and unusual ways to get into trouble.

Care

Kittens 

Talk to your kitten and encourage it to play with a toy but do not overwhelm it with extreme attention.

Kittens and adult Siamese

Siamese cats generally have smooth fine hair, so grooming and maintaining the coat is not an issue and they do a good job of keeping themselves clean. You will want to occasionally brush them, as it will help with shedding. The brushing movements need to be repetitive, however delicate. Use a comb with metal bristles and an elastic grip and work through her fur from head to tail to remove dead and loose hair. Be extra-gentle near her chest and belly to avoid injuring your Siamese. Grooming will also improve the blood circulation and help avoid many unpleasant and long-lasting infections and allergies.

Although Siamese are short haired cats, just like all cats they run the risk of developing hairballs. They groom themselves often and more than likely will get a hairball at some point. In the market you will find a lot of hairball remedies, however I highly recommend using virgin olive oil as a remedy. Adding a few drops in their meals will help them get rid of their hairballs in the most effective and natural way.

In addition you should clean their ears once a week to keep them clean and prevent infections. Consult your vet on choosing the proper cat ear cleaning solution and use it to remove the excess of wax, debris and dead tissues.

Siamese care includes caring for their teeth. They should be checked periodically and brushed with a special wipe to prevent teeth and gum diseases. In the market there are also a lot of cat toys, specially designed to remove food wastes and prevent teeth irritation.

Never give a cat any drugs that have not been prescribed for it; many human drugs are poisonous to cats. Seek veterinary advice immediately if you suspect any form of poisoning.

Make sure that toys or parts of them cannot be swallowed. Plastic bags and rubber bands can be extremely dangerous, since they do not show up on an X-ray.

In order to maintain the lean build of Siamese, as well as their active nature and muscular build, their nutrition must contain high quality protein and reduced fat, as well as Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) to produce muscle tissue over fat and L-carnitine to utilize fat reserves as an energy source. Fortunately, nowadays most cat food companies have developed special food formulas for Siamese, which are available at most pet shops.

Siamese do not have particular health issues. However, there are few records of breed-specific illness; they are very susceptible to upper respiratory diseases prior to adulthood, so make sure your cat always has a warm dry resting place as an option.

Breed Standards

According to the Fédération Internationale Féline, the overall appearance of the Siamese cats is svelte and elegant.

The Siamese cats possess a medium sized and well balanced head. This also wedge shaped head with straight lines. The wedge starts at the nose and gradually increases in width in straight lines on each side of the ears. There should be no whisker breaks in these two lines and the skull when viewed in profile should be slightly convex.

Their nose is long and straight, continuing the line from the forehead without any break and the muzzle is narrow.

Their chin is of medium size with its tip forming a vertical line with the tip of the nose.

The Siamese cats possess large ears, with pointed tips and wide base that continue the lines of the wedge.

Their eyes are medium sized and almond shaped. Neither protruding nor recessed, they are set slightly slanted towards the nose to be in harmony with the wedge lines. The only color allowed is intense deep blue.

Their neck is long and slender, leading to a dainty and elegant body. The body, also long and slender, it possesses a well developed musculature, with long and fine legs that lead to small and oval paws.

The tail is very long and thin, tapering to a fine point.

The Siamese cats possess a very short, fine, glossy and silky coat, lying close to the body. Its pattern is always pointed, with points of the face mask, ears, legs and tail. The color on all points should be as even as possible. The face musk should not exceed on the whole head, however it should be connected to the ears by tracings of color.

The body color should be even. A slight shading on the flanks is permissible, however there should be a clear contrast among the points and the body color.

The accepted Siamese cat body colors are the following:

• Seal point

• Chocolate point

• Blue point

• Lilac point

The Kurilian Bobtail

2010-01-10T03:22:00.000-08:00

The legend goes that the Bobtail cats are excellent fishers and they use their haspshape tail as a hook:

History

The Kurilian Bobtail is a natural breed which existed in isolation for approximately 100 to 150 years on the Kuril Islands, a volcanic chain of islands strung between Russia and Japan. All of these islands are under the Russian jurisdiction, although the southernmost four are claimed by Japan as part of their territory. However they are mostly uninhabited.

There are several Russian documents referring to cats with a short tail, which were brought home from the islands by the members of the military or scientists in the middle of the 20th century. The character of these cats made them very popular, however the lack of a Russian cat club delayed their being registered and consequently promoted as a pedigreed cat.

Besides, most people considered that the Kurilian was just a Japanese Bobtail of heavier type. Even today, it cannot be said that the Kurilian Bobtails and the Japanese Bobtails have an entirely different genetic background. In fact, it is probable that the Kurilian Bobtail was the original source of mutation for the short tail in the Japanese Bobtail. The difference is that the Japanese Bobtail is a non-natural breed with a similar tail.

Actually, the Kurilian are cats of the wild type with a wild origin. Russian Breeders have kept this distinction in the Kurilian, while others have created the elegant Japanese Bobtail.

The Kurilian Bobtails were first shown in 1991. This led the Soviet Felenology Federation to adopt the first breed standard. The breed was officially recognized by the World Cat Federation in 1995 and by the Fédération Internationale Féline in 2004.

Personality
The Kurilian Bobtail are blessed with a very well-balanced character. Their wild look is not reflected in their temperament, since they possess a serene nature and require a lot of cuddling and caressing. Friendly and sociable, they are devoted to their human family and when allowed are either on the lap of or sleeping in bed with them. They get on well with other cats, children, dogs or other household pets. They are also gentle and adapt well in the apartment life.

In addition, Kurilians are highly intelligent, inquisitive and clever cats. They seem to understand everything their owner desires and are easy to train to respond to voice command alone.

Besides, they are inoffensive and curious, not only towards people but also other animals. Being excellent jumpers and are inclined to survey their domain from the highest point available to them.

Furthermore, the Kurilian’s are notorious for their fishing abilities. They are excellent swimmers and love to play in a bathtub with a dripping tap. They have also developed great hunting skills, especially towards rats and flies.

Breed standards

According to the Fédération Internationale Féline, the Kurilian Bobtails possess a large, trapezium shaped head, with rounded contours. The head is wide at the cheekbone level and slightly rounded in profile. Their chin is well developed and wide and their nose is medium, long and straight. The nose bears a gentle dip from the forehead to the broad, without a definite stop.

The Kurilian Bobtail ears are medium sized, wide at the base and slightly pricked forward. Their tips are rounded and their base is open. They bear lynx-like tufts and long hair out of the ears. The ears are set wide apart and medium height, while the distance between them is equal to the width of their base.

The eyes are oval on top and round at their base, set wide apart and slightly slanted. All eye color varieties, from yellow to green are allowed, except for the white Kurilians and those with coat patterns that bear white that may only possess blue or odd eyes.

Their body has a compact structure, with well developed musculature and solid bones.

Their back shows a delicate curve from the shoulders to the rump, with the rump being higher.

Their legs are medium in length, strong and sturdy, with rounded paws. Note that the hind legs are longer than the forelegs.

As for the tail, this is composed of one or more angles or curves or any combination. The result is that of the pom pom look. The direction of the curves is of minor importance. The tail may be rigid or flexible, while its visible length without the coat varies from 3 to 8 cm (1.18 - 3.15 inches). It is important though that the size and shape of the tail harmonizes with the overall appearance of the cat.

The coat should short for the Shorthair variety and semi-long for the Longhair variety. The texture of the Shorthair's coat should be soft and silky, laying flat. It should possess a moderate undercoat and be resilient without a plush dense feel. As for the Longhair's coat texture, this should be fine and silky, laying flat with a moderate undercoat.

All coat color varieties are allowed with the exception of colorpoints, chocolate, cinnamon, fawn, lilac and the same combined with white. However, any amount of white is allowed, i.e. a white blaze, white locket, white chest, white on the belly, white on the paws, etc.

More specifically, the recognized color varieties are the following:

White

Black/Blue/Red/Cream

Black/ Blue tortie

Black/Blue/Red/Cream/Black tortie/Blue tortie smoke

Black/Blue/Red/Cream/Black tortie/Blue tortie agouti

Black/Blue/Red/Cream/Black tortie/Blue tortie silver/golden agouti

Black/Blue/Red/Cream/Black tortie/Blue tortie with white

Black/Blue/Red/Cream/Black tortie/Blue tortie smoke with white

Black/Blue/Red/Cream/Black tortie/Blue tortie agouti with white

Black/Blue/Red/Cream/Black tortie/Blue tortie silver/golden with white

Maneki Neko

2010-01-06T10:28:00.000-08:00

Also known as Welcoming Cat, Lucky Cat, Money cat or Fortune Cat, Maneki Neko is an Asian charm believed to bring good luck to the owner.

Maneki Neko literally means Beckoning Cat, and depicts a Japanese Bobtail cat beckoning with an upright or upleft paw. It is usually displayed at the entrance of shops, restaurants, pachinko parlors or other businesses.

The gesture

To Europeans and Americans the Maneki Neko seems to be waving rather than beckoning. This is due to the difference between gestures and body language recognized by Westerners and Japanese, with Japanese beckoning by holding up the hand, palm out, and repeatedly folding the fingers down and back up, thus the cat's appearance. Some Maneki Neko made specifically for Western markets will have the cat's paw facing backwards, in a beckoning gesture more familiar to Westerners.

Nonetheless, the gesture of the Maneki Neko is that of a cat washing its face. Note that cats wash their face before a rain because they can feel the changing weather pattern. The keen sensory of cats can detect the minute environmental changes, which make them uneasy. This is why they wash their face, they are trying to ease their anxiety.

Maneki Neko can be found with either the right or left paw raised. The significance of the right and left raised paw differs with time and place. The most common belief is that the left paw raised brings in customers, while a right paw brings wealth and good luck, although some believe the opposite. Still others say that a left paw raised is best for drinking establishments, the right paw for other stores.

It is commonly believed the higher the raised paw, the greater the luck. Consequently, over the years Maneki Neko's paw has tended to appear ever higher. Another common belief is that the higher the paw, the greater the distance good fortune will come from.

History

Maneki Neko is believed to have first appeared during the later part of the Edo period (1603-1867) in Japan. However the earliest documentary evidence comes from the 1870s, during Japan's Meiji Era. Actually in a 1876 newspaper article is mentioned that kimono-clad Maneki Neko were distributed at a shrine in Osaka during that time. By the turn of the century they had become rather popular and were being advertised.

Legends

Maneki Neko is the subject of numerous legends, however three of them are the most popular:

The Temple Cat
In the 17th century, there was a rundown and poverty-stricken temple in Tokyo. Nonetheless, this didn't stop the temple's priest from sharing what little food had with his pet cat, Tama.
One day, a wealthy man was caught in a storm while hunting and took refugee under a big tree near the temple. While he waited for the storm to pass, the man noticed a cat beckoning him to come inside the temple gate. The man left the shelter of the tree to have a closer look at this unusual cat and at that very moment, the tree was struck by a lighting.
Therefore, the wealthy man and the poor priest became friends and the temple became prosperous. When Tama died he was buried in the Goutokuji Temple's cat cemetery with respect and love and a Maneki Neko was made in his honor.

The Geisha

During the Edo Period, in the eastern part of Tokyo called Yoshiwara, lived a Geisha named Usugumo. The Geisha loved cats and constantly kept her feline pet by her side. One night, on her way to the powder room, the cat began tugging her kimono violently, refusing to let go. The owner of the amusement house thought that the cat was bewitched and lopped off its head with his sword. The head then flew to the ceiling and killed a snake poised to kill Usugumo. Usugumo, being terribly distraught by the wrongful death of her beloved cat, collapsed. To make her feel better, one of her customers gave her a wood-carved image of the cat, which later gained popularity as the Maneki Neko.

The old woman

During the 19th century,in Imado (eastern Tokyo) there was an old woman who was extremely poor and had a cat that she loved dearly. Eventually, she could no longer care for the cat and had to sell her. That same night, her cat appeared to her in a dream telling her to make her image out of clay and that this clay image would bring her good fortune. The old woman followed the cat’s instructions and soon after a visitor offered to buy the clay cat. The old woman went on making clay cats that more and more people bought, and soon she became prosperous and wealthy.

The charm

Maneki Neko are typically made of porcelain or ceramic. However, cheaper Maneki Neko can be made of other materials such as plastic, wood, papier-mâché and clay, while expensive Maneki Neko may be made of jade or gold.

Maneki Neko usually bare a collar, a bell and a decorative bib around their neck. These items are an imitation of what was common attire for cats in wealthy households during the Edo period. Red collars were made of a red flower, the hichirimen, while small bells were attached for decoration and also for keeping track of the cat's whereabouts.

The bib might also be related to the bibs often decorating statues of the divinity Jizō Bosatsu. Protective statues of Jizō can be found guarding the entrances to Japanese shrines and graveyards. Jizō is the protector of sick and dying children and grateful parents of children recovered from illness will place a bib around Jizō as a gift of thankfulness.

Maneki Neko are also depicted holding a gold coin called koban. The koban was used during the Edo period in Japan and equals to 1K USD, though some historians claim more.

The coin is related with the cat's bringing good fortune and wealth. No surprise that Maneki Neko are used as banks, much like the Western piggy bank.

Sometimes, pennies and other small coin denominations are left on the Maneki Neko as offerings. This is a practice somewhat related to that of leaving coins in a fountain or wishing well.

The Japanese Bobtail

2010-01-04T01:36:00.000-08:00

The Japanese Bobtail are depicted in the Maneki Neko charms, used by the Japanese for good luck:

History

The earliest written evidence of domestic cats in Japan indicates that they arrived from China at least 1,000 years ago. A diplomatic delegation from China brought the first five cats as a gift to the Japanese Emperor Ichijo in his palace at Kyoto.

Besides, the fact that the Japanese Bobtail has existed for many centuries in Japan, is obvious from being featured in many ancient prints and paintings.

Until the seventeenth century, Japanese Bobtails were treasured by the aristocracy. Under a 1601 edict forbidding the ownership of cats, Japanese Bobtails were put into service to guard granaries and silkworm cocoons. While reduced to the status of street cats, Japanese Bobtails were embraced by artisans, and then by the masses.

The Japanese Bobtail is mentioned in Kaempfer's Japan. First published in London in 1701/02, it is the first book written by a Westerner about the flora, fauna, and landscape of Japan. Engelbert Kaempfer, a German doctor, wrote: "there is only one breed of cat that is kept. It has large patches of yellow, black and white fur; its short tail looks like it has been bent and broken. It has no mind to hunt for rats and mice but just wants to be carried and stroked by women."

In 1968 the late Elizabeth Freret imported the first three Japanese Bobtails to the United States from Japan. In 1971 they were given provisional status in The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) and were accepted for championship competition in 1976.

In 2001 the first registered litter of Japanese Bobtails was born in the UK under the Solstans prefix.

Personality

Once you adopt one, you will shortly ask for another, since the Japanese Bobtail is an elegant and beautiful cat that will win your heart. Loyal and outgoing, they absolutely require companionship. They love humans and will greet them at the doorstep. In addition they get on with other cats and being fearless, they don't mind dogs. They adapt well to most situations and are particularly good with children. They are talkative without being noisy, and their soft voices have a large vocabulary of chirps and meows.

They are stable characters, good travelers and do not panic at shows.

While some may wonder if Bobtails might be uncoordinated because they lack a tail, this isn't so. They're athletic cats, excellent jumpers, agile and powerful, especially in the rear legs. They are also very intelligent, energetic and strong willed. They remain playful even as adults and most enjoy playing fetch.

Breed standards

According to the Fédération Internationale Féline, the Japanese Bobtail should present the overall impression of a medium sized cat with clear lines and bone structure, well muscled but rather elongated and rather slender than massive built. The unique set of its eyes, combined with high cheekbones and a long parallel nose, lend a distinctive Japanese cast to the face, especially in profile, quite different from the other oriental breeds. Its short tail should resemble a bunny tail with the hair fanning out to create a pom-pom appearance, which effectively camouflages the underlying bone structure of the tail.

Although their head appears long and finely chiseled, it forms almost a perfect equilateral triangle with gentle curving lines, high cheekbones and a noticeable whisker break.

Their nose is long and well defined by two parallel lines from tip to brow with a gentle dip at or just below the eye level. Their muzzle is fairly broad and rounding into the whisker break, neither pointed nor blunt.

Their ears are large and expressive. They are placed upright and set wide apart, however in such an angle that do not flare outward. This way they give the impression of being tilted forward in repose.

Their eyes are large and oval rather than round, nonetheless wide open and alert. When viewed in profile they are set into the skull at a rather pronounced slant. The eyeball shows a shallow curvature and should not bulge out beyond the cheekbone or the forehead. All color varieties are permitted, including blue and odd eyes.

The Japanese Bobtails possess a long, slender and elegant torso, however not tubular. They musculature is well developed and strong, but not coarse. Their body should not show any inclination towards flabbiness or cobbiness, instead it should maintain an overall balance.

The legs in proportion to the body should be long, slender and high, still not dainty or fragile. The front legs when standing should form two continuous straight lines with the shoulders. The hind legs are noticeably longer than the front legs, but deeply angulated to bend when the cat is standing relaxed, so that the torso remains nearly level rather than rising towards the rear. They end up to round paws.

The furthest extension of the tailbone from the body should be approximately 5-8 cm, even though the tailbone, if straightened out to its full length, might be 10-13 cm long. The tailbone is usually strong and rigid rather than jointed (except at the base), and may be either straight or composed of one or several curves and angles. The tail is usually carried upright when the cat is relaxed. The hair on tail is somewhat longer and thicker than the body hair, growing outward to create a pom-pom or bunny tail effect which appears to commence at the base of the spine and which camouflages the underlying bone structure of the tail.

The coat finally is short, soft and silky, but without a noticeable undercoat. It is relatively non-shedding. The recognized color varieties and patterns are listed bellow:

White/Black/Blue/Chocolate/Lilac/Red/Cream/Cinnamon/Fawn
Black/Blue/Chocolate/Lilac/Cinnamon/Fawn tortie
Black/Blue/Chocolate/Lilac/Red/Cream/Cinnamon/Fawn with white
Black/Blue/Chocolate/Lilac/Red/Cream/Cinnamon/Fawn agouti
Black/Blue/Chocolate/Lilac/Cinnamon/Fawn tortie agouti
Black/Blue/Chocolate/Lilac/Red/Cream/Cinnamon/Fawn agouti with white
Black/Blue/Chocolate/Lilac/Cinnamon/Fawn tortie agouti with white

The German Rex

2010-01-02T03:54:00.000-08:00

Of all the Rex breeds, this is the oldest one:

History
The ancestor of the current German Rex cats was a blue tomcat named Kater Munk. He was born in 1930 (some claim it was 1931) in a village near then Königsberg, German Reich (today's Kaliningrad, Russia).

Munk belonged to the family of Ms. Erna Schneider and was the son of an Angora cat and a Russian Blue. It is said that there was at least another curly kitten in the same litter, which was soon castrated. Munk spread his genes plentifully among the village's cat population and many years later, in 1947 a female German Rex was found in Berlin.

She wondered around a hospital and was cared by patients and nurses for a couple of years. In the summer of 1951, Dr.Rose Scheuer-Karpin noticed her and took her home. She even named her Lämmchen, the German word for "little lamb". Dr. Scheuer-Karpin supposed that the cat's "lamb" appearance was the result of a mutation and decided to start a new breed, the current German Rex.

Lämmchen during the next ten years just got smooth-haired kittens. It was only when her partner Blackie died that she allowed to be serviced by one of her sons. This resulted to a litter of two smooth-haired and two curled kittens. In this way it was proven that the lamb appearance concerned a recessive gene, meaning that both mates should have the recessive gene in order to deliver rex kittens.

In 1960, thanks to French Professor Letard, German Rexes began to be shown on exhibitions. The cats drew a lot of attention and Dr. Scheuer-Karpin received more foreign requests. A couple of cats even traveled to the USA.

During the 1970's there was a recession to the German Rex's popularity, which led to the breed's reduction. Nowadays the breed has been officially recognized by the Fédération Internationale Féline and the S.C.F.F., and efforts are made to prevent it from extinction.

Personality
The Rex cats are generally considered extremely lively and playful, which applies also to the German Rex. Active and quite athletic, they are capable of surprising feats of agility and speed. In addition their adventurous and mischievous nature will bring joy to every family they join.

Besides, the German Rex are not loners. They are very friendly and tolerant creatures and they get along with humans, as well as with other cats. They are also very affectionate and they need to be loved and taken care of.

The German Rex are also very intelligent creatures. They can be easily trained (or they can easily train you) and the show a unique willingness to become a useful member of their human family.

Breed standards
According to the Fédération Internationale Féline, the German Rex possess a rounded head with a good breadth between the ears. The cheeks are well developed and the chin is strong. The nose has a slight indentation at the base and the whiskers shorter than usual and curly.

Their ears are medium large, wide at the base and slightly rounded at the tips. The outside part of the ears is well covered with fine hair, while the inside part is slightly covered with hair.

The typical German Rex eyes are medium in size and well opened. They are set at a good distance from the nose, beginning at the outer rather than the inner edge of the nose outline. Their color should be brilliant and harmonized with the coat color.

Their body is of medium length, strong and muscular, but not massive or coarse. Their chest is particularly strong and in profile it looks rounded, while the back is straight from the shoulders to the rump.

Their legs are of medium length and rather fine and the paws well developed and rounded.

Their tail is of medium length, beginning from a substantial base and tapering to a rounded tip. It is also well covered with fur.

Their coat, finally, is short and velvety, soft and very silky. Its density varies from a thin and soft to a thick uppercoat. In addition it is wavy and without guard hairs. This last feature is the main characteristic of the certain breed.

All coat color varieties and patterns are recognized, including those with white.

Faults
The commonest faults that can disqualify a cat from being registered as a German Rex are the following:
• too long or too pointed head
• small ears
• lack of muscle tone
• short of bare tail
• shaggy coat or not wavy enough coat or a coat that bears bare patches

The Egyptian Mau

2009-12-29T06:17:00.000-08:00

Mau is the Egyptian word for cat:

History

The first elements that indicate the existence of the certain breed are traced back in Ancient Egypt, meaning 3.000 years ago. Studying the artwork of the ancient Egyptians, one can easily note the distinguishιng role of the cat in the religion, mythology and everyday life. They were worshiped as deities, protected by the law and mummified and mourned upon their death.

The Egyptian Mau is therefore thought to be related to a spotted subspecies of the African Wild Cat.

The origins of the modern Mau are traced back in 1953 and specifically in Italy. There, the exiled Russian Princess Natalie Troubetskoy happened to meet the cat of the Egyptian Ambassador in Italy. The Princess, amazed by the looks and the expression of the certain breed, convinced the Ambassador to obtain several cats from Egypt in order to breed them.

It is said that the first Mau kitten was a female, given to her by a young acquaintance in a shoebox. The Princess named her Baba and in 1956 she took her and another two Maus with in the States. Shortly afterwards, she started her cattery, Fatima, and set off to establish the Egyptian Μau as a recognized breed in North America. Her efforts were more than successful, since the breed was registered in the Cat Fanciers' Federation in 1968, and accepted for championship competition in 1977.

Personality

The Egyptian Maus are primarily known for their intelligence, which combined to their high speed makes them excellent hunters. They are the epitome of the curious, active and playful cat. They will climb up the refrigerator, stalk anything that moves and decimate any mouse or rat population in their catch.

In addition, they are notorious for their close bonding with their owners, under the condition that these are affectionate and loving. Many owners report that their Maus will eagerly greet them at the door, showing their loyalty and devotion. However, they usually bond with no more than one or two members of their human families.

On the other hand they are not social with strangers,including other cats. Actually they will fight trespassing cats with astonishing ferocity and uncannily disappear from strange and loud humans.

Maus aren’t overly talkative but they do make their desires known, particularly if those wishes involve food. When communicating with their favorite humans, Maus wiggle their tails, tread their feet, and make a variety of musical chortling and trilling sounds rather than typical meows.

Their nutrition, finally needs a lot of attention as well. However active, free feeding may result to obese Maus, so measured meals are the best solution.

Breed standards

The Egyptian Maus are the only naturally spotted breed of domesticated cats, meaning that the spots are not only on the coat. A shaved Mau has spots on its skin, too.

According to the Fédération Internationale Féline, the Egyptian Maus possess a slightly rounded wedge shaped head, of medium length and without flat planes. In profile it shapes a gentle contour with a slight rise from the bridge of the nose to the forehead. The cheeks are not full, while the entire length of nose evens in width when viewed from the front. The muzzle is neither short, nor pointed.

The ears are medium to large and broad at the base. They are alert and moderately pointed. The inner ear is of a delicate, almost transparent shell pink. The ears may be tufted, while their hair is short and lying close. They are placed upstanding with an ample width between them, continuing the planes of the head.

The typical Mau eyes are large and almond shaped, neither round nor oriental, with a slight slant towards the ears. Their expression is always allert, while the only accepted color is the "gooseberry green" (light green). The younger Maus however are allowed to possess amber colored eyes untill they become 18 months old.

Their body is of medium length and graceful. Its musculature is well developed and strong. On the other hand some loose skin flap extends from the flank to the knee of the hind leg. Regarding the certain breed a general balance of the body is more preferable than its size alone.

The legs are in proportion to the body, with the hind ones being longer. This gives the appearance of being on tiptoe when the Mau is standing upright. The paws on the other hand are small, dainty and slightly oval.

The tail is medium long, thick at the base and slightly tapering. The coat's structure, finally is short, however long enough to show 2-3 bands of ticking, with a lustrous sheen. In the smoke varieties the hair is silky and fine in texture, while in the silver and bronze ones the hair is dense and resilient in texture.

The coat's pattern is that of a spotted cat .The spots are randomly scattered over the torso with variance in size and shape. They can be small or large, of the same or of different shape, round or oval or irregular in shape. In any case the spots must be distinct and clearly separated from the ground color.

The recognized color varieties are the following:

Bronze spotted
Black silver spotted
Black smoke

The commonest faults that can disqualify a cat from being registered as Mau are small, round or Oriental type eyes, a short or round, oriental type head with full cheeks and a massive or oriental type body.

The Devon Rex

2009-12-28T05:22:00.000-08:00

Also known as "The Pixie cat" or "The monkey in a cat's suit", the certain breed is one of the busiest of all:

History

In 1959, Ms. Beryl Cox of Devonshire England found that a stray cat in her care had given birth to a rather odd looking curly-haired male kitten. The sire thought to be a curly-haired tomcat seen in the area. Delighted with the kitten's elfin features and wavy curls, she named him Kirlee -- the founding father of the unique and wonderful breed of cats known today as the Devon Rex.

Ms. Cox having seen pictures of the Cornish Rex, assumed that Kirlee was related to that breed. She contacted one of the Cornish Rex breeders, Mr Stirling-Webb, and allowed him to use Kirlee in a breeding program with Cornish queens.

Much to their surprise, the whole offspring had straight coats. Repeated attempts to mate Kirlee to Cornish Rex queens continued to produce straight haired offsprings. The conclusion was that Kirlee's genotype was different to that of the Cornish Rex. The two recessive genes were named: Gene 1 (Cornish Rex) and Gene 2 (Devon Rex).

When Kirlee was bred with one of the straight coated kittens born from himself and a Cornish Rex, three kittens were born two of them with straight coats and one with curly coat later "qualified" as Devon Rex. However it was only in 1967 that the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) recognized Devon Rex as a separate breed. In 1979 the breed was accepted for championship status in the Cat Fanciers Association.

Personality

The Devon personality has been aptly described as a cross between a cat, a dog and a monkey. They are highly active, alert, mischievous and playful. Powerful jumpers, they love climbing to high places and will go to great lengths to get to the highest spot in a room. They are also extremely agile cats with an inquisitive nature and will explore every corner of their homes.

Besides being a very busy breed, Devons are very affectionate and people-oriented. They thrive on human companionship and love to be close to their owners. Most Devons have one central person to whom they devote their love. They will follow him from room to room, showing their love and loyalty.They will sit on his lap, snuggle up with him in bed or even ride on his shoulder.

Devons, finally are very intelligent creatures and easy to take care off.

Care
Kittens
When you introduce a kitten to your home let it find its own way out of the basket and allow it to explore one room at a time. Make sure that all doors and windows are shut, to prevent the kitten from escaping.

Kittens are very often frightened by children or other pets that are new to them. Children should therefore be recommended to be quiet and wait for the kitten to adopt to the new environment, while other animals should be introduced later, gradually and one at a time. Remember that adult cats might attack to the baby cat, since they confront it as a competitor and therefore as an enemy.

Talk to your kitten and encourage it to play with a toy but do not overwhelm it with extreme attention.

Kittens need warmth, since they miss their mother and litter mates. If there is not some form of heating in the room at all times, you had better buy a heated bed from a pet shop. Even when adult, a short haired cat should never be left alone in an unheated room at night or in cold weather without some basket or bed with warm bedding in it. 

Kittens and adult Cornish Rex
The Devon Rex do not moult heavily and their coat is easy to care for. A weekly going over with a baby brush is usually sufficient, while a firm stroking with the hand from head to tail will emphasize the waves of the coat. The brushing movements need to be repetitive, however delicate. Brushing will also improve the blood circulation and help avoid many unpleasant and long-lasting infections and allergies.

Note that some breeders claim that Devons do not need any brushing at all.

Although their coat does not shed considerably during the seasonal change, extra brushing is beneficial at this time to remove any loose hair before your cat swallows it and develops hairballs.

In the market you will find a lot of hairball remedies, however I highly recommend using virgin olive oil as a remedy. Adding a few drops in their meals will help them get rid of their hairballs in the most effective and natural way.

Even clean cats pick up fleas so check for these while grooming. Flea dirt can usually be seen as small brown specks particularly around the neck and base of the tail. When placed on damp cotton wool 'flea dirt' slowly dissolves producing bloody streaks.

Ask your vet for a safe and effective flea-control product and do not forget that other animals in the house will also have to be treated. The cat's bedding should be washed or replaced. Your vet will also be able to supply products that will prevent this unpleasant phenomenon.

Their ears also require a great deal of hygiene as they are prone to serious infections. Consult your vet on choosing the proper cat ear cleaning solution and use it to remove the excess of wax, debris and dead tissues.

Devon cats care includes caring for their teeth. They should be checked periodically and brush with a special wipe to prevent teeth and gum diseases. In the market there are also a lot of cat toys, specially designed to remove food wastes and prevent teeth irritation.

A litter tray must be available at all times and kept in the same place. Solid matter and wet lumps should be removed from the tray frequently and the litter renewed when necessary. The tray should be washed and disinfected frequently. Rinse thoroughly after disinfecting and allow drying before use. Cats are very fussy and will not use a dirty tray.

Never give a cat any drugs that have not been prescribed for it; many human drugs are poisonous to cats. Seek veterinary advice immediately if you suspect any form of poisoning.

Make sure that toys or parts of them cannot be swallowed. Plastic bags and rubber bands can be extremely dangerous, since they do not show up on an X-ray.

In order to maintain the fit build of your Devon, as well as their active nature, their nutrition must contain high quality protein and reduced fat, as well as Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) to produce muscle tissue over fat and L-carnitine to utilize fat reserves as an energy source. Although cat food companies have not yet developed special food formulas for Devon Rex, you might want to try meals specially designed for active cats or even better formulas for Siamese cats.

Note that the ideal weight of a Cornish Rex is 6 - 9 pounds (3 - 4 kg) and that the suggested caloric daily intake is 300kcal, meaning 70 grams of dry food per day.

The Devon Rex usually live up to 9 - 13 years of age. There are no breed-related health problems with the certain breed. Because of their poor coat, they might suffer from easy loss of body heat. Other health problems that a Devon Rex might confront are various heart issues and hip dysplasia.

The commonest heart issues are:
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), a disease that affects young to middle aged cats. It is is usually discovered during a routine annual health checkup, as the vet will hear a faster heart rate and perhaps congestion sounds in the lungs. The pulse also feels weak.

If left undiagnosed, the most common indication of HCM is pain, associated with blood clot formation in the aorta. HCM is treated with diuretics, such as furosemide, diltiazem, and nitroglycerine ointment. ACE inhibitors, can be beneficial, while some cats respond to essential fatty acid (EFA) supplements and the antioxidants selenium and vitamin E.

Thromboembolism, a blood clot in the aorta, where the latter divides into the femoral arteries taking blood to the hind legs. Affected cats cry out and cannot use their hindlimbs, which are cool to the touch. The prognosis is poor.

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) causes small blood clots in the body. It is most likely triggered by a disease, such as feline infectious peritonitis. DIC is treated by diagnosing and curing the cause.

Symptoms of Hip Dysplasia include swaying or waddling walk, and/or knock-kneed. Due to his difficulty in moving, your cat may appear to be lazy.
The condition begins as the cat is growing, caused when the hip joint develops improperly and results in a loose fitting and malformed ball-and-socket joint. Hip Dysplasia is aggravated by excessive use of the joint and it eventually develops into arthritis.

An X-ray is required to make a definite diagnosis.

Although the case is not curable, you can take measures at home to make your pet more comfortable. Keep the environment warm and dry, don't let your cat jump or exercise heavily, neither become overweight. In severe cases, you may consider joint surgery. Nonsurgical options include giving your cat painkillers whenever his pain becomes severe, acupuncture and gold bead implantation. The combined use of nutritional anti-oxidant supplements and glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate are very helpful in treating the condition and reducing joint pain.

Breed standards

According to the Fédération Internationale Féline, the Devon Rex possess a short wedge shaped head with a forehead lying back to flat skull when viewed in profile. Their forehead is round and their cheekbones are prominent with full cheeks.

The Devons' nose is very short, while the combination with the rounded forehead gives the impression of a stop. The muzzle is short, bearing a strong chin and "whisker break". The whiskers and the eyebrows are crinkled, rather coarse and of medium length.

The typical Devon Rex ears are very large, wide at the base and tapering to rounded tips. They are well covered with fine hair and in some cases hair growing from a crease behind the ears to form ear muffs is noticed. They are set low on the head.

The eyes are also large and oval in shape. They are set well apart, sloping towards the outer edges of the ears. Though there are no restrictions regarding the color, this should definitely be bright, pure and clear.

The Devons' neck is long and slender, leading to a medium length body. The body's structure is hard and muscular, however slender. The chest is broad, and the legs are long and slender. The length of the hind legs is emphasized, while the front legs are set on the body so as to give a slightly bandy look. The paws on the other hand are small and round.

The tail is long, fine and tapering, while well covered with short hair. The coat, finally is very short and fine, soft in touch and wavy and/or curly, with or without guard hairs. All color varieties and patterns are permitted, including those with white.

The commonest faults that can disqualify a cat from being registered as a Devon Rex are the following:

Faults

Head: narrow, long oriental typed or broad British type
Ears: small and/ or high set ears

Body: cobby body or lack of firm muscles

Tail: short and/ or bare or bushy tail

Coat: straight hair and/ or shaggy coat. Any amount of bare patches is only permitted in kittens.

The Cornish Rex

2009-12-27T02:45:00.000-08:00

When Life magazine published a short article and pictures of the Cornish Rex in 1956, cat fanciers worldwide perked up in notice of this completely new breed:

History
On July 21, 1950 Ms. Nina Ennismore of Bodmin Moor, a rocky, windswept highland in Cornwall, discovered an unusual kitten among her tortie and white cat "Serena's" latest litter. A little cream-colored male, later named Kallibunker, was covered with tight rows of tiny curls, giving him the appearance of a miniature lamb. Nina who had formerly bred and shown Rex rabbits knew that the spiral coat was the result of a mutated gene, a gene also responsible for the curly heads among rats, mice and horses.

As the kitten grew, his difference from his littermates became more dramatic and Nina thought he should be neutered. Luckily, the vet realized that this cat was something special and advised her to consult with noted British geneticist A.C. Jude. Dr. Jude recognized that Kallibunker was a genuine mutation, and suggested that he should be bred back to his mother to perpetuate the look. As expected, two curly kittens were produced in the litter of three.

Nina, thanks to her experience from breeding and showing Rex rabbits, she made the connection in the coat types and named the new cat breed Rex.

The following year, Frances Blancheri of California imported two Rex from Ms. Ennismore.

The Cornish Rex was a straightaway success in North America. In 1963 the breed was accepted for championship competition by the Canadian Cat Association and the American Cat Fanciers Association. Eventually all the other cat registries in North America recognized the Cornish Rex as a separate breed.

For a time, however, the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) did not acknowledge the difference between Cornish and Devon Rex, despite genetic evidence to the contrary. CFA registered all Rex as Cornish until 1979, when it finally agreed to create a separate breed designation for the Devon Rex.

Personality

Cornish Rex are active, affectionate, curious and playful. They are also extremely mild and devoid of aggression, making them ideal for children They attach to all households equally, still their cohabitation with other cats depends on those cats’ character, temperament and attitude.

Cornish Rex are highly social and demanding of attention. They need people and given a choice will spend most of their time with humans. If left home alone, they can become depressed. A second Rex is usually the answer and making life twice as entertaining for you!

Cornish Rex do not have a hallmark sound, such as Siamese cats do, but a wide variety of voices, from gutteral rumbling meows to sqeaks and prrrrts.

The Cornish Rex is one of the few breeds that enjoy the crowds and excitement found at a cat show. Where other cats are frightened or annoyed by the many onlookers and the noise, the Cornish Rex watch with interest.

Truly a study in contrasts, a Cornish Rex is one of the most versatile pets with a mood to match every occasion. The very same Rex who has just been gracefully flying through the air will be very happy to cuddle up on its owner's lap or, even better, right under his chin.

The Cornish Rex appetite is also legendary. Since their activity level is so high, they also require a large amount of fuel to sustain it. Many breeders permit their Rex to free feed without worrying of them ever having a weight problem. This of course doesn’t mean that they do not enjoy cat food. Nearly all are omnivores, each having a favorite vegetable (usually beans, peas, corn or broccoli) and many have a penchant for fruit (usually apples and bananas).

Care
Kittens
When you introduce a kitten to your home let it find its own way out of the basket and allow it to explore one room at a time. Make sure that all doors and windows are shut, to prevent the kitten from escaping.

Kittens are very often frightened by children or other pets that are new to them. Children should therefore be recommended to be quiet and wait for the kitten to adopt to the new environment, while other animals should be introduced later, gradually and one at a time. Remember that adult cats might attack to the baby cat, since they confront it as a competitor and therefore as an enemy.

Talk to your kitten and encourage it to play with a toy but do not overwhelm it with extreme attention.

Kittens need warmth, since they miss their mother and litter mates. If there is not some form of heating in the room at all times, you had better buy a heated bed from a pet shop. Even when adult, a short haired cat should never be left alone in an unheated room at night or in cold weather without some basket or bed with warm bedding in it. 

Kittens and adult Cornish Rex
The Cornish Rex do not moult heavily and their coat is easy to care for. A weekly going over with a baby brush is usually sufficient, while a firm stroking with the hand from head to tail will emphasize the waves of the coat. The brushing movements need to be repetitive, however delicate. Brushing will also improve the blood circulation and help avoid many unpleasant and long-lasting infections and allergies.

Although their coat does not shed considerably during the seasonal change, extra brushing is beneficial at this time to remove any loose hair before your cat swallows it and develops hairballs.

In the market you will find a lot of hairball remedies, however I highly recommend using virgin olive oil as a remedy. Adding a few drops in their meals will help them get rid of their hairballs in the most effective and natural way.

Even clean cats pick up fleas so check for these while grooming. Flea dirt can usually be seen as small brown specks particularly around the neck and base of the tail. When placed on damp cotton wool 'flea dirt' slowly dissolves producing bloody streaks.

Ask your vet for a safe and effective flea-control product and do not forget that other animals in the house will also have to be treated. The cat's bedding should be washed or replaced. Your vet will also be able to supply products that will prevent this unpleasant phenomenon.

Their ears also require a great deal of hygiene as they are prone to serious infections. Consult your vet on choosing the proper cat ear cleaning solution and use it to remove the excess of wax, debris and dead tissues.

Cornish cats care includes caring for their teeth. They should be checked periodically and brush with a special wipe to prevent teeth and gum diseases. In the market there are also a lot of cat toys, specially designed to remove food wastes and prevent teeth irritation.

A litter tray must be available at all times and kept in the same place. Solid matter and wet lumps should be removed from the tray frequently and the litter renewed when necessary. The tray should be washed and disinfected frequently. Rinse thoroughly after disinfecting and allow drying before use. Cats are very fussy and will not use a dirty tray.

Never give a cat any drugs that have not been prescribed for it; many human drugs are poisonous to cats. Seek veterinary advice immediately if you suspect any form of poisoning.

Make sure that toys or parts of them cannot be swallowed. Plastic bags and rubber bands can be extremely dangerous, since they do not show up on an X-ray.

In order to maintain the fit build of Cornish, as well as their active nature, their nutrition must contain high quality protein and reduced fat, as well as Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) to produce muscle tissue over fat and L-carnitine to utilize fat reserves as an energy source. Although cat food companies have not yet developed special food formulas for Cornish Rex, you might want to try meals specially designed for active cats or even better formulas for Siamese cats.

Note that the ideal weight of a Cornish Rex is 6 - 10 pounds (3 - 5.5 kg) and that the suggested caloric daily intake is 300kcal, meaning 70 grams of dry food per day.

The Cornish Rex will usually live up to 12 years of age, but with the proper care and nutrition can live up to 14 years of age. There are no breed-related health problems with the certain breed. Because of their poor coat, they might suffer from easy loss of body heat. Other health problems that a Cornish might confront are various heart issues and thyroid deficiency.

The commonest heart issues are:
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), a disease that affects young to middle aged cats. It is is usually discovered during a routine annual health checkup, as the vet will hear a faster heart rate and perhaps congestion sounds in the lungs. The pulse also feels weak.

If left undiagnosed, the most common indication of HCM is pain, associated with blood clot formation in the aorta. HCM is treated with diuretics, such as furosemide, diltiazem, and nitroglycerine ointment. ACE inhibitors, can be beneficial, while some cats respond to essential fatty acid (EFA) supplements and the antioxidants selenium and vitamin E.

Thromboembolism, a blood clot in the aorta, where the latter divides into the femoral arteries taking blood to the hind legs. Affected cats cry out and cannot use their hindlimbs, which are cool to the touch. The prognosis is poor.

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) causes small blood clots in the body. It is most likely triggered by a disease, such as feline infectious peritonitis. DIC is treated by diagnosing and curing the cause.

Hypothyroidism, a deficiency of the cat’s thyroid hormone can be prolonged by a gradual thinning of the coat, which may also appear dull and lifeless. Other signs include lethargy, constipation, weight gain, mental dullness and a disproportionate type of dwarfism characterized by an enlarged broad head with short neck and limbs. Diagnosis requires a thyroid blood test, while hypothyroidism requires a lifetime treatment with daily hormone replacement therapy.

Breed standards

According to the Fédération Internationale Féline, the Cornish Rex are distinguished by their slender and graceful appearance.

They possess a small, egg shaped head. The head is slightly longer than wide, while when viewed from profile, it reveals a flat skull, straight nose and strong chin. A narrow or very broad head is considered a fault, while the whiskers and eyebrows should be crinkled or curved. Furthermore, the neck is more than elegant and slender.

The typical Cornish Rex ears are large, wide at the base and tapering to rounded tips. Well covered with fine hair they are set high on the head and always held alert.

The Cornish Rex possess oval shaped eyes, of medium size that are slanting slightly upward (slanted almond shaped eyes are considered a fault). There are no restrictions regarding the color, nonetheless this should be bright, clear and pure.

The breed's typical body is of medium length and thanks to its fine and delicate bone structure, very elegant. On the other hand, due to its well developed musculature, especially in the hips and thighs, the body is surprisingly heavy.

The legs are long, straight and slender and the paws small, oval and dainty.

The Cornish Rex possess a long, fine and tapering tail, well covered with wavy hair. It shouldn't bare patches nor be bushy.

The coat

The majority of the cat breeds possess three layers types of hair in their coats:

the outer fur or "guard hairs", which is about 5 cm long in shorthairs and 10cm+ long in longhairs

the middle layer called the "awn hair"

the down hair or undercoat, which is very fine and about 1 cm long

Cornish Rex only have the undercoat.

So, the Cornish Rex possess a short, not shaggy coat (undercoat), which is slightly plush and dense, lying close to the body. Its waves distinguish the Cornish from the Devon Rex. As for the colors and patterns, all of them are allowed, including varieties with any amount of white.

The Chartreux

2009-12-26T05:32:00.000-08:00

For those who love Jazz, the Chartreux cat will reming them of something. The mascot of Montreal International Jazz Festival, the world's largest jazz festival, is a blue Chartreux affectionately named 'Ste Cat:

History

Legend has it that the Chartreux derive from cats brought to France by Carthusian monks to live in the order's head monastery, the Grande Chartreuse, located in the Chartreuse Mountains north of the city of Grenoble. Nonetheless in 1972, the Prior of the Grande Chartreuse denied that the monastery's archives held any records of the monks' use of any breed of cat resembling the Chartreux.

Legend also has it that the Chartreux cats descend from the "Cat of Syria," described in the 16th century as a stocky cat with a wooly ash-gray coat and copper eyes, which was first brought to Europe during the Crusades.

People probably began to use the name "Chartreux" for these cats during the 17th century. By the beginning of the 18th century, trade dictionaries and encyclopedias listed "Chartreux" as the common name of a type of blue cat whose pelt was prized by furriers.

Right after World War I, French cat breeders became interested in preserving this ancient breed for posterity. They put together a breed standard based on the 18th century naturalists' descriptions and were careful to utilize only those cats that bred true to the standard. Chartreux from these breeding programs were exhibited in European shows beginning in 1928.

Nowadays the Chartreux is ranked 26th in popularity among the breeds listed by the Cat Fanciers Association, which granted it championship status in 1987.

Naming

By tradition, all kittens born in a given year are named beginning with a specific letter of the alphabet for that particular year. Breeders use only 20 letters, omitting K, Q, W, X, Y and Z.

Personality

Chartreux cats tend to be quiet, rarely making noises such as mewing or crying, in fact some do not meow at all. Nonetheless, they do purr with great enthusiasm.

Neither gregarious nor shy, Chartreux are calm and tend to hang back and observe, rather than rushing in. They are tolerant and gentle with strangers, children and other animals. They are very affectionate and tend to bond with one person in their household. They will follow him everywhere and comfort him when he is sad or ill. Their supportive, cheerful presence can be wonderful for elderly people and people living alone.

Yet this devotion is never obtrusive. Chartreux do not demand attention, and are content to sit quietly when you are busy. They have a strong sense of proper behavior and likewise appreciate courtesy from others.

Chartreux tend to withdraw from conflict rather than becoming fearful or aggressive. They accommodate themselves to most situations without complaint. They even tolerate traveling without forgetting their good manners. Chartreux neither mind being left alone for long periods. Finally being creatures of habit, they enjoy the same games and rituals day after day.

Breed standards

According to the Fédération Internationale Féline, the Chartreux possess a trapezium shaped head, meaning wide at the base and narrow at the top, with a narrow flat space between the ears.

Their nose is broad and straight, with the the extremity of the muzzle jutting out from the jowls in some cases. Note that a snubbed nose is considered a fault.

Their ears are medium sized and slightly flaring. They are set high on the head giving the cat an alert look.

The Chartreux possess large and open eyes. Their shape is not too rounded, with the outer corner being slightly turned upwards. Their color has to be pure and vivid, varying from deep yellow to deep copper. Any traces of green or watery ( i.e. faded color tones) are considered a fault.

Their body is solid, firm and muscular, with a broad, well developed chest. Their legs are of medium length, with strong muscles, ending to large paws.

Their tail is of medium length, sometimes tapering, however the tip must be rounded and of the same color as the body. The nose leather, as well as the paws can only be of blue-grey color.

The Chartreux coat, finally, should be glossy and dense, slightly woolly at the base, with a luxurious growth. Its double coat makes the hair stand out. All shades of blue are permissible, ranging from pale blue-grey to a deeper blue-grey. However, pale blue-grey is by far preferred.

The Burmilla

2009-12-25T03:32:00.000-08:00

What happens when a Burmese cat accidentally mates with a Chinchilla cat? A Burmilla:

History

The Burmilla was originally created accidentally in the United Kingdom. Early in 1981, Miranda Bickford-Smith bought a male Chinchilla for her husband. Shortly before he was due to be neutered, Jemari Sanquist met Bambino Lilac Fabergé, a lilac female Burmese, who had escaped from purdah. It soon became evident that kittens were on the way and on September 11th, four Black Shaded Silver females were born.

Soon after, the four kittens' spectacular look and superb temperament prompted their owners to try and establish a new breed. A mating between Sanquist and another of Burmese queen was arranged forthwith, which resulted in a single male kitten.

The cross-mating between Burmese and Chinchilla cats kept on to create a new breed that was officially registered in 1984 and gained championship status in the United Kingdom in the 1990s.

However, a name had to be found for the new breed. There were two options:

CHIN(illa-burm)ESE was obviously most inappropriate

BURM(ese-chinch)ILLA!

Personality
The Burmilla cats possess the best features of both their ancestor breeds. They bear the demanding and mischievous character of the Burmese mixed with the easy-going, relaxed nature of the Chinchilla. Impish and fearless when young, the Burmillas mature into intelligent and extremely affectionate adult cats.

They are outgoing, friendly and sociable cats. They are not as noisy nor demanding as the Burmese, nontetheless more adventurous and inquisitive than the Chinchilla.

They are playful without being overly active, however quiet, with a laid back nature. Dribbling ping pong balls and retrieving pom poms are their favourite activities, which can suddenly come to a stop and your Burmilla can come to rest in your arms with a deep throated purr and a contented grin, not to mention an angelic look into its eyes, which is so much in character. They enjoy being a part of the family, actually they are great with children. This, combined with their low maintenance and wonderful disposition make them ideal family pets.

Due to this unique personality, extremely good nature and gorgeous looks, Burmillas are becoming increasingly more popular.

Care
Kittens
When you introduce a kitten to your home let it find its own way out of the basket and allow it to explore one room at a time. Make sure that all doors and windows are shut, to prevent the kitten from escaping.

Kittens are very often frightened by children or other pets that are new to them. Children should therefore be recommended to be quiet and wait for the kitten to adopt to the new environment, while other animals should be introduced later, gradually and one at a time. Remember that adult cats might attack to the baby cat, since they confront it as a competitor and therefore as an enemy.

Talk to your kitten and encourage it to play with a toy but do not overwhelm it with extreme attention.

Kittens need warmth, since they miss their mother and litter mates. If there is not some form of heating in the room at all times, you had better buy a heated bed from a pet shop. Even when adult, a short haired cat should never be left alone in an unheated room at night or in cold weather without some basket or bed with warm bedding in it.

Kittens and adult Burmillas
Burmilla cats generally have smooth fine hair, so grooming and maintaining the coat is not an issue and they do a good job of keeping themselves clean. You will only have to brush them once a week, as this helps them with shedding. Use a comb with metal bristles and an elastic grip and work through her fur from head to tail to remove dead and loose hair. Be extra-gentle near her chest and belly to avoid injuring your Burmilla.

Although Burmillas are short haired cats, just like all cats they run the risk of developing hairballs. They groom themselves often and more than likely will get a hairball at some point. In the market you will find a lot of hairball remedies, however I highly recommend using virgin olive oil as a remedy. Adding a few drops in their meals will help them get rid of their hairballs in the most effective and natural way.

Even clean cats pick up fleas so check for these while grooming. Flea dirt can usually be seen as small brown specks particularly around the neck and base of the tail. When placed on damp cotton wool 'flea dirt' slowly dissolves producing bloody streaks.

Ask your vet for a safe and effective flea-control product and do not forget that other animals in the house will also have to be treated. The cat's bedding should be washed or replaced. Your vet will also be able to supply products that will prevent this unpleasant phenomenon.

In addition you should clean their ears once a week to keep them clean and prevent infections. Consult your vet on choosing the proper cat ear cleaning solution and use it to remove the excess of wax, debris and dead tissues.

Burmilla care includes caring for their teeth. They should be checked periodically and brushed with a special wipe to prevent teeth and gum diseases. In the market there are also a lot of cat toys, specially designed to remove food wastes and prevent teeth irritation.

A litter tray must be available at all times and kept in the same place. Solid matter and wet lumps should be removed from the tray frequently and the litter renewed when necessary. The tray should be washed and disinfected frequently. Rinse thoroughly after disinfecting and allow drying before use. Cats are very fussy and will not use a dirty tray.

Never give a cat any drugs that have not been prescribed for it; many human drugs are poisonous to cats. Seek veterinary advice immediately if you suspect any form of poisoning.

Make sure that toys or parts of them cannot be swallowed. Plastic bags and rubber bands can be extremely dangerous, since they do not show up on an X-ray.

In order to maintain the lean build of Burmillas, as well as their playful nature and muscular build, their nutrition must contain high quality protein and reduced fat, as well as Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) to produce muscle tissue over fat and L-carnitine to utilize fat reserves as an energy source. Although cat food companies have not yet developed special food formulas for Burmillas, you might want to mix meals specially designed for Siamese and Persian cats, mean the not so far ancestors of the breed.

Note that the ideal weight of a Burmilla is 8.8 - 15.4 lbs (4 - 7 kg) and that the suggested caloric daily intake is 300kcal, meaning 70 grams of dry food per day.

Burmillas usually live up to 13 years of age, but with the proper care and nutrition they can live up to 15 years of age.They do not have particular health issues, although it is possible for some of them to suffer from allergies. Furthermore, there are few records of Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), a disease that causes kidney failure and derives from their Persian ancestors. PKD symptoms include excessive drinking and urination, reduced appetite, weight loss and depression.

Breed standards

According to the Fédération Internationale Féline, the Burmillas are elegant cats of foreign type.

Their head is gently rounded on top and has a medium width between the ears. It is rather wide at the eyebrow level with wide cheekbones tapering to a short, blunt wedge.

Their nose shows a gentle nose break when viewed in profile, however a bump nose is considered a fault. The chin should be firm with good depth, while the tip of the nose and the chin should be in line.

The Burmillas possess medium to large ears, broad at base with slightly rounded tips. They are set with a slight forward tilt when viewed in profile. When viewed from the front, their outer line continues that of the face. Nonetheless, this may not be so visible in mature males that develop fuller cheeks.

Their eyes are large and expressive, placed well apart in a slightly oblique setting. The upper lid forms a broken line angled towards the nose while the lower lid is fuller and rounder. Any shade of green is allowed, but clear green is by far preferred. In addition a yellow tinge is acceptable in kittens and young cats less than 2 years of age. Moreover in red, cream and tortie varieties amber is allowed.

Their body is medium sized, with a rounded chest of medium width and a straight back. The bone structure is very good and though covered with firm muscles gives an impression of great elegance. The legs are strong and slender, with the hind ones being slightly longer than the forelegs. They end up to neat and oval paws.

The typical Burmilla tail medium to long, with a medium thickness at its base, tapering slightly to a rounded tip. The coat finally is short, dense, with a silky and smooth texture. It also bears sufficient undercoat to give it a slight lift. All recognized Burmillas are silver shaded or silver shell and can possess one of the following colors and patterns:

Black

Seal/Blue/Chocolate/Lilac/Cinnamon/Fawn

Red/Cream/Tortie

The Burmese cat

2009-12-24T04:33:00.000-08:00

According to legend, the Burmese cat is a descendant of the shorthair cat worshiped in the Burmese temples:

History

The earliest of the breed's existence in a series of 17 illustrated poems written in Siam , today known as Thailand, during the period of the Ayutthaya. In the certain poems are mentioned three types of cats, the Vichien Mat (Siamese), the Si-Sawat (Korat), and the Thong Daeng (Copper, now known as Burmese). These cats are thought to have remained in Thailand until it was invaded by the Burmese in the 18th century. The Burmese soldiers upone their return to Burma seem to have taken the temple cats with them.

In the early 1930’s, Dr. Joseph Thompson of San Francisco imported an attractive walnut-brown female from Burma, which he named Wong Mau. Through selective breeding to Siamese, it was established that the Burmese is a distinct breed.The breed was accepted for CFA studbook registration in 1936 and for championship status in 1957.

The 21 years of delay for the breed to be accepted for championship status, is due to a real paradox. Burmese studbook registration in CFA was suspended from 1947 to 1953 , because of a "temporary" opposition to he practice of outcrossing between Burmese to Siamese. Interestingly enough, cross-breeding Siamese and Burmese is what later produced the Tonkinese breed. The ironic part about this is that Wong Mau, the mother of the Burmese breed, is now widely believed to have been a Burmese-Siamese cross herself.

Personality

Burmese cats are social, intelligent and extremely sweet natured cats. They are people oriented, forming strong bonds with their owners. In addition, they are well known to need a reasonable amount of human attention and hate being left alone for long periods of time. Therefore, in case the owners spend all day at work, it is advisable to buy two Burmese kittens, ideally from the same litter.

Burmese cats are very friendly and inquisitive, with an outgoing and loving nature. They are alert and curious, interfering and gregarious. They love to explore the environment, while anything that is mechanical and moves makes an ideal game for them.

As kittens, Burmese are quite lively. They often seem to be clumsy,especially when they attempt feats beyond their capabilities. The will also remain playful into adulthood. They are good with children, will tolerate the family dog and if introduced to at an early age as something pleasant, most will enjoy travelling in a car.

Care
Kittens 
When you introduce a kitten to your home let it find its own way out of the basket and allow it to explore one room at a time. Make sure that all doors and windows are shut, to prevent the kitten from escaping.

Kittens are very often frightened by children or other pets that are new to them. Children should therefore be recommended to be quiet and wait for the kitten to adopt to the new environment, while other animals should be introduced later, gradually and one at a time. Remember that adult cats might attack to the baby cat, since they confront it as a competitor and therefore as an enemy.

Talk to your kitten and encourage it to play with a toy but do not overwhelm it with extreme attention.

Kittens need warmth, since they miss their mother and litter mates. If there is not some form of heating in the room at all times, you had better buy a heated bed from a pet shop. Even when adult, a short haired cat should never be left alone in an unheated room at night or in cold weather without some basket or bed with warm bedding in it.  

Kittens and adult Burmese
Burmese cats generally have smooth fine hair, so grooming and maintaining the coat is not an issue and they do a good job of keeping themselves clean. You will want to occasionally brush them, as it will help with shedding. The brushing movements need to be repetitive, however delicate. Use a comb with metal bristles and an elastic grip and work through her fur from head to tail to remove dead and loose hair. Be extra-gentle near her chest and belly to avoid injuring your Burmese. Grooming will also improve the blood circulation and help avoid many unpleasant and long-lasting infections and allergies.

However, be aware that their coat sheds considerably during the seasonal change. Extra brushing is beneficial at this time to remove as much loose hair as possible before your cat swallows it and develops hairballs.

In the market you will find a lot of hairball remedies, however I highly recommend using virgin olive oil as a remedy. Adding a few drops in their meals will help them get rid of their hairballs in the most effective and natural way.

Even clean cats pick up fleas so check for these while grooming. Flea dirt can usually be seen as small brown specks particularly around the neck and base of the tail. When placed on damp cotton wool 'flea dirt' slowly dissolves producing bloody streaks.

Ask your vet for a safe and effective flea-control product and do not forget that other animals in the house will also have to be treated. The cat's bedding should be washed or replaced. Your vet will also be able to supply products that will prevent this unpleasant phenomenon.

Special attention should be paid to their eyes hygiene, as they are prone to developing eye disorders such as the cherry eye. Keep the eyes clean by removing any discharge accumulating in the inner corner of the eye. Flushing the eye with a mild boric acid solution is also advised.

Their ears also require a great deal of hygiene as they are prone to serious infections. Consult your vet on choosing the proper cat ear cleaning solution and use it to remove the excess of wax, debris and dead tissues.

Burmese cats care includes caring for their teeth. They should be checked periodically and brush with a special wipe to prevent teeth and gum diseases. In the market there are also a lot of cat toys, specially designed to remove food wastes and prevent teeth irritation.

A litter tray must be available at all times and kept in the same place. Solid matter and wet lumps should be removed from the tray frequently and the litter renewed when necessary. The tray should be washed and disinfected frequently. Rinse thoroughly after disinfecting and allow drying before use. Cats are very fussy and will not use a dirty tray.

Never give a cat any drugs that have not been prescribed for it; many human drugs are poisonous to cats. Seek veterinary advice immediately if you suspect any form of poisoning.

Make sure that toys or parts of them cannot be swallowed. Plastic bags and rubber bands can be extremely dangerous, since they do not show up on an X-ray.

In order to maintain the fit build of Burmese, as well as their playful nature, their nutrition must contain high quality protein and reduced fat, as well as Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) to produce muscle tissue over fat and L-carnitine to utilize fat reserves as an energy source. Although cat food companies have not yet developed special food formulas for Burmese, you might want to try meals specially designed for active cats or even better formulas for Siamese cats, their not so far ancestors.

Note that the ideal weight of a Burmese is 8 - 12 pounds (4 - 6 kg) and that the suggested caloric daily intake is 300kcal, meaning 70 grams of dry food per day.

Burmese live to be 14 years old on average and are generally healthy cats. Their commonest health issue is Cherry Eye, a condition that occurs in cats when the gland located at the base of the third eyelid breaks lose from its attachment to the lid and visibly pokes outward. Treatment options include your vet removing part of the gland or forcing the gland to stay put by tacking down the migrating portion to the inner part of the third eyelid. You can keep the eye clean by removing any discharge accumulating in the inner corner of the eye. Flushing the eye with a mild boric acid solution is also advised.

Cleft Palate is a birth defect of the nasal and oral cavities commonly associated with harelip. It is caused by failure of the palate bones to develop and fuse. This results in an opening from the oral to the nasal cavity. It is usually impossible for the kitten to nurse and survival depends on tube feeding. This problem is primarily cosmetic, and can be corrected with plastic surgery.

Finally Hypokalemia is capable to affect Burmese as well. The condition is developed when blood potassium levels drop, initially causing cramping, then paralysis. Hypokalemia can be treated with oral supplements.

Breed standards

As a result of separate breeding programmes, there are two Burmese cat types, the British Burmese and the American Burmese. Bellow we will examine the British version.

According to the Fédération Internationale Féline, the Burmese distinguishes itself as an independent breed by its unique genetics of color. The striking characteristics of this lively breed are its silky coat texture as well as their expressive eyes.

So the Burmese possess a wedge shaped head, wide at the cheekbones, tapering to a blunt finish at the muzzle. The top of the head is broad and high, wide between the ears and slightly rounded when viewed in profile. The tip of the nose and the chin form a vertical live. The nose bears a distinct break at the base and the jaws are wide at the hinge. The chin is strong and when viewed in profile, it shows a strong lower jaw.

The Burmese cats possess medium in size ears, broad at the base, with slightly rounded tips. The ears are set wide apart. Their outer line continues the upper part of the face. In profile they have a slight forward tilt.

Their eyes are large and set wide apart. The top line of the eyes is straight with a slight oriental slant towards the nose. The eyes' lower line is rounded. Their color can be all shades of yellow, from chartreuse to amber, however golden yellow is the ideal. In any case the color should be lustrous, particularly alert and bright.

The Burmese cats possess a medium length, muscular and compact body. It is much heavier than it looks, that is why their nickname is "Bricks wrapped in Silk". The chest is strong and rounded in profile and the back is straight. The legs are rather slender and in proportion to the body and the paws are small and oval.

The typical Burmese tail is of medium length, of medium thickness at its base and tapering to a rounded tip. The coat, finally is fine, glossy and silky. It is short, lying close to the body, with almost no undercoat. The recognized colors and patterns are the following:

Brown
Blue
Chocolate
Lilac
Red
Cream
Seal tortie
Blue tortie
Chocolate tortie
Lilac tortie

The Bengal cat

2009-12-20T11:56:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for a cat breed synonym to "Action", you sure are at the right place:

History

The Bengal cat's name derives from the Latin name of its wild ancestor, Felis Bengalensis (Asian Leopard Cat). This also indicates the breeds origins: In 1963, Jean S. Mill crossed a domestic cat with an Asian Leopard Cat, a spotted five to twelve pound shy wild cat species from Asia. This was the first effort to create a breed of domestic cat with the loving nature of a favored fireside tabby and the striking look associated with Leopards.

However, the modern Bengal breed traces to cats bred by Mrs. Mill beginning in the early 1980's and as the number of breeders and owners grew, this led to the formation of The International Cat Association's (TICA) Bengal Breed Section. T.I.C.A. adopted the first written breed standard in 1986 and the first Bengal Bulletin was published in Nov/Dec 1988.

Personality

The Bengal cats combine a "wild" appearance with a gentle temperament.

Bengals are busy by nature. They are intelligent and interactive cats with whom you can develop a very genuine two-way relationship. They are neither a distant cat that ignores you with arrogance, nor a dull quiet cat.

They are also amazing athletes. They can rush around with great joy, climb doors and cupboards, and leap to huge heights. When a Bengal is in full play mode, it's rather like trying to hold on to running water!

Many Bengals enjoy water and may join you in brushing your teeth or taking a shower. However if you’re after a swimming cat, you’d be better off with a Turkish Van.

Finally they are very affectionate and can be a "lap cat" whenever they want to.

Breed Standards

According to the Fédération Internationale Féline, the Bengal cats possess a slightly small in proportion to the body head. The head is also broad, shaping a modified wedge with rounded contours. It is longer than it is wide and when viewed in profile it is obvious that it shapes a gentle curving forehead.

The nose is large and wide with a slightly puffed nose leather. When viewed in profile, the bridge of the nose extends above the eyes. It also bears a very slight concave curve.

The Bengals' muzzle is full and broad, with large and prominent whiskerpads. The cheekbones are high and prominent and the chin is strong, aligning with the tip of the nose in profile.

Their ears are medium to small. They are rather short with a wide base and rounded tips. A light horizontal furnishing is acceptable, however any amount of tufts is undesirable. They are set wide apart, following the contour of the face in the frontal view and pointing forward in the profile view.

Their eyes are oval and maybe a little almond shaped, large but not bugged. The recognized eye colors are the green, brown, gold, blue-green, aquamarine and blue. Their eyes are set wide apart, with a slight slant towards the base of the ears.

The Bengal cats possess a medium to large body with a long and substantial torso, but not oriental or foreign. The bone structure is robust and never delicate and the musculature well developed. However, the most distinguishing characteristic of their body is that the
hindquarters are slightly higher than the shoulders.

Their legs are of medium length, with the hint slightly longer than in the front ones. In addition they are very muscular and not at all delicate. The paws are obviously large and round.

Their neck is thick, muscular and long. The tail on the other hand is of medium length , thick, tapered at the end and with a rounded tip.

The Bengals' coat, finally is of short to medium length. The kittens sometimes have a little longer coat, however that changes later. The texture is thick, luxurious, unusually soft to the touch and preferably glittering. The recognized patterns and colors are the following:

Patterns
Spotted Pattern: Random, horizontal or diagonal. Rosettes showing two distinct colors or shades are preferable to single spotting, but not required. The shape is similar to a paw print. The belly must also be spotted.

Marbled Pattern: Markings, while derived from the classic tabby gene, and the horizontal pull of the non-domestic giving a uniquely different pattern with as little "bulls-eye" similarity as possible. The pattern should instead be random giving the impression of marble or the impression of chaining with an horizontal flow when the cat is stretched.

Colors:

Brown (black) marbled
Seal sepia/Seal mink marbled
Snow marbled
Brown (black) spotted
Seal sepia/Seal mink spotted
Snow spotted

The Abyssinian cat

2009-12-19T13:58:00.000-08:00

Have you ever seen a sculpture or painting of an ancient Egyptian cat? Then you know what an Abyssinian cat looks like:

History
Most breeders claim that Abyssinians are the most ancient of breeds and that they were worshiped as gods by the Ancient Egyptians. Others believe that they were imported to England by Captain Barrett Leonard when he returned from service in the Abyssinian wars in the 1860's. However, there is no record of any Abyssinian cat imported in England, so there is no doubt that Abyssinians were developed there.

The British breeders began the new breed’s development with the British Shorthairs. The earliest records indicate that the main requirement for the breed was a ticked coat. In the beginning there was a great range of colors, extending from the wild silver agouti ticking to an intense yellow ticking. However it is more than obvious that the silver color predominated in the early Abyssinians; names such as Aluminium, Quicksilver, Silver Memelik and Silver Fairy hardly could have been given to ruddy-colored cats.

In the beginning, Abyssinians were, thus, silver cats accompanied by remnants of tabby markings. At a time when silver and brown tabbies were truly popular in England, breeders tried to produce a totally distinctive cat. They introduced a little red to warm up the coat and they bred out the tabby markings. This kind of work took a long time and required great effort.

The first Abyssinian registrations occurred in 1896, while 12 more Aby registrations followed during 1900-1905. Soon, a male and female Abyssinian were imported in the US.

World War I caused a considerable delay in the establishment of the Abyssinians, as the nucleus of the new breed was small in both the United States and Britain. Just when the period of intensive breeding began in the United States in 1938 to 1939, the great tragedy of World War II occurred. By the end of the war, only 12 or so Abyssinians were left in England.

In 1950 Abyssinian breeders increased and hard efforts were made during the next years to restore the breed’s glory. In January 1989 the Cat World Magazine devoted itself to the Abyssinians indicating the great popularity of the breed at that time.

Nowadays, the Abyssinian cats are recognized by all associations, while many of them are devoted to the promotion, protection and preservation of the Abyssinian breed.

Personality
Once you have acquired an Abyssinian as a companion, you will never be able to complain that no one understands you.

Abyssinians are extroverted, extremely active, playful, willful and intelligent. They adore toys and can play for hours with their favorite ball. Surprisingly, some of them play fetch.They are very people oriented and extremely good at training people to do just what they want them to do.

The Abies, just like their fans like to call them, need a great deal of interaction with the family to remain happy and can get depressed without daily activity and attention. They generally get along well with other cats, although they need their space and the females can sometimes be irritable around other cats. They love exploring and playing and make excellent hunters.

Care
Kittens
When you introduce a kitten to your home let it find its own way out of the basket and allow it to explore one room at a time. Make sure that all doors and windows are shut, to prevent the kitten from escaping.

Kittens are very often frightened by children or other pets that are new to them. Children should therefore be recommended to be quiet and wait for the kitten to adapt to the new environment, while other animals should be introduced later, gradually and one at a time. Remember that adult cats might attack to the baby cat, since they confront it as a competitor and therefore as an enemy.

Talk to your kitten and encourage it to play with a toy but do not overwhelm it with extreme attention.

Kittens need warmth, since they miss their mother and litter mates. If there is not some form of heating in the room at all times, you had better buy a heated bed from a pet shop. Even when adult, a short haired cat should never be left alone in an unheated room at night or in cold weather without some basket or bed with warm bedding in it.

Kittens and adult Abyssinians
Abyssinian cats generally have smooth fine hair, so grooming and maintaining the coat is not an issue and they do a good job of keeping themselves clean. You will want to occasionally brush them, as it will help with shedding.

Although Abyssinians are short haired cats, just like all cats they run the risk of developing hairballs. They groom themselves often and more than likely will get a hairball at some point. In the market you will find a lot of hairball remedies, however I highly recommend using virgin olive oil as a remedy. Adding a few drops in their meals will help them get rid of their hairballs in the most effective and natural way.

Even clean cats pick up fleas so check for these while grooming. Flea dirt can usually be seen as small brown specks particularly around the neck and base of the tail. When placed on damp cotton wool 'flea dirt' slowly dissolves producing bloody streaks.

Ask your vet for a safe and effective flea-control product and do not forget that other animals in the house will also have to be treated. The cat's bedding should be washed or replaced. Your vet will also be able to supply products that will prevent this unpleasant phenomenon.

In addition you should clean their ears once a week to keep them clean and prevent infections. Consult your vet on choosing the proper cat ear cleaning solution and use it to remove the excess of wax, debris and dead tissues.

Abyssinian care includes caring for their teeth. They should be checked periodically and brushed with special wipes to prevent teeth and gum diseases. In the market there are also a lot of cat toys, specially designed to remove food wastes and prevent teeth irritation.

A litter tray must be available at all times and kept in the same place. Solid matter and wet lumps should be removed from the tray frequently and the litter renewed when necessary. The tray should be washed and disinfected frequently. Rinse thoroughly after disinfecting and allow drying before use. Cats are very fussy and will not use a dirty tray.

Never give a cat any drugs that have not been prescribed for it; many human drugs are poisonous to cats. Seek veterinary advice immediately if you suspect any form of poisoning.

Make sure that toys or parts of them cannot be swallowed. Plastic bags and rubber bands can be extremely dangerous, since they do not show up on an X-ray.

In order to maintain their lean built, as well as their active nature and muscular build, their nutrition must contain high quality protein and reduced fat, as well as Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) to produce muscle tissue over fat and L-carnitine to utilize fat reserves as an energy source. Fortunately, nowadays most cat meal companies have developed special formulas for active cats, while you might want to try meals designed specially for Siamese cats. After all, the two breeds share the same requirements.

Note that the ideal weight of an Abyssinian is 8 - 12 pounds (3.5 - 5.5 kg) and that the suggested caloric daily intake is 300kcal, meaning 70 grams of dry food per day.

Abyssinians live 12-15 years and are generally healthy cats. However, Renal Amyloidosis has been associated with them and is thought to be genetic. This is a rare disease caused by deposits of abnormal proteins in the kidneys, resulting in decreased function and eventual organ failure. There are a number of tests veterinarians use to diagnose amyloidosis, such as measuring the amount of protein in urine and urinalysis to determine uremic poisoning. Blood chemistry panels may also be administered to help identify the levels of chemicals, minerals and proteins in the feline bloodstream.

Currently, there is no cure for amyloidosis, however treating the symptoms of the disease may help an affected pet lead a longer, more comfortable life.

Some Abyssinians are also prone to gingivitis, a gum diseases brought on by poor dental hygiene and viral infections. Common signs are bad breath and a red line bordering the teeth. Early treatment prevents the development of more serious periodontal disease.

Breed Standards

According to the Fédération Internationale Féline, the Abyssinian cats possess a wedge shaped head of medium proportions and soft and graceful contours. Their nose is of medium length. When viewed in profile the head shows a soft curve, with neither a stop nor a straight nose. Their muzzle is not sharply pointed nor square. A shallow indentation forming the muzzle is desirable, however a pinch is a fault. In addition, their chin is firm and well developed.

The Abyssinians' ears are relatively large and pricked. They are broad at the base and slightly rounded at the tips. They bear a thumb print and desirably tufts of hair at the tips. They are set well apart and should follow the head wedge.

Their eyes are also set well apart. They are almond shaped and of large size. Their color should be either amber, green or yellow. The color should moreover be pure, clear and intense, brilliant and expressive.

The Abies' body is of medium length, firm, lithe and graceful. Its musculature is well developed, however without coarseness. The neck is also graceful and the tail fairly long, broad at the base and tapering. The legs in proportion to the body are slender and elegant, ending up to oval paws.

The Abyssinians' coat finally is soft, silky and fine in texture, however dense to the touch and with a lustrous sheen. It is medium in length but long enough to accommodate two or three dark bands of ticking.

When describing the Abyssinian cat's coat color, we do not only refer to the body color but also to the ground color. The ground color is underside of the body, the color of the chest and innersides of the legs which should be in harmony with the upper parts of the body.

So the acceptable coat colors of an Aby are the following.

Ruddy
Body color: warm ruddy brown/red brown with black ticking
Ground color: deep apricot/orange

Blue
Body color: warm blue-grey with dark steel blue-grey ticking
Ground color: pale fawn/cream

Sorrel
Body color: bright warm copper red with chocolate-brown ticking
Ground color: deep apricot

Beige-fawn
Body color: dull beige with deep warm cream ticking
Ground color: pale cream

Black silver
Body color: pure silver-white with black ticking
Ground color: pure silver-white

Blue silver
Body color: pure silver-white with dark steel blue-grey ticking
Ground color: pure silver-white

Sorrel silver
Body color: pure silver-white with red-brown ticking
Ground color: pure silver-white

Beige fawn silver
Body color: pure silver-white with deep warm cream ticking
Ground color: pure silver-white

The American Curl Shorthair

2009-12-18T12:01:00.000-08:00

In nature sometimes accidents happen. So do miracles:

History
The history of the American Curl Shorthair begins in June 1981, in Lakewood, California. Then, two stray cats with unusual curled ears wandered up to the doorstep of cat lovers, Joe and Grace Ruga. One suffered an unfortunate accident soon after arriving, but the other, a longhaired black female, was adopted by the Rugas. The cat was named Shulamith, a variation of a Hebrew term that means "black but comely”.

The Rugas at first paid little attention to Shulamith’s curled ears, as they assumed that other curly-eared cats existed somewhere. However, after consulting many cat breed books and journals, they realized that there was no reference to cats with such unique ears.

In December 1981 Shulamith delivered her first litter of four kittens. Out of these four kittens, two had curled ears.

The Rugas didn’t know much about genetics at the time, thus this indicated that the gene governing the trait was dominant, since a local longhaired tom named Mr. Grey, did not have curly ears or the gene for them. A geneticist who was contacted to study this phenomenon confirmed this assumption. He also attributed the curled ears gene to a spontaneous genetic mutation in the domestic cat population.

Since the curl gene was (and still is) dominant, only one parent needs to possess it in order to deliver curled ears kittens, which was a big advantage for the breeding program. Unlike a recessive gene, a dominant gene will always be expressed in the cat's physical appearance. If a cat doesn't have curled ears, she doesn't have the curl gene. A spontaneous genetic mutation in the domestic cat population was very likely responsible for the unique ears.

Shulamith continued to mate with the local toms, adding to the local Curl population. The kittens appeared in many colors, hair lengths and patterns, including pointed. The Rugas gave away kittens to friends and family, including Grace's sister, Esther Brimlow.

Esther gave two Curls to former Australian Shepherd breeder Nancy Kiester, who showed her Curls to cat judge and Scottish Fold breeder Jean Grimm. Grimm told Kiester that Curls were unknown to the cat fancy and teamed up with the Rugas to start an official breeding program and edit the first breed standard. They also named the breed the American Curl.

They first exhibited the American Curl at the October 1983 CFA show in Palm Springs, California. Cat fanciers immediately recognized that the Curl's unparalleled ears were unique and acceptance quickly followed. American Curls were officially accepted for CFA registration in 1986 and for championship competition in February 1993.

Personality
American Curls are very sociable and people-oriented. They will join you when watching your favorite tv show, help you with dinner preparation, get into the shower with you and finally they will sleep in your bed. Affectionate and caring, they will become your soul-mates. They also get on very well with children and other pets as well and they do not mind guests in the house.

Although fearless and courageous cats, when introduced into a new home Curls seem to have an inherent respect for the current pet occupants giving them plenty of space and time to adjust to the new kid on the block. They are never aggressive, on the contrary they are gentle and polite.

Intelligent and curious, they can be taught to act tricks and even fetch. They are also very playful, while their favorite toys are anything that makes a crinkling sound. Not overly talkative, they express themselves through little trill-like cooing sounds when they want to comment or would like an opinion on something that's momentarily confounding to them.

Breed Standards
According to the Fédération Internationale Féline the distinct feature of the American Curl Shorthair is their attractive, uniquely curled ears. The curls are well balanced, moderately muscled, svelte rather than massive in built. They are alert, active, with gentle, even dispositions.

Their head is of medium size. It shapes a modified wedge without flat planes, moderately longer than wide and with smooth transitions. Their nose is moderate in length and straight, rising slightly from the bottom of the eyes to the forehead. The muzzle should be rounded with gentle transitions and the chin firm, in line with the nose and the upper lip.

The ears are moderately large, wide at the base and open, curving back in a smooth arc when viewed from front and rear. Actually the tips of the ears should create a minimum 90 degree arc of curl with an imaginary horizontal line, which should not exceed the 180 degrees. They should also be well furnished (desirably) and their tips rounded and flexible. The ears should be placed erect, set equally on top and side of the head.

The American Curl Shorthair cats possess moderately large, oval on top and round on bottom eyes. They are set width apart on a slight angle, between the base of the ears and the tip of the nose. Their color has no relation with the coat color, except for the himalayan varieties where only blue is officially allowed. In any case, the color should be clear and brilliant.

Their body is medium sized, flexible and with a moderately strong musculature. Their legs, in proportion to the body are of medium length and of medium boning, set straight when viewed from front or rear. They end up to medium sized and rounded paws.

Their tale is equal to the body length and flexible, wide at its base and tapering. Their coat is short, soft and silky. All color varieties and patterns are allowed, as quoted bellow:

- Black/Blue/Chocolate/Lilac/Cinnamon/Fawn

- Black/Blue/Chocolate/Lilac/Cinnamon/Fawn with White

- Black/Blue/Chocolate/Lilac/Cinnamon/Fawn Agouti

- Black/Blue/Chocolate/Lilac/Cinnamon/Fawn Golden

- Black/Blue/Chocolate/Lilac/Cinnamon/Fawn Agouti and White

- Black/Blue/Chocolate/Lilac/Cinnamon/Fawn Golden and White

- Red/Cream/Tortie Solid/ Agouti

- Red/Cream/Tortie Golden

- Red/Cream/Tortie Solid/ Agouti with White

- Red/Cream/Tortie Golden and White

- Black/Blue/Chocolate/Lilac/Red/Cream/Cinnamon/Fawn Smoke/ Silver Agouti

- Tortie Smoke/ Silver Agouti

- Black/Blue/Chocolate/Lilac/Red/Cream/Cinnamon/Fawn Smoke/ Silver Agouti with White

- Tortie Smoke/ Silver Agouti with White

- White

- Pointed

- Tabby Pointed

- Smoke Pointed

- Silver Tabby Pointed

- Golden Tabby Pointed

- Pointed with White

- Tabby Pointed with White

- Smoke Pointed with White

- Silver Tabby Pointed with White

- Golden Tabby Pointed with White

The Exotic Shorthair

2009-12-16T05:22:00.000-08:00

Also called "The lazy man's Persian", this breed combines the pluses of a classic Persian with the low maintenance:

History

The history of the Exotic Shorthairs can be tracked in the late 1950s when American Shorthair breeders, motivated by the popularity of the Persian cats, secretly began to mix Persians into their American Shorthair bloodlines. Their objective was to improve the body type, as well as introduce the beautiful and impressive silver Persian color into the American Shorthairs. Because of this hybridization, the American Shorthair conformation went through a period of remodeling in the 1960s: their boning grew heavier, their head rounder, their nose shorter and their coat became denser, softer and longer.

Since the Persians were more than popular, the hybrids did well in the shows, however they still had not achieved their official registration as a separate breed. Actually, some American Shorthair breeders were outraged by the changes occurring to the breed and were determined to ‘sabotage’ any American Shorthairs that showed signs of hybridization.

Ms Jane Martinke, judge of the CFA, however had other plans. She was the first to suggest in 1966 that these hybrid American/Persian mixes should form a distinct category and therefore be registered as a new breed.

The Exotic Shorthairs were first accepted for Championship status by the CFA in 1967.

However, few breeders adopted the new trend, since there still was an obstacle to skip. They had to establish the shorthair gene, which although it was dominant to the longhair one, it still had not managed to definitely abolish it from the hybrids. The exotic breeders then introduced Burmese and Russian Blues in addition to American Shorthairs to be crossed with Persian cats. They used these shorthaired breeds only long enough to inculcate the shorthair gene into the bloodlines. Once it was inculcated, crossing back to shorthairs was unnecessary and thus made less frequent. In 1987 the CFA completely banned Exotic to shorthair outcrosses.

Even with the slow start, the Exotics made a steady progress with the help of the devoted advocates of the breed who saw that a Persian in a Shorthair's clothing would make a valuable addition to the cat fancy. In 1971 the first Exotic Shorthair achieved the status of Grand Champion. In 1991 an Exotic was the CFA's Cat of the Year and in 1992 the CFA's Best Kitten was also an Exotic.

Personality

Just like the Persian cats the Exotic Shorthairs are very affectionate and loyal cats. They crave attention and like to be played around with. Though they are not very demanding, they love to be petted. They will sit on your lap, follow you around the house and sleep in your bed during cold nights.

Their playful and in the meantime calm nature, makes them ideal for families with children or other pets. They do not mind new members in the household, on the contrary they are very adaptable and accommodating.

Although they get attached to all family members they usually show special affection for a particular individual in the house. They are sweet and gentle, but need to feel secure in their environment. They prefer an atmosphere of serenity, love and reassurance.

Obviously, the Exotic Shorthairs appeal to people who like the personality of a Persian but do not want the hassle of grooming a long-haired cat.They also retain some of the energetic spark of their American Shorthair forebears and that makes them even more playful and good mouse hunters.

Care
Kittens
When you introduce a kitten to your home let it find its own way out of the basket and allow it to explore one room at a time. Make sure that all doors and windows are shut, to prevent the kitten from escaping.

Kittens are very often frightened by children or other pets that are new to them. Children should therefore be recommended to be quiet and wait for the kitten to adopt to the new environment, while other animals should be introduced later, gradually and one at a time. Remember that adult cats might attack to the baby cat, since they confront it as a competitor and therefore as an enemy.

Talk to your kitten and encourage it to play with a toy but do not overwhelm it with extreme attention.

Kittens need warmth, since they miss their mother and litter mates. If there is not some form of heating in the room at all times, you had better buy a heated bed from a pet shop. Even when adult, a short haired cat should never be left alone in an unheated room at night or in cold weather without some basket or bed with warm bedding in it. 

Kittens and adult Exotic Shorthairs
Exotic Shorthair cats are easy to groom, however they require more grooming than many other shorthaired cats. That is because they have as much hair as Persians do, as well as a rich, full undercoat. Figure on a grooming session with a good quality steel comb twice a week to keep your Exotic free from mats.

During the molting season it is absolutely necessary to groom them every day in order to prevent them digesting loose hair and getting hairballs.

In the market you will find a lot of hairball remedies, however I highly recommend using virgin olive oil as a remedy. Adding a few drops in their meals will help them get rid of their hairballs in the most effective and natural way.

Even clean cats pick up fleas so check for these while grooming. Flea dirt can usually be seen as small brown specks particularly around the neck and base of the tail. When placed on damp cotton wool 'flea dirt' slowly dissolves producing bloody streaks.

Ask your vet for a safe and effective flea-control product and do not forget that other animals in the house will also have to be treated. The cat's bedding should be washed or replaced. Your vet will also be able to supply products that will prevent this unpleasant phenomenon.

In addition you should clean their ears once a week to keep them clean and prevent infections. Consult your vet on choosing the proper cat ear cleaning solution and use it to remove the excess of wax, debris and dead tissues.

Exotic cats care includes caring for their teeth. They should be checked periodically and brushed with a special wipe to prevent teeth and gum diseases. In the market there are also a lot of cat toys, specially designed to remove food wastes and prevent teeth irritation.

A litter tray must be available at all times and kept in the same place. Solid matter and wet lumps should be removed from the tray frequently and the litter renewed when necessary. The tray should be washed and disinfected frequently. Rinse thoroughly after disinfecting and allow drying before use. Cats are very fussy and will not use a dirty tray.

Never give a cat any drugs that have not been prescribed for it; many human drugs are poisonous to cats. Seek veterinary advice immediately if you suspect any form of poisoning.

Make sure that toys or parts of them cannot be swallowed. Plastic bags and rubber bands can be extremely dangerous, since they do not show up on an X-ray.

Exotic Shorthairs weigh 7-14 pounds (3-5.5 kg). The average suggested quantity of daily food intake is 50 grams of dry food, meaning 200 kcal/day. This of course varies as per the cat's weight and lifestyle.

A balanced and rich in vitamins, protein and fiber nutrition will help prevent most health problems, avert obesity and moreover develop a rich and shiny fur. In the market there are now available meals specially designed for Persians cats. These formulas contain Omega 6 to meet the nutritional demands of maintaining a shiny and beautiful long coat and soluble and insoluble fibers that increase digestive activity to eliminate hairballs naturally.

Exotic Shorthairs have an average lifespan of 12 to 14 years. Their squashed face cat can lead to some eye problems. Blocked tear ducts and discharge from the eyes is common so keep the eyes clean with a tissue or wet washer.

In addition they are prone to Epiphora (excessive tearing), meaning chronic eye irritations and infections that produce tearing and staining of the hair below the eyes. Epiphora can be cured with the use of antibiotics.

Infection of the frontal sinuses (Sinusitis) can occur with some frequency, as a secondary effect of a respiratory infection. Watch for a nasal discharge (often just on one side) accompanied by frequent sneezing and sniffling. Sinus issues are usually confirmed with an X-Ray showing increased density in the sinus and are treated with an appropriate antibiotic. If this is not successful, a surgical procedure to make an opening into the sinus through the skin to aid in drainage may be required.

Finally, the Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) known to affect the 36%-49% of adult Persians, is common among the Exotic Shorthairs as well. This causes kidney failure, while the symptoms include excessive drinking and urination, reduced appetite, weight loss and depression.

Breed Standards

According to the Fédération Internationale Féline, the Exotic Shorthairs are medium to large cats. They possess a round and massive, well balanced head. Their forehead is rounded and their cheeks are full. Their nose is short and broad, with a definite stop, however not snub. The nose bridge and the nose leather must be wide and the nostrils well open, allowing free and easy passage of air.

The Exotic Shorthairs possess a strong chin and broad and powerful jaws. Their ears are small, round tipped and of course tufted. They are set wide apart and rather low on the head.

Their eyes on the other hand are large, round and open. They are set wide apart and their color can be one of the following: deep blue, copper or deep orange, one eye deep blue and one copper or deep orange (odd eyed) and green.

Their body should be cobby, with a broad chest, massive shoulders and a well muscled back. The legs should be short, thick and strong, ending to large, round and firm paws with tufts between the toes. The tail finally is short, well furnished and slightly rounded at the tip.

As for the coat, this should be dense, plushy and soft in texture. Its density causes its standing out from the body. The recognized color varieties are the following:

White
Solid
Tortie
Smoke
Silver shaded/shell
Golden shaded/shell
Tabby
Silver tabby
Golden tabby
Van/Harlequin/Bicolor
Van/Harlequin/Bicolor smoke
Van/Harlequin/Bicolor tabby
Van/Harlequin/Bicolor silver tabby
Colorpoint
Tabby point colorpoint

The Chantilly/ Tiffany Cat

2009-12-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

Also nicknamed the chocoholic's delight, the Chantilly/ Tiffany is one of the rarest cat breeds:

History

The breed's history begins in 1967. Back then, Jennie Robinson who owned "Neotype Cattery" in New York adopted two Foreign Chocolate-Brown Longhaired cats with golden eyes. The two cats, Thomas and Shirley, had an unknown background and were being sold as part of an estate sale. Mrs Robinson judged that the two cats probably derrived from the same parents, however they were not litter-mates. In 1969 nature took its course and their first litter of 6 kittens was a fact. All six of them were identical, bore the same chocolate longhair coat and above all, amazed both Mrs. Robinson and her vet. Mrs Robinson intrigued, undertook a breeding program that led to the ACA registration of Thomas, Shirley and their decedents as Foreign Longhairs.

Robinson’s cattery was later purchased by a Burmese breeder, Sigyn Lund, who began referring to the cats as Tiffanys, a reference to a well-known theater in Los Angeles that was famed for its elegance during the 1920s. The new name was easily adapted by the rest of the breeders, as all believed that Foreign Longhairs was a very generic name. Later, in order to differentiate the breed from British cats also named Tiffanies, the name Chantilly was added to it.

Personality

The Chantilly/ Tiffany cats are loyal and devoted to their owners. They will follow them around the house, from room to room and will converse with them in quiet "chirps" and thrills. They are not demanding and get on well with children and other pets. Gentle and affectionate, they make the perfect companion for people working full time.

Breed Standards

The Chantilly/Tiffanies are medium-sized cats of striking appearance. Their head is medium sized, broad, wedge shaped with gentle curves. The nose is gently sloped, bearing a short, broad muzzle that is softly squared with gentle contours and carries a break. Their chin is firm and their cheekbones are broad and high.

The eyes should be preferably of golden and yellow amber color, oval shaped and very expressive.

The ears are medium sized, broad at the base and with rounded tips. They bare long streamers and are titling forward and outward.

Their body is medium sized with a moderate musculature and bone structure. Their legs are long and slender, ending to small and round paws.

Their coat finally is semi long, silky, soft and smooth. The lack of undercoat usually makes grooming simpler than that of cats with an undercoat. Originally found only in the color of chocolate, Tiffany/Chantilly now occurs in a range of colors including chocolate, blue, cinnamon, lilac, and fawn. Accepted patterns are solid, mackerel, ticked, and spotted tabby. The color is rich while shading in solids may occur toward the underside.