While no one is completely sure where the Birman breed came from, all cat fanciers agree that it is an older breed. Some breeders say the Birman is closely related to the Siamese cat, since it resembles a slightly stockier Siamese in appearance. In fact, more than one person has said that when the pure white Burman temple cats changed color, it was probably because a stray Siamese cat fathered a few litters of kittens.

In the nineteen twenties, the Birman cat reached Europe. A single female survived the long voyage from Burma to France and gave birth to a female kitten who is the ancestor of today’s Birman cats. This cat was most likely crossed with a Siamese cat. After World War II, the Birman was in grave danger of extinction, as only one known pair of Birmans had survived the German occupation. The breed was again outcrossed with another cat to avoid extinction, although this time the Persian was most likely used.

With all of the inbreeding that was done to save the Birman breed, it would be no surprise if these cats were prone to several hereditary diseases. However, the breed is surprisingly healthy overall. Just be aware that most of these cats are prone to anesthesia sensitivity and this problem, along with the fact that Birmans can be either A or B blood type, can cause trouble on the operating table. The breed is also prone to developing hairballs.

Since the Birman is prone to hairballs, you may want to feed your cat a diet that is formulated to aid in hairball prevention. If he becomes lethargic and does not eat as much as he normally does, you should consult your veterinarian about treating him for hairballs. Since this breed is not as active as some other breeds, you may also need to ask your veterinarian about feeding your cat a weight control diet if he becomes overweight.

While this breed is a longhair breed, it does not have a heavy coat. As long as you comb your Birman’s hair once a week, you should not have a problem with the coat matting.

If you are looking for a cat that isn’t quite as demanding and attention seeking as some of the more affectionate breeds, but also isn’t too standoffish, the Birman breed is a good choice. These cats are still somewhat playful, curious and affectionate, like their Siamese relatives, but are more laid back and relaxed than the Siamese, like their Persian relatives.

The Bombay cat gets its jet black coat color from its American Shorthair ancestors and its body shape from its Sable Burmese ancestors. This breed has very short hair that has a very smooth and silky feeling. This cat breed must have enormous copper colored eyes that have a round shape. Cats that do not develop the copper eye color or have eye color that fades as they age are automatically disqualified. These cats should be jet black, but occasional sable kittens still appear. For the small size of its compact body, the Bombay is no lightweight, weighing in at six to eleven solidly built pounds.

Of course, since the Bombay is the descendant of two domestic cat breeds, it does not have the personality of a panther. In fact, this breed is known for being very friendly, sweet, and extremely intelligent. Just how smart is the Bombay? This is one of the few cat breeds that can learn to fetch and heel. The Bombay excels at learning parlor tricks, as well. While the Bombay is a bit talkative, it does not have a loud or shrill voice.

If you would like to own dogs and cats, this breed is a good choice. Bombays rarely meet a person or animal they do not like. Of course, you will still need to be sure that you choose a dog breed that is tolerant of cats. Households with children should also consider the Bombay. These cats are very patient and love people, including children. They even like complete strangers and often will greet visitors at the front door, instead of hiding under the sofa like most cats.

For people who spend a lot of time at home, the Bombay is a wonderful choice. These cats will spend all day hanging out with their humans and love to curl up in any available lap. Some people think that they crave the extra heat that our bodies give off, but most people prefer to think that these cats just enjoy being with their families. If you spend a lot of time away from home, you may want to think twice about owning a Bombay. If you do still decide that this breed is for you, you may want to get a second cat, as a single Bombay left home alone is a very unhappy cat.

With their short, sleek coats, these cats need very little grooming. In fact, rubbing your cat down once a week with a grooming glove should keep him glossy and beautiful.

If you want a cat who looks wild but has the personality of a teddy bear, then a Bombay is the perfect choice for you.

This breed was created in the late nineteenth century. Despite its early popularity, the British Shorthair almost became extinct in the mid twentieth century, as other breeds were developed. Luckily, a few Shorthair fanciers were determined to save this wonderful, historic breed and the British Shorthair was saved. In the late twentieth century, these cats reached the United States, where they immediately became extremely popular.

Although you can find a British Shorthair in a wide range of colors, including orange eyed or blue eyed white, red or silver tabby, tortoiseshell, smoke, bicolors, and points, the most popular color is probably blue. In fact, blue British Shorthairs were so popular in the United States that they were the only color recognized by cat associations for many years. This color, called the British Blue, almost disappeared after World War II. Dedicated cat fanciers bred the remaining British Blues to Blue Persians to increase the gene pool and save this beautiful cat.

This breed is on the large side, weighing in at a hefty nine to eighteen pounds. British Shorthair cats have a short tail that is on the broad side, a round head with wide cheeks, and a thick, short coat.

Although the British Shorthair is fairly laid back, this is not a breed that is interested in being picked up and cuddled. In fact, these cats hate being picked up or handled so much that many cat fanciers say that they should be re-named the ‘four feet on the ground’ breed. As long as you allow him to do his own thing, your Shorthair will be happy. If you are looking for a cat that wants to snuggle in your lap as you watch television, you may be quite disappointed with the British Shorthair breed.

For people who can’t spend a lot of time at home, this cat breed is ideal. The British Shorthair is very self contained and does not spend a lot of time playing or socializing. As long as you are there to feed him each morning and can give him a little attention each evening, he will be a happy cat.

Since this breed is a descendant of several gene pools, it is generally a healthy breed. However, there is one thing you should be aware of. While most cats have Type-A blood, many British Shorthairs have the more rare Type-B blood type. You should consider having your kitten tested to find out which type of blood he has in case he needs emergency surgery in the future. You should be sure to have your veterinarian make a note of your cat’s blood type in his medical chart so that there are no unnecessary complications.

Since these cats have such thick, coarse coats, you will need to do very little grooming. However, you should comb through your Shorthair’s coat once a week to remove loose hair and dirt.

If you need an undemanding cat, then the British Shorthair may be the perfect choice for you.

The Balinese has a graceful body that can move in unusual ways and helps it get into all kinds of places. This flexibility and ability to escape from seemingly impossible places causes many people to compare the Balinese breed to the great magician Houdini.

Since the Balinese actually began as a longhair Siamese, it is no surprise that this breed is incredibly vocal. If you have an apartment with thin walls, the chatty Balinese may actually bother your neighbors, so you may want to think about this before deciding to choose a Balinese cat.

Like the Siamese, the Balinese is a cat that enjoys the company of people and other cats. Because of this breed’s need for attention, it is not a good choice for people who work long hours. If you do have a time consuming job, you should consider adding a second Balinese to the household or you will have a depressed and mopey or neurotic and hyperactive cat on your hands. These cats are very intelligent and need quite a few toys and activities to keep them occupied. Luckily, the Balinese will turn anything into a toy, from a paper grocery bag to a scrap of paper.

The Balinese has typical Siamese colors, including seal, chocolate, blue, and lilac point. In addition, if you are not concerned about having a CFA registered cat, the Balinese breed can have red, cream, tortie, and tabby point colors. Even though the breed is considered a longhair, its coat is not extremely long and full. However, the Balinese’s tail has hair that is quite long and gives a slightly busy appearance.

This breed is one of the smaller cat breeds, weighing in at only six to eleven pounds. The Balinese has ears that are big enough to appear slightly oversized on its graceful wedge shaped head.

Since the Balinese is an extremely active cat breed, most of these cats do not have a major problem with being overweight. However, if your cat does become a little chunky, you may want to reduce his food intake and be sure he gets a bit more exercise.

Overall, the Balinese is a fairly healthy breed, perhaps because it is still occasionally out crossed with Siamese or Angora cats, which widens the gene pool and alleviates genetic health problems that are caused by frequent inbreeding.

Since the Balinese is a long haired breed, you will need to spend some time grooming your cat. However, since this breed’s coat is not very thick or long, you should be able to thoroughly comb out your cat’s coat once a week and keep it mat free. You may also want to consider accustoming your cat to having his teeth brushed, since plaque build up and tooth decay can lead to serious health problems.

If you love the personality and graceful appearance of the Siamese but you prefer longhair breeds, then the Balinese may be the perfect choice for you.

The American Wirehair started with a litter of kittens born in a farmer’s barn. When he noticed one of the kittens had an unusual coat, he consulted a cat fancier, who decided to try to breed cats with the wirehair trait. Unfortunately, this trait was not truly dominant, so there was quite a lot of inbreeding, and any cat who showed even the slightest tendency to be a wirehair was used for breeding. Concern that the breed would become susceptible to hereditary diseases and weaknesses led the people working with the American Wirehair to cross it with the American Shorthair, one of the other cat breeds to be developed in America.

Eventually, the American Wirehair breed developed a body type that was very similar to the American Shorthair, although the Wirehair has a slightly more rounded head and higher cheekbones. Despite the coat inconsistencies that still plague this breed, the American Wirehair is still a part of the Cat Fancier’s Association Championship Class. However, only shorthair Wirehairs with thick coats are used in the show ring. Longhair coats are considered to be a disqualification because Wirehairs with long coats look as though they are suffering from an extremely bad hair day, while Wirehairs with thin coats are not shown because they are prone to shedding their hair if they are stressed.

The American Wirehair is one of the few breeds that is required to have one eye color. Unless your Wirehair is silver, he should have deep gold eyes. This breed’s standard calls for large cats, but many Wirehairs are currently on the small side. Ideally, your Wirehair should be close to fifteen pounds, but these cats can weigh in at anywhere from eight to fifteen pounds.

While the American Wirehair is not a vocal cat, he can be a bit overbearing and demanding at times. However, overall, this breed is very sweet and affectionate. The friendly, sociable nature of the Wirehair makes it a good choice for families. These cats are playful, so be sure you have plenty of toys to entertain your pet.

While the American Wirehair is a fairly healthy breed, it does have a few quirks. Most of these cats have a greasy coat, which means they tend to need bathing more frequently than other cat breeds. Luckily, most Wirehairs enjoy being bathed. Also, these cats also frequently need to have their ears cleaned.

While you do need to groom your Wirehair to keep his coat healthy, you should do so carefully to avoid breaking off the fragile hairs. After all, Wirehair cats have hairs that are weaker and thinner than traditional cat hair.

If you want a cat with a very unique look, then an American Wirehair may be the perfect breed for you.

These cats, which are classified as a part of the Championship Class by the Cat Fancier’s Association, are on the large side, weighing in at eight to fifteen pounds. The Shorthair has a wide face with prominent cheeks and a powerful well muscled body. His tail is slightly thicker at the base than at the tip and is shorter than his body. His eyes are big and have an alert expression.

While tabbies are probably the most common Shorthair patterns, cats with self, tortie, smoke, and bicolors patterns are also available. The striking silver tabby color has been popular since one of these gorgeous cats was the winner of the nineteen sixty five United States Cat of the Year Award. However, the tortise shell and white cat, also known as a Calico is also quite popular.

The American Shorthair actually is a descendant of the European Shorthair. As this breed adapted to life in the United States, it developed a heavier, coarser coat to protect it from the bitter American winters. In addition, the American Shorthair is a bit larger than its ancestor, because of the many dangers the breed faced when it first arrived from Europe.

The American Shorthair is usually a mild mannered, quiet cat, although it can be a fairly formidable hunter of mice and other small rodents. Since this cat breed is quite content to curl up on the sofa, it is an ideal breed for apartment living. These cats are often tolerant of children and other pets, as long as they are not mishandled, which makes the American Shorthair breed a good choice for a family looking for a pet cat.

Since any cat that met the American Shorthair breed standard could originally be registered as a pedigreed American Shorthair, the breed did not suffer from the inbreeding that caused so many hereditary health conditions in other breeds. Of course, as the breed developed, unpedigreed cats could no longer be registered just because they resembled the American Shorthair.

Since this breed is not very active and already tends to be a bit on the large side, you may want to keep an eye on your cat’s weight. If he eats too much, you may have to stop offering unlimited amounts of dry food. You may also need to consult your veterinarian about feeding a weight control diet.

While American Shorthair cats do not have problems with matted coats, grooming is still important, as it helps cut down on shedding. You may want to accustom your kitten to having his teeth brushed, as well, since as cats age, they can develop severe dental problems if their teeth are not cared for properly.

If you want a cat that is an undemanding but enjoyable pet, then the American Shorthair may be the ideal choice for you.

This breed was developed in the early nineteen eighties from one stray cat that a California cat lover adopted. Surprisingly enough, all kittens are born with ears that look completely normal. When the kittens are about ten days old, their ears begin to curl. The kittens are about four months old before the ears develop their final position.

The American Curl is known for being a quiet, sweet natured breed and makes an ideal apartment pet. This cat is often a bit on the inactive side and is content to soak up sun on a windowsill for a large portion of the day. While the Curl does not dislike other cats or people, this breed is content to amuse itself and will not pine for other cats to keep it company. The ability to entertain himself makes this breed a perfect choice for people who work long hours but still want to come home to a loving pet.

Along with most other cat breeds recognized by the Cat Fancier’s Association, the American Curl is classified as a part of the Championship Class. This breed is on the small side and weighs in at between seven and eleven pounds. The American Curl comes in a wide range of colors, and come in tortiseshell, smoke, shaded, point, bi-color, and tabby patterns. This breed’s tail is as long as its body and gracefully tapers at the tip. The cat’s head should be rounded and eyes are more oval shaped than those of many cat breeds. The Curl’s legs are somewhat bowed and his body is not as muscular and stocky as many other breeds. You can find longhair or shorthair Curls, although the dominant longhair is much more prevalent. Two shorthairs will still often produce one or two longhair kittens.

The American Curl is an extremely healthy cat breed, due to the care with which the breed was developed. The originators of this breed were careful to out cross the original litters of the Curl with straight eared cats that had similar body types to create a large, healthy gene pool of cats that carried the Curl gene before they tried to breed any Curls to each other.

While shorthair Curls need very little grooming, you should be prepared to brush your longhair Curl once a week to prevent the coat from matting. Since the undercoat is very sparse, you should not need to worry about more frequent grooming.

If you want to own a cat who has a unique appearance and a quiet, unassuming disposition, then you may want to take a close look at the good natured American Curl.

The American Bobtail is one of only three breeds in the Cat Fancier’s Association’s Provisional Class, which is where cat breeds are placed until they show that they are able to stay true to their standards. This breed is a lightweight compared to many other breeds, weighing in at seven to fifteen pounds.

The American Bobtail received its name because of its extremely short tail. While no one is completely sure how this breed was developed, cat fanciers suspect that the American Bobcat, Manx, and Japanese Bobtail breeds are all ancestors of the American Bobtail. However, while the Manx can be completely tailless and still are able to compete in the show ring, the American Bobtail must have a tail. The tail should be short enough to stop before it reaches the cat’s hocks.

While many cats have a sleek, slender appearance, the American Bobtail standard calls for a stocky, muscular cat with big paws and a slightly wild appearance. This cat’s head is wedge shaped, but broader than normal. The Bobtail breed can be a shorthair or a longhair, but even shorthair cats do not have smooth coats. The shorthair coat still is long enough to give the cat a bit of a shaggy look. While the Bobtail can come in any color, fawn and white, blue tabby, red tabby, and brown tabby are the most common colors. Shorthair cats are much more common than longhair cats, since the shorthair gene is actually dominant.

Since American Bobtails are very friendly and a bit nosy, they are prone to get into quite a bit of mischief if they are unsupervised and become bored. If you are away from home for long periods of time, you should be sure that there are plenty of toys available so that your cat can amuse himself and still keep out of trouble. Since this breed is fairly sociable, you may also want to add a second cat to the household to avoid having your cat feel too lonely.

The American Bobtail’s outgoing temperament makes this breed an ideal choice for families. If you socialize your kitten from a young age, he should actually look forward to having friends and family visit.

When the Bobtail was first developed, this breed had quite a few common health problems. However, in the late twentieth century, concerned devotees of the breed worked to rid it of most of these problems. Today, the American Bobtail is a strong, sturdy cat.

Since even the shorthair has a coat of some length, you will need to groom your cat at least once a week. Although the longhair coat does not tangle easily, you may need to groom your longhair Bobtail a bit more frequently. If you accustom your kitten to the grooming process when he is young, he will actually grow to enjoy the attention.

If you want to own a cat who is sweet and sociable, but still has an undomesticated streak, then the American Bobtail may just be the perfect breed for you.

The Cat Fancier’s Association classifies the Abyssinian as a part of the Championship Class, along with thirty six other cat breeds. This breed is often smaller than many other cat breeds, weighing in at only nine to sixteen pounds.

The Abyssinian has a graceful tail that is as long as the rest of its body. Although Abyssinians can have coats in almost any shade, from red to lilac, they all are tabbies with a ticked appearance. This means that each individual hair has bands of dark and light color. This cat breed has a wedge shaped face with eyes that are green, amber, or hazel colored.
This breed is much older than many other cat breeds. Images in ancient Egypt show cats with a very similar appearance, right down to the ticked appearance of their coats. The first Abyssinians to arrive in England came from Ethiopia in the eighteen hundreds.

Abyssinians have a reputation for being very curious. These cats want to know everything about what’s going on around them. They seem to actually try to help their owners complete household chores and like to hang out with them in the garden. It is no surprise that such a curious breed is also extremely active. This breed spends a lot of time playing and needs a lot of toys. If you don’t provide playthings, your cat will use your belongings to create his own toys. Abyssinians will scale any barrier in their quest to explore their surroundings, from curtains to fences. If you allow your cat to spend time outdoors, keep a close eye on him, as he will most likely be a bit of an escape artist.

This breed’s personality means that it needs a lot of attention and affection from its owner. An Abyssinian is the wrong choice for anyone who spends a lot of time away from home. If you aren’t home a lot, you may want to consider adding another Abyssinian to the household, as this breed does enjoy playing and interacting with other cats.

Abyssinians are so intelligent that they can easily learn a few simple commands. Don’t be surprised if your cat learns to come when he is called and picks up some tricks like fetching a toy.

Although most Abyssinians aren’t chow hounds like some other cat breeds, you may still want to be sure your cat doesn’t overeat. If he starts to become too fat, you may want to talk to your veterinarian about feeding him a weight management cat food, instead. Although urinary tract infections are not as common in this breed as they are in some other breeds, you may want to talk to your veterinarian about feeding a diet that helps prevent infections if you have an altered male cat.

One common health problem this breed does often have is an inherited eye disease called retinal atrophy. This is very unusual in cat breeds, although it is fairly common in many dog breeds.

With its short sleek coat, the Abyssinian needs very little grooming. However, these cats often enjoy receiving the extra attention, as long as you are gentle.

If you want a cat breed that is as affectionate and devoted as any dog, then the Abyssinian is the perfect choice for you.

This breed is one of the largest of the cat breeds, weighing between ten and twenty pounds. It is no surprise that such heavy cats have big, muscular bodies. Their heads are slightly round, their ears are small and rounded, and their large eyes are in a brilliant blue color. This breed’s tail is slightly bushy and tapers at the end.

The Ragdoll does not come in a wide range of colors and patterns. In fact, there are actually only four colors accepted by the Cat Fancier’s Association, Seal, Chocolate, Blue, and Lilac. You can find these colors in pointed, mitted, or bicolor patterns, but some breeders avoid mitted cats because they look too much like the breed’s Birman ancestors.

The Ragdoll’s calm demeanor makes it the perfect choice for families. These cats are almost dog like in their behavior, greeting family members at the door, following them through the house, and snuggling down beside them on the sofa. If you do not believe in de-clawing your cat, but are concerned about having your furniture ruined, you may want to consider this breed as well. Some Ragdoll owners say their cats have learned to use a scratching post instead of furniture arms to sharpen their claws much more quickly than their other cat breeds. Since these cats seem to make an effort to keep from scratching people, as well, they may be less prone to scratch furniture in the first place.

While this cat breed does not need the company of other pets and seems to prefer to spend time with family members over cats, it does not mind living with other cats. Perhaps this is because this breed is so much larger than other cats, but it is most likely because the Ragdoll is just so sweet natured.

Since the Ragdoll is a longhair cat, some prospective cat owners are a bit hesitant about choosing this breed. They are afraid they won’t have time for the frequent grooming most longhairs require. However, this breed’s silky coat texture makes it a very low care cat. Combing through your cat’s hair weekly to remove stray hairs or debris is all that is necessary to keep his coat looking fantastic. One thing you may want to keep in mind is that although most longhairs are prone to hairballs, these cats rarely develop them.

If you want a sweet tempered, family oriented cat, then the big Ragdoll may be the ideal breed for you.