Lesson 1: Popular Cat Breeds
Lesson Summary: Whether you prefer to select your pet by its aesthetics, its
reputation as a breed, or the look on its face in the shelter, it is important to set
that bond you'll keep with your pet as early as possible.
Popular Cat Breeds
In this world, there are few dichotomies that humanity, in general, accepts as truly
defining. Something can be black or white. Something can be light or dark. People
can be rich or poor. Winter is not summer. Something funny is not something scary.
Being sick is not being well. There is the sun and the moon, liberals and
conservatives, and capitalism versus communism. But nothing, at the end of the
day, seems as defining as being a cat person, or a dog person -- though one can
always be both.
Yet saying you like, love, or are interested in "cats" doesn't really say much, as there
are hundreds of breeds. Lets just say, the Siberian tiger is as much a cat as a the
smallest kitten! All domesticated cats are descendants of the African Wildcat, though
the hundreds of available breeds can look and act so differently today, you'd never
know they all had a common ancestor. Whether you prefer to select your pet by its
aesthetics, its reputation as a breed, or the look on its face in the shelter, it is
important to set that bond you'll keep with your pet as early as possible. That will
often include the selecting of the right breed and learning about it long before the
purchase. Don't worry if you already have a cat! You can love it just the same; but
learning about it even after you've invited it to join your family is an important step
in pet ownership. Here are some of the most popular breeds for pet owners in
America.
The Oriental is one of the most popular breeds, as it learns quickly and has an
affinity for people. It comes from the Siamese breed, and is very vocal. If you are
looking for a pet that will not disturb you in the middle of the night, this is not it. It is
great around kids, though, curious, and demanding of attention. It is not the kind of
cat that will sit by itself in the sun for hours ignoring you. There are short-haired and
long-haired versions, the short-haired being quite low-maintenance, while the long-
haired requires weekly grooming. The gene pool is quite large, so genetic disorders
associated within the breed are uncommon.
Siamese cats are the oldest known domesticated cat
and are even more vocal than the oriental, which is a
sub-breed of the Siamese. They are short-haired, so
have low grooming requirements; however, they are
very needy and require a lot of attention and play.
The modern Siamese and the traditional Siamese are
the two main breeds, with the modern having a
rounder body.
The American short-hair is a breed of cat that goes
back about 1000 years, but has changed since coming to the U.S. to become a
bulkier, more muscular breed. They require almost no grooming due to their short
hair, which allows them to be largely self-cleaning. The major difference between this
cat and an oriental, for example, is its temperament. While it is generally agreeable
with family members and other kinds of pets, it is a fairly solitary animal that does
not required a lot of attention.
The Birman is a higher maintenance breed due to its long hair, though not as high
as some other breeds, as its fur is fairly silky. It is a calm-natured cat that is
personable, but less likely to play aggressively, originating in Burma. They are
healthy, as well, though their life span may not be as long as the mighty American
short-hair.
The Ragdoll breed is fairly large, and can grow to be more than 30 pounds. They
are larger than any other of popular domesticated breeds and have hair that only
needs a bit of brushing. The name of the cat type comes from its very calm
disposition when interacting with people and relaxing on its own; however, Ragdolls
are needier than the American short-hair, insisting on generally being very near to
their owner. They can be playful, but tend to go limp when being held.
The Abyssinian cat is the opposite; it is very
high energy. These can be traced back to ancient
Egypt and are incredibly intelligent. It is not the
best cat for people looking for a laid-back pet, as
they can be quite mischievous, using their claws
and teeth to tear things apart or play with various
objects.They also do not like being held, and
prefer to interact with people on their own terms.
They are less healthy than other cats, with joint
problems and gingivitis being the most common
problems.
The Exotic cat is the third most popular cat in America. They are a cross between
the American shorthair and the Persian, with large stocky bodies. They are known for
attaching themselves to a single person and remaining loyal for a long period of time,
are fairly calm, but need a lot of attention. Their hair is short, but they tend to shed a
lot, so they have a lot of grooming issues, in addition to health issues, due to the
round shape of their heads.
The Maine Coon is the second most popular cat in American, and the only kind to
originate in the U.S. The are fairly large, averaging 17 pounds and over three feet in
length. They have a three layered coat and large furry feet to protect them from the
cold. Their fur is long enough that they'll need help grooming, and brushing two to
three times per week -- so they do need attention. However, despite their size, they
are not particularly aggressive, and are personable with all members of the family.
The Persian cat is the U.S. and world's most
popular, originating in Persia during the
Renaissance. They were exported to the royal
courts of Europe, and considered to be a symbol
of royalty. They have a similar temperament to
the ragdoll -- very docile, and do not do much
jumping.They're best known for their flat, pushed-
in face, and their long, long coat, which is easily
matted, so you'll need to spend a lot of time
grooming. Brushing should be done daily, with
professional grooming every six to eight weeks.
They are also prone to kidney disease and must
be kept inside, as they have underdeveloped
instincts. A similar cat to the Persian is
the Himalayan cat, which is a bit more
spontaneous in personality.
The Sphynx is a hairless cat originating in Canada. It is craving of attention but gets
along well with children and adults, alike. It will likely need a second cat to keep it
entertained if you are not willing to spend hours and hours playing with it on a daily
basis. It is completely hairless, so does not require much grooming. Its body
temperature is warmer than the normal domesticated breed, so it is quite warm to
the touch.
The Bengal is another short-haired cat that is very playful, yet not very cuddly. It is
the opposite of the Persian though, in terms of where it can go, and has been known
to go for walks on a leash with its owners. It is a very smart cat, but perhaps not the
best-behaved, so you'll have to commit a lot of time to playing with it.
The Manx is a short- to medium-length haired
cat that comes from Great Britain's Isle of Man,
and is one of the most popular breeds of cats in
the U.S. Some have no tails, while others have
long full tails, depending on their genetics. No
matter the length of their hair, they need
brushing, and the cats are quite playful with all
members of the family. They're known for hunting
prey, whether that is a toy mouse, or an insect.
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