INTRODUCTION

The following is an exploration of the currently accepted cat breeds of North America. Three areas will be covered in each profile: history, personality, and conformation. Also provided is a chart in which various characteristics are rated on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 means the breed exhibits the least amount of this characteristic; 10 means the breed exhibits the most of this characteristic). These characteristics can vary from cat to cat and from bloodline to bloodline, but the rating serves as a general guide to help you get an overall picture of the breed and determine whether this breed is right for you. Keep in mind that these are overall ratings and that an individual member of a breed may not follow true to form. Certain bloodlines may differ, and geographical location also can play a part in the overall characteristics, since certain traits tend to be passed around a given area.

In the chart, activity level relates to the amount of hustle and bustle to which the cat is prone. A breed with a rating of 10 is likely to be animated, busy, and forever underfoot, whereas a breed with a rating of 1 tends to be relaxed and sedentary. Playfulness relates to the cat’s desire to play with its human companions and with other animals. Most cats exhibit some playfulness, but some breeds have a greater need for this kind of contact with its owners. A breed with a high rating needs more playtime than a breed with a low rating. Need for attention describes the breed’s overall need for human interaction. Some breeds seem to get by quite well if left alone for periods of time and rate low in this characteristic, whereas others pine if left alone too much, earning a high rating. The rating in the Affection toward its owners category tells you if this breed tends to be loving and devoted or aloof. A high rating indicates a highly affectionate breed. Vocality indicates the amount of vocalizing the breed is likely to do. Some breeds, such as the Siamese, tend to keep up a running dialogue with their owners, earning a high rating, whereas others, such as the Chartreux, vocalize very little, earning a low rating for this characteristic. Docility indicates how amenable the breed is to handling. A high rating indicates a breed that tends not to object to handling and routine care. Keep in mind, however, that any cat will defend itself if it feels threatened. Don’t count on a high rating to protect you if you handle a cat roughly. Intelligence relates to, of course, the general amount of “smarts” the breed tends to exhibit. A high rating indicates high intelligence. Independence relates to the breed’s desire for human contact. A breed with a high rating can take humans or leave them; a breed with a low rating desires a high level of connection with its human. Healthiness and hardiness indicates the breed’s overall vigor, strength, and vitality. A high rating indicates a breed with few inherent weaknesses. Need for grooming is self-explanatory; a high rating means that you’ll spend a lot of quality time grooming your feline buddy. Compatibility with children indicates how well the breed tolerates children’s sometimes rambunctious antics; a high rating means that this breed would be a good choice for a household with children. Likewise, Compatibility with other pets indicates how well the breed gets along with other animals. A high rating means that the breed should integrate well into a household with existing pets.

Keep in mind that cats require effort to become the best companions they can be. For example, just because a cat breed has an affection rating of 9 doesn’t mean that a member of the breed will give you its devotion if you ignore or abuse it. Cats will meet you halfway if you give them a chance, but you must earn their loyalty and trust in order to have the closest relationship possible.

Not all cat breeds are accepted in all associations because of differing policies or lack of breeder involvement (breeders and fanciers must actively promote their breeds in each association in order for acceptance to be granted). For example, only four associations accept the Bengal because of the other associations’ policies to not accept domestic and wild hybrids; therefore, each profile notes which associations recognize the breed at the time of this writing.

The conformation standards provide aesthetic guidelines that help define an ideal specimen of the breed. They are goals for which to strive, not ironclad requirements. Overall balance, artistic harmony, and proportion are just as important as the proper ear set and head shape. Breeders are often compared (by those in the cat fancy) to artists who constantly shape their medium in an attempt to approach artistic perfection.

The standards not only provide general guidelines that define an ideal specimen — they also define characteristics that penalize or disqualify cats from show competition. Although not always noted in these standards, in general the following characteristics are grounds for penalty or disqualification in most breeds: kinked or abnormal tail, incorrect number of toes (there should be five in the front and four in the back), crossed eyes, any evidence of illness or poor health, flabbiness or emaciation, signs of weakness in hindquarters, and defects such as malocclusions, breathing difficulties, and deformity of the skull. Declawed cats cannot be shown in ACA, CCA, CFA, and CFF. Allowances are usually made for jowls and larger physical size in male cats.

A quick note about the method used to calculate the number of breeds: In the Cat Fanciers’ Association, some cats, such as the Abyssinian and the Somali, are counted as separate breeds based on hair length. Others, such as the Manx and the Cymric, are grouped in the same breed section regardless of hair length. When a breed includes both the longhaired and shorthaired variety in the same CFA section, longhaired and shorthaired varieties have been counted as one in the ranking of popularity, even though some of the breeds (such as the Manx, Cymric, Himalayan, and Persian) have been profiled separately. The CFA standards have been used for the conformation section unless otherwise noted. Many of the conformation terms are defined in the glossary.

• Abyssinian

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• American Curl
• American Shorthair
• American Wirehair
• Balinese
• Bengal
  Birman
• Bombay
• British Shorthair
• Burmese
• Chartreux
• Colorpoint Shorthair
• Cornish Rex
• Cymric
• Devon Rex
• Egyptian Mau
• European Burmese
• Exotic Shorthair
• Havana Brown
• Himalayan
• Japanese Bobtail
• Javanese
• Korat
• Maine Coon
• Manx
• Norwegian Forest Cat
• Ocicat
• Oriental
• Persian
• Ragdoll
• Russian Blue
• Scottish Fold
• Siamese
• Siberian
• Singapura
• Snowshoe
• Somali
• Sphynx
• Tonkinese
• Turkish Angora
• Turkish Van

The last 100 years have seen an explosion in the number of recognized cat breeds. Prior to the 1800s cats were kept as mousecatchers and companions (not necessarily in that order), but little thought was given to breeding them for particular characteristics. In the middle 1800s cat lovers began taking an interest in showing their special companions and entering them for competition. The cat fancy as we know it today began in 1871 when the first modern-day type of cat show was held in London’s Crystal Palace (see the discussion of cat shows in Chapter Eleven). At that show, 170 cats were exhibited, including tabbies, Siamese, and a Birman look-alike, but the Persians and Angoras really stole the show.

Since then, the art of cat breeding, and creating new breeds, has become something of a national pastime to fanciers of Felis catus. More than half of the breeds recognized by our cat associations have existed for less than 50 years, and we can count on more to come in the years ahead as fanciers identity and promote feline variations.

New cat breeds are either classified as spontaneous mutations (like the American Curl and Scottish Fold) or are created by hybridization of two or more previously known breeds (like the Himalayan and the Ocicat). The requirements for acceptance of a new breed are stringent and vary depending upon the association. To be accepted, a new breed — or new color of an existing breed — must first be recognized for registration. The requirements for acceptance of a new breed or a new color within a recognized breed vary from association to association; however, even when the conditions are met, there’s no guarantee that the breed will be accepted.

For example, in the CFA, the fanciers of a new breed must submit a formal application that has been signed by at least ten breeders working with the new breed. They must also submit a tentative breed standard, classification information, and registration applications for at least 50 specimens of the new breed or color in order to be considered for registration.

The next step toward acceptance is Provisional or New Breed and Color status. The Provisional Breed class is for any registered cat or kitten of a breed that has been accepted for registration with an association but has not yet been accepted for Championship competition. In CFA and CFF this is called Provisional; in AACE, ACA, ACFA, and TICA this class is called New Breed and Color. In CCA and UFO this is called the New Breed category.

For a breed to be granted Provisional status in the CFA, at least 100 specimens must be registered over a period of not less than five years and fanciers must submit a definite breed standard, a list of acceptable colors, a cutoff date for breeds allowed in the ancestry, and recommendations for Breed Committee members. At least one CFA breed club also must be formed. Also, the breeders must demonstrate the potential value to the cat fancy of their new breed or color. In other words, the breeders must show that their breed is unlike any other breed currently accepted by the association and that the breed has qualities that will benefit the cat fancy as a whole.

When a breed is accepted for Provisional or New Breed and Color status, such cats earn awards only in those classes — they cannot compete for Championship competition until the breed is accepted for Championship.

The final step is Championship. In the CFA, for example, once Provisional status has been achieved, evidence must exist that the new breed is being extensively shown in CFA shows in all of the regions. Then the CFA board determines when it is appropriate to advance a breed to Championship status. Judges submit reports regarding the new breeds that they have judged. In order to consider a breed for Championship competition, the board must have a breed standard that has been agreed upon by the breeders, a list of acceptable colors for Championship competition, and proof that at least 25 different cats have been shown in CFA shows throughout all of the regions. As you can see, getting a new breed recognized is not a simple process — it takes the concerted effort of many cat fanciers over a long period.

Following are profiles of some of the new or experimental breeds that are currently seeking association acceptance. The personality charts have not been included in these profiles because many of these breeds will require more time to settle into a uniform pattern of behavior.

• American Bobtail
• California Spangled Cat
• Munchkin
• Nebelung
• Selkirk Rex
• Tiffany/Chantilly
• York Chocolate

INTRODUCTION

Big or small, white or black, long- or shorthaired, the American domestic has always been Best of Breed in American homes and hearts. While the mixed-breed or “randombred” domestic cat is not considered a breed as such by the cat associations, it has made a greater contribution to human culture than the purebreds have. Randombred cats have been with us for thousands of years, while purebreds as such have been with us only since 1871 (if you judge the recognition of purebred cats to have started at Harrison Weir’s cat show held in that year). Even cats whose origins go back hundreds of years, such as the Siamese and the Angora, developed and bred haphazardly without much initial help from their human companions. In that sense, we owe all of our purebred cats to the randombred domestic feline. Also, a number of our purebred breeds have been specifically bred with the American domestic or have arisen from the domestic gene pool. The American domestic deserves just as much love, quality care, and respect as the finest purebred Grand Champion.

Randombred cats have advantages as companions as well, with their (usually) healthy mix of genes and diverse personalities, colors, patterns, and conformations. The variation of American domestics is amazing. And as for sheer numbers, randombred cats make up an estimated 95 percent of the cat population of the United States.

Randombred cats do have disadvantages as well as advantages, however. Since the ancestry of the domestic kitten is generally not known and (as a rule) they don’t breed true as most purebreds do, it’s difficult if not impossible to predict what the cat will be like as an adult. It may be quiet or vocal, large or small, outgoing or withdrawn. While purebreds do have their own unique personalities, they are more likely to follow the pattern of their breed and therefore produce predictable offspring.

Obtaining a Randombred Cat
Acquiring a domestic cat is certainly easier than getting a purebred, not to mention cheaper. Our nation’s shelters are overflowing with beautiful, healthy cats and kittens that would love the chance to share your life. Visiting your local shelter or humane society is an excellent way of getting your dream cat, and most likely you will be saving it from that final walk down “death row” as well. If you have your heart set on a kitten rather than an adult cat, you might keep in mind that June is Adopt-a-Shelter Cat Month, and with the annual spring crop of kittens a variety of domestics will be available at your local shelter.

While preference and emphasis are given to purebred cats in the cat shows, the cat associations have household pet categories in which randombred cats can compete. This is usually called the Household Pet Category (HHP). HHPs must be altered to be shown, and in the CFA and CFF they must not be declawed. (TICA and ACFA allow declawed HHPs, ACA may allow it depending upon the sponsoring club, and AACE and UFO neither promote nor penalize declawing.)

All associations except the CFA, CCA, and ACA bestow titles on their HHPs. While different from the titles granted purebred cats, these titles indicate that the cat has accumulated a certain number of points and has won particular awards.

The cats are judged on overall beauty, personality and demeanor, condition, balance, and proportion rather than on a specific conformation standard. This makes judging an HHP much more subjective than purebred judging, and an appealing personality is therefore even more important. An outgoing, relaxed, people-oriented cat in prime condition will likely do well in this category.

As in the purebred divisions, meticulous grooming and overall care are important if the cat is to earn awards. In the TICA standard (not all associations have standards for household pets), of the 100 points possible, beauty can be awarded up to 20 points and personality up to 25 points, but condition is worth up to 55 points of the total.

Since the judging procedure is basically the same for household pets as for purebreds, the HHP category is a good place for fanciers to break into the cat show world. Many fanciers who have gone on to showing prestigious purebreds have started in the HHP category. Others never leave HHPs and continue to show their randombred cats without ever moving on to purebred showing. While you’ll never get rich showing in the HHP category (or in any category, for that matter), the rewards can be just as great as for showing purebreds. You can come home with winning ribbons, happy in the knowledge that others find your beloved kitty to be as beautiful and lovable as you do.

The HHP category is also used to show pet-quality purebreds that do not meet the standard closely enough to be shown among members of their own breeds. Unpedigreed purebreds and cats that are part purebred can be shown in this category as well. The category is also sometimes used to show cats not yet accepted as breeds by the associations. Fanciers do this to gain exposure for the breeds and to allow the judges to handle and examine the cats.

Not all cat shows have an HHP division. Some cat clubs that sponsor the shows are more receptive to the HHP category than others. Contact the sponsoring cat club to find out if the HHP category will be included and how it will be handled. The attitude of the cat club can affect your show experience. Cat clubs exist that cater specifically to household pets, such as the Happy Household Pet Cat Club of New York, which is open to all mixed-breed cats and pet-quality purebred cats. Shows sponsored by such clubs welcome the randombred cat.