Friday, March 19, 2010

A Quick Look at Cats

Over the last thousands of years, cats have pretty much handled their breeding themselves.  In the beginning, they were used for one purpose - hunting and killing rodents.  As the years progressed, we began to breed cats more to our liking.  Now-a-days, there are several different breeds of cats - some markedly different, others more, well...catlike.

These days there are over 70 distinct cat breeds, that are recognized through cat registries.  There are several registries that will recognize around 40 breeds or so, as they exclude the more domestic breeds such as tigers.  There are also many variations within the breeds as well, including wild cats that have longer hair.

There are some cat breeds who have roots going back quite a bit in history.  Some Japanese breeds, such as the Japanese Bobtail, can be traced back more than 1,000 years in history.  These cats were very common and well known throughout Medieval Japan.  Today though, they are all but a myth throughout Japan and the entire world.

The more common cat breeds that are found in North America include the alley cat, long haired cat, Persian cat, and Siamese. Siamese cats were bred as 'watch cats' and prowled special ledges built around Chinese aristocray houses. Now, of course, there is no need for their talents, but you might notice that your Siamese likes to perch on top of the bookcase or refridgerator - a left over genetic trait perhaps. Persian cats are very popular, proving to be loving companions, and showcased prominently in television commercials extolling the virtues of refined, upperclass or decadent seeming items.

Alley cats are the most common in North America.  There are actually several different breeds, although most of us just refer to them as alley cats.  They make loving, loyal pets, and there are literally thousands of them in existence.  Cats are known to breed more than any other pet other than rodents, and they will continue to breed unless spayed or neutered by their owners. 

The look of the cat is the easiest way to tell what breed he or she may be.  Some people choose to go by color, although color isn’t as easy to identify.  Different breeds of cats have different looks, such as the Siamese and Persian cats.  Siamese cats are almost always cream coloured with dark brown, black, lilac or blue ear tips, paws, and facial markings, with blue eyes.  Persian cats on the other hand, are easily identified by their long, often times, pure white long hair, and facial shape. Alley cats come in all shapes, sizes and colours, and for non-cat people, tend to look very similar.

Cats were one of the first pets, and easily one of the most popular.  Millions of people around the world own cats, with many people preferring a cat over any other pet - including dogs.  No matter what breed of cat you get - you’re sure to get a pet who will make a great companion for years and years to come.

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