Although the name Abyssinian is Ethiopian, The Abyssinian cat is believed to be of Egyptian origin. The breed is said to have originated from a cat named Zula who was taken by a British soldier from Alexandria to England in 1868, although this has not been verified. The fist Abyssinian cat was documented in 1871.
The cats are muscular, medium-sized and with a medium body length, with slim legs and a long tapered tail. The head is wedge-shaped with almond shaped eyes. The ears are reasonably large and pointed.
Their coats are dense and shorthaired. Their coats have a unique “ticked” colour marking, due a special gene that is only shared by the Somali cat. Each hair has a light base colour (at the root) followed by 3 or 4 bands of darker colours. Some of the base colours are: ruddy, sorrel, blue, fawn and silver.
Abyssinians are not “lap cats”. They are clever, playful, curious and strong-willed. They are definitely interesting looking cats.
If you’re thinking of getting one of these unique cats, remember that buying a kitten is a serious responsibility
Sources: Wikipedia & American Cat Fanciers Association
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Persian (Himalayan)
The Persian is one of the oldest cat breeds. The first documented Persians were imported from Persia to Italy in 1620. This poplar cat breed was first registered with the Cat Fanciers Association in 1871.
Persians had mild temperaments and adapts quickly to new environments which makes them sought after pets.
Persians have long hair and tend to shed. These cats come in a variety of colours. Because of their thick fur they require regular grooming. They are “pouffy”, have short legs, a short tail and should weigh about 7-12 pounds. They have a round head, “flat face” and short nose.
Persians are divided into the following colour divisions:
- Silver and Golden
- Solid colour
- Shaded and Smoke
- Tabby
- Parti-colour
- Calico and bi-colour
- Himalayan
Litters on average consist of 3-5 kittens. They have a life expectancy of about 10-18 years. They may develop Polycystic kidney disease or problems with their eyes.
The Persian is certainly a well known and poplar breed. If you are thinking of buying a kitten, make sure that you know what can be expected of the particular breed. As with any pet, do research on special requirements the cat may have.
Resources:
Wikipedia
persian-cats.com
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The Sphynx or hairless cat first appeared as a genetic mutation, but has been purposefully bred since the 1960s
These cats are not completely hairless but have a fine layer of fuzz, which has been said to have a feel comparable to a chamois. They also feel warm to the touch. They also have a wrinkled appearance. They need to be bathed on occasion since they have no hair to absorb oil build up. Sphynxes should avoid direct or harsh sunlight as they can easily get sunburn.
Since they are hairless they are good for those with pet hair allergies, but not completely hypoallergenic since most allergy suffers are actually allergic to cat saliva.
Sphynxes are curious, mischievous and playful in nature.
These cats are easily cold and likes to snuggle up to a human dog, or other cat.
Kittens can go to new homes between 12-16 weeks of age. If you’re thinking to buy a kitten, please keep in mind that the hairless cat requires special care.
Source: Wikipedia.
Useful links:
mybaldcat
angelsphynx
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American Curl
The American Curl is a pretty unique looking cat. Instead of the usual pointy ears the American Curl has ears that looked like they’ve been curled by a stylist.
A stray cat of the breed was first discovered in 1981 and testing revealed that the round ears was due to a genetic mutation. When this cat had kittens, two of the four in her litter had ears like hers.
The American Curl was first shown in 1983 and selective breeding of the breed began. The breed was admitted to the cat Fanciers Association in 1993.
American Curls are born with straight ears but their ears will curl as they grow older. They can be either long haired or short haired but coats must be soft and silky, they require a lot of grooming. They are medium sized cats and adults weight 5-10 pounds.
They are very curious and sociable cats.
If you want to buy a cat, pricing will depend on its bloodlines, markings and how curly its ears are.
More info: Wikipedia or Feline Fanciers
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