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The Long and The Short of It
by Lesley Morgan Blythe (Comyn Exotic Shorthairs and Persians) and contributors, May 2003.
Published in ACF 2003

For those who have come to know the Exotic relatively recently, I hope it might be of interest to know of the early history of the breed in this country. To that end, here are my own and others’ reminiscences of the beginnings in the 1980’s.

Back in the early 80’s, various of us in Australia had heard of the development of the Exotic ShortHair (SH) (originally and primarily in the USA) and the prospect of a SH version of the persian intrigued some of us who were involved in “fluffies”. To have the type we were used to, but in a crew-cut version, was a real challenge.

Independently of each other, various breeders scattered around Australia began experimental breeding to produce “persians without pain”. (A phrase I optimistically and prematurely coined and lived to regret as I discovered the degree of upkeep needed to keep coats looking and feeling correct!) And while obviously all programmes started with a cross of a Persian to a shorthair, there were differing routes taken.

Some began with domestic SH breeding, the idea in at least one case being that the pre-potent persian type would dominate. Others of us opted to use typey British to acquire the SH gene, feeling that the type was closer to persian and the colour and pattern heritage was a known factor. In New Zealand, one breeder (”Noorioppta”) had used Folds behind her exotics; this line was later to come to Australia in the very late 80’s in the form of Matahari Roopert, owned by Betty Stephens (Skybank cattery, see below).

My own inspiration happened while judging a show in Amsterdam in 1984, when my bay was located directly in front of a shaded silver exotic. (Pahlewi) Whenever not actively judging Somalis and Abyssinians for those two days, my gaze always turned to this fascinating cat. The flight home went quickly, as I plotted and planned an experimental programme. I had the persians, my parents had the British…..

Meanwhile, in West Australia, others had similar aims. Val Pelligrini (”Myola”) lead the charge in 1984, swiftly followed by Margaret Bush (”Malingbu”) and Nancy Kapor (”Wyamba”) was on the exotic trail in 1986. My own (”Comyn”) first crosses were born in 1985, from British x Persian matings; one litter from Kanchenjunga Bibi (black tortie shaded persian) and GC Redwyton
Wetheby James D.M. (British blue) and the other from Redwyton Betty Boop (British blue) and GC Cargeos Radar (Imp UK, blue Persian, owned by Betty Stephens).

The path was not an easy one, at least in my experience. Obviously, it was necessary to use the very best Persians available in order to improve type. However, there developed some resistance (at least in my experience) once Exotics started making an appearance. Some Persian breeders felt these crew-cut cats were an abomination and under no circumstances were they going to let their studs become entangled in this corruption of the Persian. Others developed resistance once Exotics started competing rather too successfully (in bodies where Supplementary Register can compete with full register) for Best in Show awards! But others were encouraging.

I was most grateful to Mike Woods and Allan Raymond for allowing me the use of Vista Diamond Dan (Black Persian) to produce my 2nd generation - he was sire of both Comyn Jellyroll and Comyn Hetty Hotstuff (blacks) who were to be the trailblazers. Hetty was from Malingbu Pascale (orange eyed white SH, from Malingbu Beau Brummel, white persian x Int CH Redash Eartha Kit, black British). Jellyroll was from the Kanchenjunga Bibi original line.

As far as I am aware, the first time an Exotic was ever awarded Best in Show in this country was in Launceston, in early 1987. And the judge who took that step for Exotic- kind was Leonie Birch, Feline Control Council of Victoria (FCCV). In those days, the award was “Best Long Hair Kitten”, there being no all-embracing Group 1. The sections in Tasmania were then Long Hair, Siamese & Oriental, Other Foreign Shorthair and British/Manx. Jellyroll and Hetty (each, 2nd gen) were both entered as kittens cheek by jowl with the Persians and Birmans in the Long Hair section and Leonie decided that her best would be Hetty, while her 2nd kitten would be Jellyroll. The Council rep on the day took exception to this, pointing out that they were, by definition, not longhairs and therefore not eligible. Leonie imperiously pointed to the “Other Foreign SH” section where a Somali was benched next to an Abyssinian. “So what is that cat doing amongst the shorthairs?” There was no logical answer forthcoming. Game, set and match to Mrs Birch and Exotics! (I should point out that under ACF rules, a Supplementary Register cat can compete with the “big guys”, and good luck to them if they can beat the full register cats at their own game.) Hetty became the first Exotic to score a big win at a National - in 1987. She was Best Entire Long Hair or Exotic Kitten. Credit for that should go to the breeders of her parents!

Jellyroll went on to become Kitten of the Year 1987, despite petitions to have Exotics moved from the LH group and much mumbling in corners, which controversy he compounded when he was also Cat of the Year in 1988. That year, his firstborn daughter, Comyn Razzle Dazzle (black) was winner of Tas. Group 1 Kitten of the Year and her litter sister, Goody Twoshoes (also black; owner Audrey Simpson - “Wywory”, Queensland) made history by taking Best All Breeds Kitten at the 1988 ACF National show. “Goody” was mated to Audrey’s top winning cameo Persians and with her NZ import, Askari Spiced Nutmeg (red shaded Exotic) founded the Wywory red and cream tipped and shaded Exotic lines. The 3rd female in this litter, a blue - “Comyn Dear Daisy”, went to Cheryle and Rod U’Ren in Melbourne.

1988 also marked the year that ACF decided the longhaired offspring could be called persians, so long as “var” (variant) was included in the registration. After all, they looked like Persians, bred like Persians and to all intents and purposes were Persians. (And they can be very competitive - Janis Christison’s Blue Persian ACF Award of Excellence and Grand Champion Santique Sudden Impact from Exotic x Persian breeding was QFA’s Group 1 Cat of the Year in 1998, while Comyn Zizi Jeanmaire, a black persian from a white Exotic dam, was CAT’s Grp 1 Kitten of the Year in 2000)

Other stud owners with broad minds who allowed me to use their Persians were Kathie Scallan, Therese Imboden and Cheryle U’Ren. Their “big picture” attitude was much appreciated and certainly had an influence on whatever progress “Comyn” cats made, and thereafter other lines descended from them. (Daycara, Arrakish and Martes, significantly.) I always made it a point to keep a percentage of the old UK/NZ/Australian Persian lines in my pedigrees for bone, tiny ears and tail-length. It must be understood that at this time, emphasis was on high nose for high nose sake in the eyes of some, and the persian body, ears, bone and tail was considered to have deteriorated by some of we dinosaurs. Possible to fool some of the people some of the time in a Persian, but not in an ‘undressed’ Exotic!

Many Tasmanian (and interstate) Cat of the Year, Neuter of the Year and Kitten of the Year awards later, with Jellyroll (20 lbs in winter) being the 3rd cat in Australia to achieve ACF DM status (Distinguished Merit) and Comyn Lola Montez, (dam of Razzle Dazzle and Goody Twoshoes) being the fourth, by the early 1990’s the breed had become an indisputable fixture on the Australian show scene. They had not gone away! Razzle Dazzle was to narrowly beat Comyn Makin’ Whoopee (Best Group 1 Cat, 1993 ACF National - black tortie granddaughter of a “Wywory” cameo persian) to become the first Exotic to win the ACF National Premier (or Champion) award. (Later, in1997, Martes High Roller, a black, from Martes High Flyer and Comyn Dash-N-Dazzle, became the first Exotic to receive the ACF National Champion title.)

Elsie Madden (”Elsward”) in South Australia paved the way in her state, Kathie Stowe and Leona Gott promoted them in the NT as did Val Stewart and Audrey Simpson in Queensland. Robert Marsh was another Queenslander who was popularising the breed in the late 80’s, as was Carol Batey (see below, from Val Stewart), and Denis Turner (”Ithaca”, NSW) had, for several years, been occupied with Exotic SR breeding working mainly with domestic-based lines. Betty Heatherington (”Tataura”) in NSW was also working with success towards refining the Exotic in her state. Rossy Roberts-Thomson (”Kanchenjunga”) and Betty Stephens now kept me company in Tasmania, while in the ACT, Janis Christison developed an interest in Exotics. Just qualifying as a 1990 or prior breeder, Glennis Brymer in Mildura imported Owletts Snow Queen (”Chinchilla” Exotic), Owletts Trinket (Black shaded Exotic) and Hilal Disraeli (ditto) from the UK. These lines were later to be incorporated into the Simmons’ successful present-day “Caloola” silver Exotics in NSW.

Others tell their stories:
Margaret Bush - Malingbu cattery

Val Pelligrini started off in 1984 by mating a blue cream British female Kangavar Gaity Girl (from Jindivik Leander (Imp UK) cream British male and Malingbu Wisteria (blue British Female) to Jemari Michael Angelo (Imp UK) Chinchilla Persian.

A litter of four kittens were born on 7th October, 1984 and two were kept for breeding, Myola Silva Symon and Myola Silva Sacha. These in turn were mated the following year to Myola Miss Prim N Proper and Calair Sparticus respectively and kittens were born on the 12th October 1985 and the 17th October 1985.

Our first was from Malingbu Beau Brummell (Orange Eyed White Persian male) and Int CH Redash Eartha Kit (black British female) which produced a litter born on 3rd November, 1984. The white female was Malingbu Pascale who was eventually mated to Vista Diamond Dan and produced Comyn Hetty Hotstuff. We produced a number of solid colours over the next few years.

The two black females from this litter, Malingbu Ramona and Malingbu Liza, were given to Nancy Kapor, as adolescents, to establish her Exotic programme.

At this time Sue Branch was also producing Exotics from a line she build up from Tzarkesh Arfachance, red Exotic male imported from the UK in 1986. He had been bred from an American black smoke male imported into the UK, Purrfun My Main Man, and a black tortoiseshell female Kavida Bitzenpieces from the Idlebeck line to produce Chocolates. (Ed note: My Main Man was later to be declared ‘non-kosher’ by GCCF UK, as he came from a burmese x persian background and the burmese pattern component eventually reared its head)

Our silver lines came from Myola Silva Shimmer (Exotic Chinchilla) and Lanchee Silver Spangle (Persian Chinchilla). This mating produced two female kittens and one male kitten. Malingbu Silver Valonia was given to Mrs. Pelligrini and Malingbu Silver Valkyrie was kept to breed on with and when mated to Pussiluv Bellamy (UK) produced Malingbu Eloise (Exotic chinchilla female) and Malingbu Elfin Doll (Longhair chinchilla). From this litter Malingbu Eloise was kept to breed on with and produced two shaded silver Exotics when mated to a black Persian male. The female from this litter, Malingbu High Hopes went on to produce a classic silver tabby Exotic, Malingbu Silver Surprise who, in turn, produced Malingbu Coming Up Roses, a black smoke Exotic. So, in five generations we went from tipped to shaded to tabby to smoke.

Some of the other West Australia breeders who became involved in Exotic breeding were Lynda Schewchuk, Elaine Rumens, Bernie Clutterbuck, Anna Smith and Annette Joesbury.

Val Stewart (Shezarda Cattery, Queesland) tells her story:
During the mid 1980s Australian cat breeders were introduced to the Exotic Shorthair already popular overseas. Some people including myself were absolutely fascinated by these “Teddy Bear” cats. They not only looked great, they also had a delightful personality.

I began my Exotic breeding programme in 1988 with the help of Carol Batey of Chatain Cattery at Rockhampton. Carol was kind enough to send me two British Shorthair girls in kitten to two of her Persian males. These were Ke-Li Kahlua (Blue British), who produced my very first Exotic, a Tortie, Shezarda Toffee (8/11/88), fathered by Katzavee Trafalgar. The second girl Ke-Li Contessa, a BlueCream, was mated to Chatain Double Trouble and Shezarda Heather, a Blue Bi-Colour, was born 27/1/89.

By today’s standards, these girls were very ordinary in type but as I remember, I was very proud of them at the time. Each generation to follow was an improvement. All I asked of my programme was that the off-spring were better than the parent Exotic used. At around 4th and 5th generation, along came PKD and unfortunately like a lot of other people, some of my cats were positive. This meant that some of my valued Exotics had to be desexed.

During this time, I was given Chatain Summertime Blues (Askari x Chinkalou / Ashmorn) by Trevor Cox. (Ashmorn cattery) She was mated up to Taroon Regal Darkness (Ashmorn x Ashmorn) and even though she was a plain girl, she produced beautiful kittens, including Shezarda Hit The Deck, a very type Red Tabby Exotic.This boy is 4 and 5 generations behind my Exotics of today. My pride and joy, Shezarda Aces High, is also from Summertime Blues but fathered by Taroon Blue Casey (Stratcats Harrison x Tuam After Midnite).

To me, Exotics are very much accepted and the demand for them for showing and as pets has surpassed all expectations. They are a truly wonderful cat. The Exotic has come a long way since those relatively recent developmental days and are frequent BIS winners all over the country.

Betty Stephens (Skybank Cattery, Tasmania) recalls:
I believe Matahari Roopert (cream, Imp NZ) was 5th Generation exotic & possibly Scottish Fold was where he got his SH gene but that is not on his pedigree. He was from Ch Noorioppta Krullonga & CH Matahari Lou Loubelle, a bluecream persian. The Noorioppta is in each generation of his pedigree. Roopert sired about 6 litters for me whilst he was on lease for 12 months. Possibly the best kitten from him was a bluecream Exotic named Skybank Misty’s Joy whom while Gloria Grice owned her won Supreme Exhibit at Launceston Royal Show at the age of 7 months.

In the same era, Sue Branch of WA was kind enough to let me have Tzarkesh Arfachance (3rd gen) whom she had imported from UK. He was a red self exotic whose sire was CFA Gd Ch Purrfun My Main Man (Imp USA) Arfachance’s dam was Kavida Bitzenpieces, a tortie exotic. I returned him to Sue after about 12 months’ stay in Tas. He sired a number of very nice white exotics, some of which went to the mainland for breeding & often now I see their name at the end of pedigrees. There was Arfa Sixpence, Arfa Loaf ABread, Arfa Threepence and Arfa Head Start. One of these white exotics was awarded Reserve to Best Group 1 Kitten at the ACF National in Launceston 1993.

Possibly the most valuable exotic for me at that time was Yaslind Silk Chloe, a dilute tortie and white who was born in NSW & was only 1st generation. She was mother of Skybank Toby Jug who was the first entire cat to win the “Gold ” award in Tasmania.

Extracted with permission from Comyn Exotic Shorthairs and Persians

HOW IT STARTED:
The idea to have a new cat breed for Malaysia started sometime in 1994. The question at the time was…. “What should it be like? What would the genetic pattern be? Would it fulfill the definitions of a pure breed?”

A pure breed shall have the following characteristics:
· A particular type which differs from any other breed, which be in the form of the body and head shape and size , ears and/or fur
· A standard variety of colours and patterns
· Free from genetical and physical defects
· Of a documented origin (commonly called the pedigree)
· Breeds true, meaning the offsprings MUST resemble the parents in both type and variety

How would we know what to choose to satisfy the above from the array of various type of cats available locally? There are a lot of look alikes, the Burmesefactor, the Siamese pattern, the Abbyssinian ticking and there are the British and Exotic furs. There are a lot of defects, especially in the tail, kinks, knots, stumpies, longies and even bob tails!

So……. how do we start???

Opinions were seek from the various International judges that were here. For almost a year these were gathered, and finally Mrs Alva Uddin, the Honorary President of the FIFe (Federation Of Internationale Feline) came out with the selection for the KUCING MALAYSIA or MALAYSIA CAT. Who would know better other that FIFe, as they are the International World Body in maintaining and regulating breed standards.

WHY THAT PARTICULAR CHOICE ?
The KUCING MALAYSIA or MALAYSIA CAT should be medium in size with close lying furs and an oval, egg shapped head and convex in profile: a common feature amongst our local cats. The colours should be that of the Siamese - the reason for the blue oval eyes- as these colours originated from, and are unique to these regions. The white pattern was chosen due to it being commonly available in our local cats. The allowable base colours at the moment are seal-brown, blue, choc, lilac, red, cream and torties- agoutis included- with any amount of white. The proposed standards for the breed was drafted and submitted to FIFe board. Finally the breed was introduced to FIFe at its launching at the General Assembly in Kuching, Sarawak (state in Malaysia) on the 26 May 1996. As the cat was brought to the hall, enthusiasm from the conference delegates about the potential of this new proposed breed.

WHEN WILL IT BE ?
It takes 5 (five) generations before 15 specimens from at least 3 different generations can be presented to FIFe’s Judges and LO Commission for verification. By then the defects would have been eliminated and the criteria would be met. The breed will be presented to the General Assembly for recognition and endorsement. By a rough estimation, God Willing, it will be by the year of 2008.

Kelab Kucing Malaysia or Malaysian Cat Club welcomes you to embark on this challenging and long journey to own a cat breed we can call our own. Malaysian Cat Club members are involved in the breeding project which should see us getting our targeted tabby by the year 2005. If you think Kucing Malaysia describes just about any meowing feline in the country, please think again!

Malaysian Cat Club members who are in the process of breeding a uniquely Malaysia cat will provided a totally different picture. The club has now produced the second generation of what they term Kucing Malaysia through selective breeding of local cats with Siamese cats. The results at the moment however are still less than 50% perfect but are expected to get better as breeding is continued to produce the third generation. Malaysia Cat Club had purified the process even more and hopefully by the third generation MCC or KKM will be closer to getting the breed we want.

The Kucing Malaysia or Malaysia Cat will have some distinctive characteristics, especially in terms of its colour schemes. The cat will have velvety whitish-brown fur and a straight, full-coloured tail. The hairs around the eyes are will be of a darker colour than of the body. The female colour will be slightly lighter than the male. Features will include an oval-shaped face with full cheeks and a medium strong chin. Ears will be medium in size with rounded tips while eyes should be blue, open and alert. Its head will be medium in size and egg-shaped while the coat should be short and close lying.

THE CHARACTERISTICS/STANDARDS OF KUCING MALAYSIA (MALAYSIA CAT)
General Appearance
- The ideal Kucing Malaysia is a medium sized cat with a medium boned muscular body. The main feature will be the egg-shaped head and the openness of the blue or blue-green eyes, should give the characteristic alert appearance of the breed
Head
- Wide and rounded at the top with a good height and soft round lines. Full cheeks, medium long nose with medium strong chin. Profile showing a gentle convex curve giving an oval impression
Eyes
- Medium sized, almond in shape with a good width set; giving an open alert expression. Color should be blue or blue-green with blue preferred
Coat
- Short and close lying, silky with nearly no undercoat.
Ears
- Medium in size, slightly rounded tips with good width between. Flaring out a little and with slight tilt forward.
Body
- Medium in length and broad chest, with good depth and strong muscle tone. High legs, medium to slender in size ( more slender for females ) with slightly oval paws.
Tail
- Medium thick with a rounded tip, of medium length and up to the shoulder blades. Tail should full colored.
Colors
- All colors recognized in Pointed patterns with white. A white blaze in the face and muzzle is desirable.

5 fast facts about Abyssinian
Weight
Medium-sized, weighing aroung 4 to 7.5kg

Average lifespan
Lives to about 11 to 15 years

Personality
Strong and independent, sociable and affectionate. The Aby is also talkative, but has a quiet voice. Exuburance in kittens mellow with age.

Favourite activities
Loves exploring its surroundings, performing antics, just keeping an active lifestyle.

Tender loving care
Requires only weekly brushing ans combing. Baths can be given to the Aby once a month, or when necessary. For a shiny coat, you can rub it with a chamois cloth.

Life with the Abyssinians is never boring. A colorful feline know for its energy and striking ticked pattern, the Aby is still popular till this day, with cat lovers who enjoy busy, active and playful cats.

Although the Abyssinian is one of the oldest known breeds, there continues to be speculation and controversy concerning its history. Some breeders prefer to believe that Abyssinians are the most ancient of breeds and they were both companions and gods of Egyptians. In appearance, Abyssinians resemble the paintings and sculptures of ancient Egyptian cats that portray an elegant feline with a muscular body, beautiful arched neck, large ears and almond shaped eyes. Abys today still retain the jungle look of ‘felis lybica‘, the African wildcat ancestor of all domestic cats.

A ruddy Abyssinian

Like so many other breeds, the Abyssinian is not without its legends but the truth of the matter is that the Abyssinian is more at home on the Thames, England than on the Nile. The British hand-tailored a group of cats that they called Abyssinians. The source of the name is not because Ethiopia, formerly Abyssinia, is thought to be the original home of these cats but because the first Abyssinian exhibited at a show in England was reported to have been imported from that country. This cat was brought from Abyssinia at the conclusion of the war. British troops left Abyssinia in May 1868, so that may have been the time when cats with ticked coats first entered England.

Unfortunately, there are no written records tracing the early Abyssinians to these imported cats and many British breeders are of the opinion that the breed was actually created through the crossing of the various existing silver and brown tabbies with native British ‘Bunny’ ticked cats.

Recent studies by geneticts show that the most convincing origin of the Abyssinian breed is the coast of the Indian Ocean and parts of Southeast Asia. The first breed standard for the Aby appeared in the Cat Fancier’s Association in 1916. Since then, it has captured the hearts of many cat lovers all over the world.

A red / sorrel Abyssinian

The Aby has a distinctly ticked coat, is medium in size and regal in appearance. The heard is a modified, slightly rounded wedge without flat planes and should flow into the arched neck without a break. The ears are alert, large and moderately pointed; broad and cupped at the base and set as though listening. The eyes are almond shaped, large and expressive, being neither round nor oriental. A fine dark line, encircled by a light colored area should accentuate the eyes. A ring of dark color on the eyelids accentuates the eyes making the cat appear to be wearing black eyeliner. It was said that the women of ancient Egypt patterned their eye makeup after this trait. The color of the eyes can be either gold or green.

The body is medium long, lithe, graceful with well-developed musculature that is not coarse. It is medium in conformation and should not be either cobby or too svelte, most importantly; an Aby is a balanced cat. It is fine boned and stands well off the ground, giving it the appearance of being on tip toe. The tail is fairly long, thick at the base and tapering.

Another trait that sets the Aby part is the ticked or agouti coat pattern, characterized by alternating bands of color on the hair shafts. Each individual hair is decorated with light-colored bands contrasted with the dark-colored bands. The lighter or ground color lies closest to the skin, and the hair shaft ends with a dark tip. This gives the coat a distinctive stippled appearance. The coat is medium in length, long enough to accommodate 2 or 3 bands of ticking. The tabby ‘M’ decorates the forehead. The coat is soft, silky, fine in texture but dense and resilient to the touch.

Abys now come in various colors with different pairings of colored bands. The usual Aby has an apricot undercoat ticked with black. The sorrel is also apricot but ticked with chocolate. The blue is mushroom pink ticked with blue-gray and the fawn is pinky-cream ticked with a darker shade.

A fawn Abyssinian

The Aby is not for you are looking for a lap cat. They are not content to lie around and just be admired. Abyssinians love to be where you are. They interact with their owners and often enjoy the company of another cat. Courage’s, curious and high-spirited. Abys give new meaning to the word ‘active’ to felines. They perform antics for your amusement, earning them the reputation as the clowns of the cat kingdom. They perch on shoulders, crawl under covers and sit beside you purring loudly before dashing off to make flying leaps at the tallest bookcases. They are natural athletes, and no room or cupboard is safe from their agile paws and inquiring minds.

The normal Abyssinian is almost steadily on the move unless it is eating or sleeping. These cats constantly seem to patrol their territory – unless something catches their interest. When their interest is piqued, they tend to pay attention intensively to whatever is happening, at least until the next interesting thing happens or they decide that whatever is happening is really not all that interesting anyway. Looking at birds through a window can be a captivating pastime until they hear a can opener or find something else of more interest.

Abys are incredibly playful, even into adulthood. Everything they do seem to be larger than life. When they play they give over 100%, sometimes not seeming to worry about the life or limb! They can amuse themselves for many minutes at a time with a given toy over many months, and then decide they do not ever want to play with it again. Mechanical toys such as wind up toys can be a problem since as soon as they winds down, you either have to wind it up again or they will just ignore it. Abyssinians can amuse themselves with a paper ball or a plastic bottle cap just as well as with expensive, elaborate cat toys. They are very good at training humans to play fetch.

A blue Abyssinian

When restrained, Abys tend to become struggling bundles of fur with more than the usual number of elbows. However, that’s not to say that Abyssinians are not affectionate. Abys are loving and loyal and are most happy when involved in every aspect of your life. The Aby becomes your friend, your confidant and your devoted companion who loves you unconditionally. She is there to comfort you when you’re feeling down and they’re to share your joy when you’re happy. And she is certainly there to share your food at dinnertime. All that activity burns a lot of calories.

They seem to be more inclined to use their paws like human would use their hands. It is often said that Abys have a great love of water. They seem to enjoy playing with a dripping faucet, as well as drinking from them.

For the most part Abyssinians are fairly low maintenance cats. They do enjoy being hand rubbed and it is not a bad idea to give these cats a bath once a month. Washing with any good pet shampoo, a quick toweling off and allowing them to drip dry is all that is needed. Bathing of Abyssinians should be started when they are young and should always be preceded by a good claw clipping.

For people who want a piece of the wild kingdom and who would like an active, independent, loving cat, this ancient breed may be just right. These mischievous, animated shorthair cats with their iridescent, sparkling, colorful coats can provide years of pleasure to any household. It is not a mystery why people who have once lived with an Aby often will not have anything else as a pet…

Hairless cats are said to have appeared in various countries over the years, (including Australia) but the Sphynx is the result of the first attempts to cultivate a “hairless” breed. There have of course been others, since, such as the Don Sphynx and the Peterbald, but the Sphynx is the original hairless cat of the 1900’s. Indeed, hairlessness infrequently occurs in some pedigreed breeds Birman and oriental particularly, in Aline Noel’s experience - but in such cases the kittens do not survive beyond a few weeks, as the gene is lethal in these cases. This is not true of the Sphynx. Deriving from Canada where a moggy produced hairless kittens, the Sphynx, as we know it now is the result of carefully conducted breeding programmes in Europe and North America. They are Hr (recessive), which is a further mutation from Devon.

The Sphynx has had a short and somewhat checkered career. Recognized by TICA (The International Cat Association, based in the USA) it was at one stage also recognized by CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association - USA) but that recognition was withdrawn because of perceived health problems. (Ed Note: CFA provisional rec. Feb 98 was last year amended to championship status.)

Perceived health problems or not, the breed has survived and multiplied in North America and in Europe. Aline and the late Philippe Noel, (”Amenophis” prefix) French breeder/judges for TICA, were devotees of the breed for many years, and disputed that there are any more inherent problems in the Sphynx breed than one might find in others.

Sphynx are now recognized by FIFe (Federation Internationale Feline d’Europe) Recognition was mooted as long ago as 1982, when six Sphynxes of Canadian derivation were presented for inspection by a panel of six FIFe All Breeds judges (including the writer) at a show run by Felikat, at the Rai Pavilion, in Amsterdam. Unfortunately, at the time, it was felt that type was not really consistent, the gene pool limited, and the numbers too few to fulfill FIFe requirements for recognition of a breed. (They were subsequently bred with Devon Rex and the type became more consistent, though according to Aline, some lines tended to resemble Devon head type rather too closely.) Undeterred, the Dutch and French breeders pursued their plan and it is now common to see many Sphynx at FIFe shows, particularly in UK.

The Noels’ cats were directly descended from those presented in 1982, but displayed distinctive type, among other consistent characteristics. Different breeders have followed different courses to achieve their aims, with some outcrossing to Devon and others to Cornish Rex while others have bred to domestics, to widen the gene pool that was extremely limited. Aline abhors the practice of crossing to Devon, and feels that in terms of type, it is counter-productive, and produces hairless “neither/nors” which can and do look merely like bald Cornish or Devons. She was also wary of the dangers of introducing Devon myopathy into the (thus far) “clean” Sphynx lines. (Ed note: this has indeed now happened; I have judged such a cat in South Africa and there was a litter of affected kittens reported in Canada within the last 2 years.)

Precocious in every way, Sphynx are invariably born with their eyes open, or at the latest, opening at 1 day, and thus for a period tend to be prey to glaucoma. This is averted if baby eyes are attended to with drops. Newborns are incredibly wrinkled, and typically, heavy at birth. (120g is not uncommon) Tiny kittens’ skin is almost translucent, particularly in paler colors, in which the dark liver and veins can sometimes be made out, under the skin. The pale sections of skin darken with age.

The temperature is the same as in other cat breeds, but the metabolism of the Sphynx is much faster, and they eat LOTS more than other cats! The paler they are in color, the more they tend to sweat, (normally, sweat spreads up the hair shaft) and they are definitely not allergy free despite their lack of coat; because their saliva is spread regularly and liberally all over their bodies, they are disastrous for those with allergies.

While wrinkles are definitely not desirable in humans, with Sphynx it’s a case of the more, the merrier, according to most standards. From whisker pads to tail-base, they should be wrinkled, although they tend to put on weight during winter, with consequent wrinkle-loss in all but the “moving parts” - the extremities. Occasionally one sees an over-wrinkled Sphynx, but these are so because they are too long and lean. Interestingly, Fife’s standard does not place emphasis on extreme wrinkling; there is a cautionary note that they should not be so wrinkled as to provide potential health/cleanliness problems for the cat.

The belly should always look as though the cat had just eaten, (which it probably has!) and should at all times be shaped like a Perrier bottle. They have drumstick thighs and very obviously rounded muscles, and a long, rat-like tail. Legs are bandy, and the chest is very “open” and prominent. First, it should remind you of a bulldog, and second, of a chicken chest, with a prominent breastbone. It is not a small cat.

Legs are nonetheless finely built under that muscle, and the feet are long, with distinctive platform soled paw pads, which Aline refers to as “like cushions”. (Interestingly and perhaps more than coincidentally, when judging Devon Rex in Amsterdam in 1984 I was struck by just that phenomenon in many of the cats I handled.)

Sphynx feel like the finest of suede, or like peach fuzz. They have no whiskers, but can still gauge spaces - there goes that theory! They are not totally devoid of hair, as they are allowed fur on tail tip, bridge of nose, scrotum, earmuffs and ear tips. Occasionally, hairier kittens are born and these obviously have no future on the show bench. On which subject, it is not unknown for exhibitors to deal with unwanted hair by using human depilatory creams, the result of which can be injurious to the cat’s skin. This breed heals quickly, and Aline feels this might be because no hair can infiltrate a wound. Interestingly, hormonal females (in season or pregnant) develop more fur on the tail and flanks, but this disappears within a couple of days once the hormone situation reverts to normal.

The head of the Sphynx should not resemble that of any other breed. It has wide, high cheekbones, a gentle dip in profile (not a stop, like a Devon) and a slightly rounded forehead (also, unlike a Devon). The nose is slightly longer than that of the Devon. A vital feature in the head is a very deep and pronounced pinch, which should be both felt and very much visible. Older cats, which have undergone tooth loss, tend to lose the pinch, to an extent. If there is a common failing in Sphynx, the Noels feel it is they tend to be shallow in the chin department.

The ears are very open, and very much a feature of the breed. They are wide at base and large. But they are not so low set as a Devon’s, nor do they deviate so much from the flow of the face shape, with a “Dumbo” effect at the outside, lower level. Baby ears, of course, must be extra prominent if they are to be of respectable proportion in maturity.

If there is one drawback to this delightful, gremlin breed, it is that they suffer from the same syndrome that afflicts small boys - dirty neck syndrome! Because of their wrinkled necks being inaccessible to their tongues, they can get rather grubby in their crevices, and it is necessary for them to be washed with baby soap (lotion) or similar, on a regular basis. The inner thigh can also be a “trouble spot”. Show presentation requires them to be pristine, and indeed, they may need a ‘clean up’ between rings later on during a show day. They can also exude a unique smell.

Reprinted from “ACF 1998” with 2005 amendments
Originally compiled by Lesley Morgan Blythe from information provided by Aline Noel, one of Europe’s pioneer breeders, of “Amenophis” cattery.

The first documented and recognized ancestor of all Scottish Folds is “Sussie”, a folded-ear barn cat found on the McRae farm in the Tayside Region of Scotland. All Scottish Fold cats today can be tracked back to the McRaes’ Susie. Mary and William Ross, British Shorthair breeders who fell in love with Susie, were promised 1 of her kittens. In 1963, the Rosses were given a folded-ear white female they named’ Snooks’, who was bred with an unknown red tabby male. Her first litter produced one male kitten, ‘Snowball’ who was bred to a white British Shorthair, ‘Lady May’ and their litter produced 5 folded-ear kittens. Thus, begins the lineage of the Folds.

While several people became interested in developing and preserving the Scottish Folds, some problems were beginning to concern the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) in England. Accepted for showing originally in 1966, registration of Scottish Folds was closed in 1971. Concerned over the possible increase in ear mite infestation and deafness (both concerns later proved to be unfounded), the GCCF also became concerned about possible genetic difficulties. With the growing concern, the GCCF decided to ban further registration of Scottish Folds in England.

Originally, many Folds had foreshortened tails, which were inflexible. Dr. Rosemond Peltz, who served as the first genetic consultant for the American Scottish Fold breeders, offered the opinion that extremely careful breeding could diminish this undesirable defect. Breeders began to use more outcrossing and the gene pool increased. This produced longer, more flexible tails and the bone lesions and foreshortened tails began to disappear. Without the help and generosity of American and British Shorthair breeders who share their beautiful cats with Fold breeders, this breed might well be lost to the cat fancy and all those who love the ‘Foldie’.

In May 1977, Scottish Folds were given provisional status in CFA. A look at those early pedigree shows that several breeds were originally used to increase the gene pool and return the cats to their original barn cat’s hearty state. The Scottish Fold was granted championship status by The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) in 1978.

The most prominent feature of any Scottish Fold is of course the ears, which fold forward and downward. The ears are usually small and tightly folded, giving the cat’s head a unique round silhouette. An incompletely dominant gene that affects the cartilage of the ears, giving a cap-like appearance to the head, produces the folds. Despite their folded ears, Folds still use their aural appendages to express themselves. The ears swivel to listen, lay back in anger and prick up when the treat bag rustles. Folds have large, round and broadly spaced eyes full of sweetness, well-rounded whisker pads and a short nose with a gentle curve in profile. The head is round and wide on a short neck with the males tending to be jowly.

Scottish Folds are medium-sized cats and can be either shorthaired or longhaired. The Fold’s body also gives the impression of roundness. It is well-padded and even from shoulder to pelvis. The tail is medium to long, tapered and in proportion to the body. The longhaired Fold has a medium-long to long coat that is soft and full of life, and boasts a full ruff, leg britches, toe tufts, ear furnishings and a huge plume of a tail. The shorthaired Fold has a short to medium-short, dense, resilient coat that stands away from the body. Not all Scottish Fold kittens will have folded ears. All Scottish Fold kittens are born with straight ears. It isn’t until the kitten is about 3 weeks old that a breeder will begin to know which kittens will have folded ears and which will not. There are degrees of folding, usually described as single, double and triple fold. A single fold is generally a ‘loose’ fold and is not a show quality. The most desirable fold is a triple fold, which is tight to the head. Owners of tightly-folded Scottish Folds need to check their insides of their ears frequently, as they can accumulate dirt and wax more easily. However, straight-eared Scottish Folds are sought after in breeding programs and still make wonderful pets.

Many Scottish Folds have the curious habit of sitting or lying in very strange postures – on their backs, sitting up like a ‘Buddha’ position or flattening themselves out like little bearskin rugs. Their small, folded ears are unusually expressive, more so than an average cat’s ‘normal’ ears.

They have soft, chirpy voices and chirping sounds are often heard coming from Folds, especially the young ones, although that have tiny voices and not very vocal. Kittens and adults tend to enjoy sleeping on their backs, which comes from their relaxed attitudes. Scottish Folds adapt to almost any home situation and are comfortable with other pets, children and strangers.

Scottish Folds are mellow, loving, sweet-tempered and adapt quickly to new environments and people. While Folds will deign to allow others to cuddle and pat them, they are very loyal and tend to bond with one person in the household, whom they will follow from room to room like devoted, lop-eared puppies. They thrive on attention and interaction with their chosen humans and are agreeable to almost any suggestion – as long as it can be accomplished from a reclining position.

Despite their devotion, they are not clingy or demanding cats and usually prefer to be near you rather than on your lap. They vocalize only when they have something very important to say like ‘Feed me’, but even their voices are usually quiet. They enjoy a good game of fetch now ad then and stay playful and kittenish well into adulthood. Scottish Folds are hardy cats, much like their barnyard ancestors.

Scottish Folds do not require as much grooming as longhairs do. Shorthairs remain glistening on one or two brushings a week and require infrequent bathing. Longhaired Folds need about 3 brushings a week and should be bathed once a month.

The folded ears can cause an increase production of wax buildup in some cats, making ear cleaning a necessary part of grooming for both long and shorthaired varieties. A Scottish Fold’s ears are no more difficult to keep clean than other cats’ ears. A few cotton swabs, cotton balls and some rubbing alcohol, oil or peroxide and swab the visible parts of the ears carefully. Do not plunge the cotton swab or ball down into the ear canal further than eye can see or you might do some permanent damage.

Scottish Folds adapt to almost any home situation and are as comfortable in a room full of noisy children and dogs as they are in a single person’s dwelling. They don’t usually panic at shows or in strange places and they adjust to other animals extremely well. They have indeed come a long way, from a simple and humble barnyard beginning to one of the most popular and pampered breeds of cat in many homes, as well as reaching winning status at many cat shows.

The Munchkin is a naturally occurring domestic cat breed characterised by unusually short legs. A spontaneous change in the genetic heritage of the cat has introduced a gene similar to that seen in the Basset Hound, Corgi, and Dachshund, which the Munchkin closely resembles. However these cats have been proven free of the spinal problems sometimes found in the Dachshund. The short legs of a Munchkin come from a spontaneous dominant mutation that causes the long bones in the front legs to be shortened. This mutation is a cosmetic mutation only, meaning that it does not hamper a Munchkins’ mobility or cause them to be harmed in any way.

Although the Munchkins have only recently been discovered by the cat fancy, cats with short legs are not new to the scientific world. In the 1944 Veterinary Record (Great Britain), Dr. H. E. Williams-Jones described four generations of cats with short limbs, including an 8-1/2 year old black female reported as having had an extremely healthy life. It was at times noted to sit on its haunches with its usually short legs in the air, similar to the alert stance of a rabbit, hence in 1953 it was dubbed the “Stalingrad kangaroo cat.” A Munchkin is a product of nature rather than a man-made breed and because of the autosomal dominant inheritance pattern, a cat with the Munchkin gene may produce kittens with the same short legs. Munchkins are registered with The International Cat Association (TICA) since September 2, 1994 showable in the NBC (new breed or colour) class, and United Feline Organisation showable in championship.

The Munchkin is a medium sized cat with a substantial, thick semi-foreign body type and a well-rounded chest. Munchkin litters consist of both short and long legged kittens. Male Munckins are generally larger than their female counterparts. Captivating Munchkins come in all colours and hair lengths. Both varieties have plush, all-weather, resilient coats with a lustrous, silky appearance. The longhair Munchkin has the distinction of sporting a beautiful plumed tail. Eyes are medium large and walnut shaped found in most colours with a deeper, more vivid eye colour preferred.

These irresistible cats can do anything other cats can do. Munchkins are able to leap great heights such as counter tops, although many prefer to intelligently find an easier way up. Munchkins movements are described as being like that of a ferret. They can also run extremely fast, despite their short legs.

Munchkins are defiantly exquisite cats full of cat adventurousness that all cat lovers appreciate, fully equipped with personality plus some, palsy-walsy, self-assured, and trainable to walk with a bounce on a leash. With amazement and enjoyment you’ll watch these cuddly little cuties accelerate taking corners like small sports cars ducking under house hold objects. They can be taught to play fetch and to zestfully obey voice commands. The Munchkin is sociable and enjoys company. Friendly and self-assured the Munchkin gets along well with other cats, dogs, and people. They retain their kitten personalities throughout their lives. Munchkins can be a welcome delight in any home.

HISTORY
The Norwegian Forest Cat (NFO) is truly a natural breed, originating from the farms of Norway. Its exact origins will never be precisely established, but one thing is certain, the Forest Cat was produced by Mother Nature. The NFO has been around for centuries. Like a small but beautiful version of the lynx, the Norwegian Forest Cat is part of Norway’s fauna.

There are many tales about Forest cats to be found in Norwegian folklore. It is even reputed that these cats were the family pets of the Vikings. One of the things, I found most fascinating about the Norwegian Forest cat is its history. Norway is a land of rugged mountains, tranquil lakes, wild forests, and glaciers. The winters are long, harsh and dark. The summers are cool and brief. From this dim, difficult terrain emerged the Norse Skogkatt, literally meaning the Norwegian Forest Cat.

Some say the basic type, with all the characteristics unique to the breed, existed as early as 2000 years ago. This cat was long-legged, intelligent, and brave, equipped with a double semi-long coat (a long one would easily be caught in brush and a short one would not offer relief from the constant cold). The top coat was glossy and waterproof and never matted and the inside coat was soft, cotton-like and dense.

It insulated the cat well and kept them warm even in freezing temperatures. Their paws were large and heavily furred so that they did not get cold in deep snow, with thick claws used for fishing and climbing.

Forest Cats are famed for running down trees head first!

Over the years, there have been many references to Forest Cats. Mention of Forest cats can even be found in a number of folk tales where they are referred to as “Huldrekat” which translates as “Fairy Cat”. They are also known as “Eventyrkatten” which means “Fairytale Cat”, which is most appropriate as it is in Norwegian Fairytales that many of the first references of Forest Cats can be found. Some tales have described the Cats as “wood” or “forest” cats with thick, bushy tails. Possibly the first documented Forest Cat was a children’s book. The Norwegian author Gabriel Scott wrote a book in 1912 entitled “Solvfaks”.

The Norwegian Forest Cat as we know it today has developed through natural selection, as only the toughest cats with the thickest waterproof coat, longest legs, etc. would be able to survive in Norway’s harsh climate. It was not until the 1930’s that the Forest Cats were looked at with interest. But, with the outbreak of War, this interest was put on the back burner. In the early 1970’s, interest was once again shown in the Forest Cats.

By this stage it had become apparent that Forest Cats were facing extinction, and that if they were to be saved from disappearing altogether a specilised breeding programme had to be developed. In 1975, enthusiastic Norwegian breeders formed the Norsk Skogkattring (the first Norwegian Forest Cat Club).

In those early years, many difficulties arose in establishing a breed standard. Carl Frederick Nordane (Freddy) was a driving force in getting the breed recognised. Freddy a member of the specially formed Breeder’s Committee) sent photographs of a cat called Pans Truls. These photographs made the Breeder’s Committee believe that a widely accepted and agreed official standard was achievable. Pans Truls lived with the Nyland family near Oslo.

Pan’s Truls

Freddy and other members of the Breeder’s Committee went to see the Nylands and Pan’s Truls (a brown tabby and white kitten). After seeing Truls in the fur, it was soon apparent that Pan’s Truls was indeed the cat that they were looking for. Pan’s Truls became the “model” cat and a standard of points was formulated. This standard is still in effect today.

Pan’s Polaris - found on many pedigrees and one of the very early NFOs

PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES
The best description of a Norwegian Forest Cat is a large semi-longhaired cat, the most important features being type and coat quality. As the breed originated as a natural outdoor working cat on Norwegian’s farms, the appearance of the Norwegian Forest cat should reflect this natural heritage. The cat should have an alert expression, be in good general condition and well presented.

The cats should be well built, and both the males and females have broad chests. An entire females can weigh between 8 - 12 lbs., and an entire males between 14 - 16 lbs. Neutered cats can weigh a few pounds more.

THE NORWEGIAN FOREST CAT MATURES SLOWLY, AND FULL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CAT CAN TAKE UP TO FOUR YEARS

TEMPERAMENT/LIVING WITH A FOREST CAT
Alert, inquisitive, fearless, courageous, intelligent, friendly, mischievous, strong, loving, playful and adaptable. These are all terms that are regularly used to describe NFOs but are they true?

Ask anyone who has lived with a NFO and they will agree that yes, a NFC is indeed every one of these things. NFOs are very friendly, and love their human companions; whatever amount of love you give to your NFO, it will come back to you ten times over.

They are inquisitive and very playful, and although they ideally like lots of space, they will happily tolerate smaller spaces, provided that they have lots to do, things to climb, places to hide. It is often a bit reserved with strangers, but usually gentle, friendly cats. Most are not lap cats. Head bumping and chin scratching is of course a must, but with some restraint - you don’t have to pet them all the time. He’ll tell you, quietly, when it is needed. (If you ignore him, he’ll get louder) Another fact is there’s also evidence that outdoor NFOs who live near streams do fish!

Forest Cats make ideal family cats, they are happy to get on with children and animals alike, but beware, they will probably want to be number one, and somehow the rest of the household usually lets them. No matter how happy they are with other animals, they do especially love their human friends; they may even follow you from room to room as you move about your home.

Forest cats are low maintenance cats, their naturally robust natures tend to make their live healthy and uncomplicated. Although they do have thick winter coats, these are usually maintained by the cats themselves. The annual moult usually takes place in Spring and at this time the cats will probably appreciate some extra grooming.

General grooming is probably only required once or twice a week, but many new owners find that daily grooming of their new kitten is a good way of building up a special relationship with their new arrival, and indeed, it is very rewarding to hear the contented purr of a happy cat. Grooming is also a good way of keeping touch with your cat condition and any changes can then be picked up very quickly.

Breed Profile
One of the oldest natural breeds in North America, the Maine coon is second only to the Persian in popularity. This made-in-America breed is prized for his large size, sweet personality and silky all-weather coat. Considering the breed’s intelligence and clown-like antics, it’s no wonder that this cat ranks No. 2 among America’s top favorites.

History and Origin
Maine coons have been on this continent since colonial days. They probably came over from Europe with the first settlers of the New World, since cats were often kept on sailing ships to control rodent populations. While there exists no actual evidence of where and when they arrived, some entertaining myths surround the breed’s arrival. One such tale claims that Maine coons are descendants of longhaired cats owned by Marie Antoinette. According to the story, Captain Clough smuggled the queen’s cats and other belongings to America in preparation of the Queen’s rescue from her rendezvous with the guillotine. Unfortunately, he was only successful in rescuing her cats.

However they arrived, Maine coons carved their place in the New England countryside alongside the early colonists. Given Maine’s severe winters, those initial years were hard on both felines and humans. Only the strongest and most adaptable cats survived. Through natural selection, the Maine coon developed into a large, rugged cat with his water-resistant coat and hardy constitution.

The Maine coon was an early favorite in the emerging American cat fancy in the late 1800s. In the early 1900s, however, cat fanciers of the era abandoned Maine coons for Persians, Angoras and other exotic imports. By 1950, the breed had all but vanished. Fortunately, a small group of breeders kept the breed alive.

Appearance
One of the largest domestic breeds, male Maine coons weigh in at 12 to 18 pounds, while the “petite” females range from 10 to 14 pounds. The heavy, water-resistant coat, shorter on the shoulders and longer on the stomach and britches, makes the cat appear even larger.

Since the Maine coon is the result of “survival of the fittest” adaptation, the breed is muscular and broad-chested with substantial, muscular legs and large, well-tufted paws suitable for walking in Maine’s winter woods. Slow to develop, the Maine coon takes 3 to 4 years to reach full size and weight.

Although brown tabby is the most common color and pattern, Maine coons come in many color schemes. In fact, all colors and patterns are accepted except chocolate, lavender, the Siamese pointed pattern and any of these combinations with white.

Personality
With their large, powerful, muscular bodies and powerful jaws, it’s a good thing Maine coons are gentle giants. They are, in fact, jumbo-sized packages of love and devotion. Sweet and good-natured, Maine coons are completely loyal to their beloved humans. They generally bond with one person or family and are forever devoted to those favored few.

The only thing small about Maine coons are their voices. It’s hilarious to hear tiny high-pitched squeaks coming out of Paul Bunyan-sized bodies. Like most cats, Maine coons spend much of their time snoozing, but when in action they are agile and lightning fast. Since their ancestors made their living as mousers, they are zealous hunters and enjoy playing with catnip mice and other prey. They particularly enjoy interactive toys in which their humans take part. Fetch is a favorite game.

As befits former seafarers, Maine coons are fascinated by water. They enjoy dabbling their feet in their water bowls, drinking from running faucets and walking around the still-wet shower or bathtub. This fascination doesn’t extend to bath time, however.

Grooming
Since the Maine coon’s coat has a silky, all-weather texture and is water resistant, the fur doesn’t mat as easily as a Persian’s would. Regular grooming is still needed, however. To keep the Maine coon looking sharp, comb two or three times a week with a good quality steel comb. During the fall, when they shed their summer coats, and spring, when they shed their heavier winter coats, additional grooming is usually needed.

Special Notes
Maine coons are generally very healthy because of their working cat origins. However, some are prone to hip dysplasia and a very serious heart disease called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM). Be sure to question your breeder about these conditions.

Because Maine coons are so popular, there are some disreputable backyard breeders. Before you buy, check out the breeder with the cat associations and with the Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Association.

History
Unknown to many, among the rare spices and jewels which were transported by basket laden camels from Persia a long time ago, secreted amongst those treasures, was a far more precious cargo – the long haired cat now called the Persian, after the country of their origin.

These cats were relatively unknown in Europe until approximately in 1520 but there have been hieroglyphic references to them from as early as 1684BC. In the 17th century, an Italian traveler, Pietro della Valle, brought an example of a Persian cat from Persia to Italy, where because the breed was considered extraordinary and precious, its was jealously guarded and cared for.

A century later, another explorer, a Frenchman known as Nicholas de Pereisc brought new specimens from Turkey. In the 1st half of the 19th century, some of the Persians raised in Italy were secretly brought to France and England where they were crossed with Persians from Turkish descent, thus marking the birth of the modern Persian.

In 1871, a breeding program was organized by English breeders, where in its initial stages, it involved crosses with Angora cats, which improved the quality of the coat. At the same time, systematic work began on expanding the range of possible colors and coat patterns. The Persians, with their long flowing coats and open pansy like faces have is present time become the world’s favorite pedigree cat.

Persian Qualities
As we already know, there are many different cat breeds out there and they each come with different personalities. It is important to observe and be similar with this fact, as the personality of the cat must always complement that of the owner. The Persian is an intelligent animal- analytical and prudent. Although the Persian often appears naughty, aloof and indifferent as if nothing were worthy of its attention, there is very little truth in this.

They tend to be serene and laid-back, and are also commonly described as being quiet, dignified, and not too vocal. In its motionless silence, the cat carefully studies its surroundings and through its continuous inspection, it slowly familiarizes itself with its environment. Only once it understands its surroundings does it begin to display the other half of its personality – graciousness, sweetness and controlled cheerfulness. In its affection, the Persian is loyal, pure and tenacious without ever losing its aristocratic aplomb – a companion that would be ever truthful over the years.

The Persians’ sweet and gentle, personalities blend into most households once they feel secure in their new environment, Creatures of habit, they are most at home in an atmosphere of security and serenity but with love and reassurance, they can still easily adapt to the most boisterous of households. Persians are tremendously responsive and become a constant source of joy and delight to their owners.

Persians have quiet, melodious voices, which are pleasant and non-abrasive although they communicate delightfully with their large expressive eyes and make charming pets for all ages. Pleasurable as an unexpected sunbeam, their companionship is close and enduring.

Appearance
Persians without a doubt are beautiful cats, but their coats require good bit of maintenance. It is said that no breed has a coat comparable to the Persian. This is a question of taste of course, but no one can fail to recognize that the qualitative characteristics of the Persian cat are quite unequalled today.

The coat can reach lengths of between 6 to 8 inches. The Persian had 3 layers of a thick, rich coat, which are fully developed and equally long. The hairs are strong and regular in structure. Also prominent is the abundant ruff (also called the collar or frill) and the bushy tail. The full tail is carried without a curve and at an angle lower then the back.

They have short heavily boned legs to support their broad, short bodies. They like to have their feet firmly planted and are not given to high jumping and climbing. Playful but never demanding, they love to pose and will drape themselves in a favorite window or chair, enhancing the décor in much the same way as a treasured painting.

The long flowing coat of a Persian requires an indoor, protected environment. Proper maintenance requires a daily run-through with a metal comb to eliminate the potential drawbacks of tangles and hairballs. The dangers of flea infestation increases exponentially if the Persian were to keep romping around in the garden and the care of the coat would become a complex enterprise. An occasional bath, will also keep the coat clean, healthy and beautiful. It is wise to establish the routine of the bath when they are young.

Color divisions
While the white Persian seems to be more common, Persians come in an astonishing number of colors, which are divided into 7 color divisions for purposes of competition. These divisions are established on the basis of the color pattern.

The Solid Division
The Whites come in 3 different eye colors. Some have brilliant copper or deep blue eyes, others have he surprising combination of one blue and one copper eye of equal intensity. The other solid colors like black, red, cream and blue have brilliant copper eyes. Blues, once the apex of the breed, have been interbred with the other colors to produce a more uniform type. Their male silver blue coats are more beautiful when viewed in natural lighting.

The Silver and Gold Division
This division consists of the chinchilla (a sparkling white cat with black tipping scattered like stardust ever so lightly on the face, legs, tail and body) and the shaded silver and gold. The exquisite silvers are considered the most ethereal of all Persians whereas the golden have a rich, warm cream color tipped with black. Both the silvers and golden have a green or blue green eyes rimmed with black, black paw pads and brick red nose leather.

The Shaded and Smoke Division
First given a breed class at a British cat show in 1893, today’s Smoke Persian is known as “the cat of contrasts” and though it is rare, this Persian breed is an excellent longhair type. There are six separate colors – blue, black, cream, cameo (red), smoke tortoiseshell and blue-cream smoke – which have the characteristic white ruff and ear tufts. In response the smoke appears to be a solid color but in motion, the coat will break open, giving glimpses of a starting white undercoat.

The Tabby Division
The Classic Tabby division sometimes referred to as the “marbled” or “blotched” displays precise dense markings, which are clear, defined and broad. In Britain, the Tabby Persian is shown in 3 color varieties – silver, brown and red whereas the American Show rings exhibit a wider range of colors. The tabbies are the extroverts of the Persian breed. Often referred to as the fun cat, tabbies can be outgoing and demonstrative. Their facial markings give them a zesty appeal. Recognized colors are silver, blue-silver, red, brown, blue, cream, cameo and cream-cameo.

The Particolor Division
This division consists of tortoiseshell, blue-cream, chocolate tortoiseshell and lilac-cream. The tortoiseshell is a black cat dispersed with great patches of red. The blue-cream, a delightfully study in pastel is a solid blue cat patched with cream.

The Bicolor Division
The bicolor Persian may be of any solid color with white, black and white, blue and white, red and white and also cream and white, the patches of color should be clear and evenly distributed with not more than 2/3 of the coat being colored and more than one half of the coat being white. The face must also be patched with color and with white.

Ideal Weight
Persians ideally weigh between 7-12lbs, but a vet can help you determine what your cat should weigh based on his or her bone size. Because of their long and thick hair, Persians tend to be heavier than other breeds.

Life Span
According to vets, cats usually live 10-18 years. Typically the life span of a well-maintained Persian is 15 years and up. But there have been rare cases that Persians have been lived past 20.

Average Litter Size
A Persian litter size can be anywhere from 1 – 14 kittens. However, the average size is 3-5 kittens.

Grooming
Persian hair care definitely can be troublesome. An owner should brush his Persian ideally once a day with a metal comb and bath them occasionally. A neglected coat results in knots. If the knots are in the beginning stages, you should be able to work them out with a metal comb and some detangling solutions.

If your cat’s knots are really severe, they will probably need to be cut or even shaved off. This might however leaving unattractive bald spots depending on the location of the knots. Either make an appointment with a local groomer to have the knots shaved, or you can attempt to cut them out yourself of they are not close to the skin.

Bath your Persian regularly – once or twice a month. Fill a basin or tub with lukewarm water. Using cat shampoo, work up lather all over the fur. Be careful around the eyes and ears. Rinse thoroughly and towel dry. Be sure to run a comb through the coat to prevent matting. Let the cat dry in a warm environment – some people even blow-dry their cats.

Climatic Problems
In a warm climate like Malaysia’s, prolonged exposure to the sun can damage the quality and color of the coat. The effects of this are disastrous for solids and more noticeable in varieties with more colors. The Persian’s thick coat makes it intolerant of overly hot environments but at the same time, this same thick coat is not enough to protect the cat from catching a chill caused by sudden changes in temperature.

Health Issue
When it comes to Persians, there are plenty of health risks to be aware of. The females are subject to uterine infections that if left untreated can lead minimally to infertility and in worse cases to death. Also, twisted uterus is a condition that can happen acutely towards the end of pregnancy. If not detected immediately, it is fatal to the queen and the kittens. Also take note that Persians often have a high rate for C-sections.

Unfortunately, Persians can also have jaw and teeth problems. Some would say that such problems are mainly a result of Persian breeders striving to shorten the nose and retain the strong, deep jaw. Crooked teeth might play havoc with a Persian’s mouth. However, straight adult teeth may later replace sometimes-crooked baby teeth.

Another potential problem in Persians is a protruding lower jaw. In other words, the bottom teeth are set further out than the top teeth. Yet another issue could be a twisted bottom jaw (the bottom jaw is not even against the top jaw). Such twisting can cause teeth to either protrude past the lips or poke into the gums or roof of the mouth.

Eye Drainage
“Eye gunk” is just another problem that Persians typically encounter. Due to the shape of the face and head, Persians often develop sinus problems such as eye drainage; this is actually more of an annoyance to the cat than anything. If the cat cannot clean off all of the substance, it falls upon the owner to do so. Just wipe a warm washcloth without soap around the cat’s eyes once in the morning and once at night.

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
Polycystic Kidney Disease is a genetic problem that is carried in lines of Persian. It can be passed on to the kittens even if only 1 parent carries the gene. PKD is known to kill at 2-6 years of age by filling the kidneys with cysts, thus destroying the healthy kidney function.

Breed Standard
General
The ideal Persian should present an impression of a heavily boned, well-balanced cat with a sweet expression and soft, round lines. The large round eyes set wide apart in a large round head contribute to the overall look and expression. The long thick coat softens the lines of the cat and accentuates the roundness in appearance.

Head
Its head should be round and massive, with a broad skull. A round face with round underlying bone structure is an outstanding feature. The head should be well set on a short, thick neck. Deformity of the skull resulting in an asymmetrical face or head will be disqualified. A Persian should also have full cheeks with powerful jaws.

Nose
The Persian’s nose should ideally be short. It is a broad snub with a “break” centered between the eyes.

Chin
Reflecting a proper bite, the chin should be full, well developed and firmly rounded.

Ears
Set far apart, and low on the head, the ears should fit into the rounded contour of the head without any distortion. The ears are small; round tipped, tilted forward and should be unduly open at the base.

Eyes
Set level and far apart the Persians’ eyes are well known for giving a sweet expression to the breed’s face. The eyes should be brilliant in color, large, round and full. Crossed eyes will be disqualified.

Body
Large or medium sized Persians are acceptable. Quality is the determining consideration rather than size. The Persian has a Cobby type body, low on the legs, broad and deep through the chest and equally massive across the shoulders and rump, with a well-rounded mid-section and level back. The body should have good muscle tone with no evidence of obesity.

Legs
Only Persians with short, thick and strong legs will be considered. The forelegs should be straight while the hind legs are straight when viewed from behind. Any apparent weakness in the hindquarters will be disqualified.

Paws
Large, round and firm paws are a must. Toes are carried close, 5 in front and 4 behind.

Tail
Carried without curve and at an angle lower than the back, the tail should be short but in proportion to the body length. Kinked or abnormal tails will be disqualified.

Coat
The most important part of a Persian cat, the coat should always be maintained long ad thick, standing off from the body. It has to have fine texture, glossy and full of life. The coat must remain long all over the body, including the shoulders while the immense ruff should continue in a deep frill between the front legs.

You’ve made the decision. You want to share your life with a cat. Not just any cat, but a beautiful, purebred cat. According to the Cat Fanciers’ Association, Inc. (CFA), the world’s largest cat registry, there are more than 35 breeds of purebred cat from which you can choose your “perfect cat.” Do you want a cat to curl up beside you as you sit quietly reading a book before a blazing fireplace? Do you want an energetic, vocal buddy that will learn to retrieve toys that you throw? Different breeds of cat meet the needs of different types of people. Purebred cats tend to fall into various categories. Like humans, however, all cats are individuals. Their temperament in many ways depends on how they were bred and how they were handled prior to your arrival. Every once in a while, you might find a frisky, roustabout Ragdoll or even a quiet, lethargic Siamese. But this is the exception to the rule, not the norm for both breeds.35 Breeds of CatsThese are the “general” characteristics of CFA’s 35 recognized breeds of cat:

Abyssinian
The Aby is a shorthaired, medium sized cat. The breed is very active, mildly vocal and loves to cuddle and stay close to their owner.

American Curl
With longhaired and shorthaired varieties, this cat is medium to large in size but slender in build. The American curl is active and non-vocal with a gentle, even disposition.

American Shorthair
The American shorthair is a medium to large sized cat. The breed tends to be laid-back and mildly vocal. They love to cuddle. This cat has the look of a strongly built, “macho” cat.

American Wirehair
The American wirehair is a shorthaired, medium to large sized cat. The breed is active and mildly vocal with a loving disposition. The coat has the same wirey look as a wirehair dog.

Balinese
This exotic cat has semi-long hair with a head and body style similar to the Siamese. The breed is medium sized with tapering lines. Typically active and vocal, the Balinese also likes to cuddle.

Birman
The Birman is a longhaired, medium to large sized cat. They are semi-active and mildly vocal but extremely affectionate. The silky consistency of the coat doesn’t mat as easily as other longhairs.

Bombay
The Bombay is a shorthaired, medium sized cat. The breed is vocal and somewhat active but generally friendly. This cat has the look of a small black panther.

British Shorthair
A shorthaired and large cat, the British shorthair is a laid-back, non-vocal breed.

Burmese
The Burmese is a shorthaired, small to medium sized cat. The breed is vocal, somewhat active and loves to cuddle.

Chartreux
The Chartreux is a shorthaired, large cat. The breed is mildly vocal, laid-back and very affectionate.

Colorpoint Shorthair
This breed is shorthaired and medium in size. The breed looks like a Siamese with different point colors. The colorpoint shorthair is vocal, active and cuddly.

Cornish Rex
The Cornish rex is a shorthaired, small to medium cat with a very slender build. The breed is active, vocal and cuddly.

Devon Rex
As with the Cornish rex, the Devon is shorthaired and small to medium in size. Active and vocal, this cat has an elfin look and wavy hair.

Egyptian Mau
With the look of a spotted, exotic wildcat, the Egyptian Mau is shorthaired and medium in size. The breed is active and vocal.

Exotic
This breed is shorthaired and large with the head and body style of a Persian. The exotic is non-vocal, laid-back, very cuddly and affectionate.

Havana Brown
This uncommon breed is shorthaired and medium in size. An active and mildly vocal breed, this cat has the look of an exotic cat.

Japanese Bobtail
The Japanese bobtail can have either longhair or shorthair. The breed is medium in size and slender. An active, vocal cat, this breed is easily identified by his pompom tail.

Javanese
This cat is a semi-longhaired version of the colorpoint shorthair. Active and vocal, the Javanese has a quasi-wildcat look.

Korat
The korat is a shorthaired, medium sized cat. Active and vocal, this breed has a silver blue coat.

Maine Coon
The Maine coon is a longhaired, large cat. Active and non-vocal, the Maine coon has an amiable disposition.

Manx
The manx is a medium sized, mildly vocal cat. This breed is very intelligent and loving, with a noticeable lack of a tail.

Norwegian Forest
This large, longhaired cat is laid-back and mildly vocal and always affectionate.

Ocicat
This large, shorthaired cat is athletic and active. Mildly vocal, the ocicat looks like a spotted wildcat.

Oriental
The Oriental looks like a Siamese with full body color. A medium sized cat, the breed is lithe, active and vocal.

Persian
The Persian is a large sized, longhaired cat. The breed is laid-back, non-vocal and cuddly.

Ragdoll
The ragdoll is a large, longhaired cat. Laid-back and non-vocal, the ragdoll loves to cuddle.

Russian Blue
The Russian blue is an affectionate, shorthaired, medium sized cat. The breed is active and mildly vocal.

Scottish Fold
Known for his folded ears, the Scottish fold is a medium sized, laid-back and non-vocal cat.

Selkirk Rex
This uncommon breed is large and active. Mildly vocal, this breed is a curly haired sweetheart.

Siamese
The Siamese is one of the more vocal breeds. Shorthaired and svelte, this breed is both active and very affectionate.

Singapura
The Singura is a shorthaired, small sized cat. Active and vocal, this breed looks exotic but loves to cuddle.

Somali
The Somali looks like a semi-longhaired version of the Abyssinian. The breed is medium in size, active and vocal.

Tonkinese
The Tonkineses is another active, vocal and cuddly breed. This breed’s short haircoat requires little care.

Turkish Angora
This small to medium sized slender cat appears very graceful. Active and vocal, this semi-longhaired breed is also very affectionate.

Turkish Van
The Turkish van is an uncommon breed with semi-long hair. Large and strong, this breed is somewhat active, vocal and quite affectionate.