AMKM Cat Breeds

Ocicat

Available in 12 colors, the ideal Ocicat is a large, active animal with an athletic appearance. It is very solid and well-muscled and has a short, tight coat with a satin sheen that shows off muscles and spots to their best advantage. In 1964, the original Ocicat was the unexpected result of an experimental breeding which attempted to produce an Abypoint Siamese. Mrs. Daly's daughter named the breed the Ocicat because of its resemblance to the ocelot. While the Ocicat looks wild, its temperament is anything but ferocious. It is a lot like a dog in that it is absolutely devoted to its people. Not a demanding, clinging-vine type, the Ocicat is confident as well as dedicated to its owners. Bred for spots, the Ocicat also comes in four other patterns: ticked, classic tabby, solid, and pointed. But regardless of color or pattern, they all have that trademark personality to capture your heart.

Burmese

Burmese are compact but heavy, often described as bricks wrapped in silk. That doesn't preclude them from being active and acrobatic. Their short, fine, silky coat comes in the original dark sable brown as well as dilute colors: champagne (light brown), blue and platinum (lilac). All Burmese cats descend from a single chocolate-colored cat, Wong Mau. The Burmese is a cuddler and loves sitting in a lap. Burmese are vocal and have a deep, rumbling voice.

Birman

His piercing, sapphire-blue eyes stare deep into your soul, and his semi-long coat -- ideally misted with gold -- is silky to the touch. The white-gloved Birman may look elegant, but his appearance belies a powerful, muscular body and a strong love of play. The breed was first imported to the United States in the 1960s. Birmans should have four white feet, with a pattern described as "gloves and laces." The Birman has a distinctive roman nose. These are intelligent cats who thrive on interactive play, such as puzzle toys. Birmans consistently make the top-ten lists in the U.S.

Persian

Persians, with their luxurious coats and open pansy-like faces are the number one breed in popularity. Their sweet, 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, can easily adapt to the most boisterous of households. Their quiet, melodious voices are pleasant and non-abrasive. They communicate delightfully with their large expressive eyes and make charming pets for all ages. Persians have short heavilyboned legs to support their broad, short bodies. There are several divisions based on coat colors: Solid Division Silver & Golden Division Shaded & Smoke Division Tabby Division Particolor Division Bicolor Division Himalayan Division

Norwegian Forest Cat

______ is a large, semi-longhaired cat whose rugged appearance fits its name. Despite the hardy facade, this breed is very much a homebody that enjoys the company of other pets and particularly their human companions. Their relationship with you can best be described as "on their own terms." Large, almond-shaped eyes with their oblique set and the equilateral triangle-shaped head contribute to the unique appearance of this breed. Viewed from the side, the Forest Cat has a straight profile, i.e. straight from the brow ridge to the tip of the nose. Heavily furnished ears that fit into the triangle finish the look. Norwegian Forest Cats actually come in most colors, from pure white to deepest coal black, with every possible coat pattern and color combination in between, with the exception of the colorpoint colors as seen in the Siamese or Persian-Himalayan, such as seal point or chocolate point. The fully mature (approximately age five) Norwegian Forest Cat is a large, sturdy cat, well-muscled with significant boning. Expect a male to weigh from 12 to 16 pounds; fully grown females will weigh from 9 to 12 pounds.

Colorpoint Shorthair

Colorpoint Shorthairs are an affectionate breed, devoted and loyal to their people. Sensitive to their owner's moods, Colorpoints are more than happy to sit at your side or on your lap and purr words of encouragement on a bad day. Colorpoints, like the Siamese, are talkative and want to discuss their day with anyone who will listen. Today's Colorpoints are elegant and refined, with long, hard bodies, fine boning, and wedge-shaped heads with large, flaring ears. Their almond-shaped eyes are deep vivid blue, slanted towards the nose, in harmony with the shape of the wedge head and the placement of the ears. A blindfolded person holding both a good Siamese and a good Colorpoint should not be able to tell the difference.

Havana Brown

Dressed in tobacco-brown with a gorgeous pair of green eyes, the Havana is a muscular, medium-size cat related to the Siamese. He enjoys sitting in a lap and chatting to his owner in a soft voice. His short coat is easy to groom The Havana Brown is extremely rare. It's estimated that fewer than 1,000 of the cats exist in the world. The Havana Brown's large, round-tipped ears tilt forward, giving the cat an alert appearance.

Oriental

From the tip of its nose to the end of its long, whippy tail, the Oriental is a study in sleek design. This elegant cat gracefully glides across the room on its tall, slender legs. The lines of its angular head flow into its large flaring ears and are complimented by its almond-shaped eyes. Don't be fooled by the svelte, tubular body; these cats have surprising weight and muscle tone and are neither frail nor fragile. With over 600 color, pattern, and coat length combinations to choose from, you're guaranteed to find an Oriental that will tickle your fancy. Imagine a Siamese wearing a head to toe coat in white, red, cream, ebony, blue, chestnut, lavender, cinnamon, or fawn. These are our solids. For a sparkling undercoat, stir in the silver gene (to all but the white), and you have a smoke Oriental. Perhaps, instead, you'd like the color restricted to the tips of the hair. For this, we have the shadeds to whet your appetite. Paint splashes of red and/or cream on any of these coats, and you have a parti-color.

Bengal

If you love a cat with an exotic look but without the size and danger of a wild cat, the Bengal was developed with you in mind. Created by crossing small Asian Leopard Cats with domestic cats, this large-boned, shorthaired cat stands out for his spotted or marbled coat of many colors. The Bengal's beautiful coat comes in many background colors, ranging from golden, rust, brown and orange to sand, buff and ivory. Bengal spots also vary in color, from rust or cocoa and chocolate brown to charcoal or black. Some Bengal coats have striking rosettes or spots made up of more than one color, usually a secondary color forming a dark outlining to the spot. Bengal coats also come in a marbled pattern: one or more colors swirled into the background color. While most commonly seen in the brown spotted tabby pattern, they may also be found in the marbled pattern (classic tabby). A Bengal's coat can have hairs with an iridescent sheen, making it look as if it has been sprinkled with glitter.

Chartreux

It's been said that the Chartreux resembles a potato atop toothpicks. This beautiful blue cat, who hails from France, has a plush, medium-length double coat, Halloween-colored eyes that range from copper to gold, and a chunky body.

Aegean Cat

Native to the Greek islands known as the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea, these are natural cats, meaning they developed without humans getting involved in their breeding. As a breed, Aegean Cats are rare, although they are numerous on their home islands. Aegean Cats have a lean, muscular body covered with a bicolor or tricolor coat that is white with black, red, blue or cream. Some have tabby markings. The Aegean has almond-shaped, green eyes.

RagaMuffin

RagaMuffins come in all coat colors and patterns, with or without white, with the pointed and pointed with white colors. Their coats are medium-long and fully furred - similar to the coat of a rabbit. RagaMuffins are low maintenance cats. Although their coats are thick and plush, surprisingly they do not readily mat or clump and are easy to care for. RagaMuffins are classically medium to large cats. Females tend to be significantly smaller than males. Females tend to average between eight and thirteen pounds and males averaging between fourteen to twenty pounds. Each is heavily boned and fully fleshed, with a tendency toward a fatty pad on the lower abdomen. They are fully mature at four years of age and have a long life expectancy.

Ragdoll

Ragdolls are large, laid-back, semi longhaired cats with captivating blue eyes. The Ragdoll is a pointed breed, which means that the body is lighter in color than the points (the face, legs, tail and ears). The ideal Ragdoll is a well balanced cat, with no extreme features. Altered males will usually top the scale at 15-20 pounds; females are proportionately smaller and usually weigh between 10-15 pounds at maturity. Ragdolls are slow-maturing, reaching full coat color at two years, and full size and weight at four. There are four patterns: bi-color, van, mitted and colorpoint. Patterns come in six colors: seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, and cream. Points may be solid, lynx, tortie, or torbie (tortie and lynx).

Siamese

Siamese have fascinated people around the world since they were first officially exported from Thailand, or, as it was known then, Siam, in the late 1800s. Their sleek lines, striking color contrast, finely chiseled aristocratic heads, deep blue almond eyes, and short silky coats make them living art. Combine this beauty with acute intelligence, inquisitive personality, and a loving nature, and you have the essence of the Siamese cat. Seal points, still the best known of the four CFA Siamese colors, were the first to be recognized. With their seal brown, almost black extremities and their pale fawn bodies, they were sensational. While chocolate points, with creamy white bodies and milk chocolate legs, tail, mask, and ears did appear from time to time, it was the blue point that gained CFA recognition in 1934. The blue point has a bluish-white body with slate blue points. The chocolate point was recognized next. In 1955 the lilac point followed and completed the breed. The lilac point has pinkish grey points with a white body, which makes it most ethereal and delicate in color. While color is a prominent feature in this breed, structure is also important. The Siamese is a study in length. From the start, the breed standard has called for a long, wedge-shaped head and elongated body lines. The muscular, tubular body is supported by long legs and graced by a long neck and tail. The short, silky, close lying coat accentuates the long lines perfectly.

Sphynx

Sphynx are not always totally hairless and there are different degrees of "hairlessness." There can be a fine down on the body which makes the cat feel like a warm peach. Some short hair is usually present on the nose, ears and sometimes on toes and tail. Seasonal and hormonal changes in the cat may also effect hair development. The texture of Sphynx skin has been compared to a suede hot water bottle or warm chamois, and some cats almost have a buttery feel to the skin. The skin is loose on the body which leads to that extra wrinkling effect you see on the cat. All colors and patterns are possible and may be presented at any stage of maturity. The color and/or pattern of the cat are seen in the pigment of the skin and the few hairs that are present. Sphynx are medium sized substantial cats and not fragile in any way. As with most cats, adult males are larger than females. Sphynx have sturdy boning, good muscle development and a bit of a firm belly as if they just finished a nice dinner. They have an open-eyed and intelligent expression with extra wrinkling on their head which some see as a worried or inquisitive look. Sphynx are extremely lovable, known to perform silly antics and can be downright clumsy in their attempts to be the center of attention. They have abundant energy and are mischievous, always wanting to be with you, on you or showing off for you. Sphynx seem to prefer human attention but enjoy the company of dogs and all other breeds of cats. Because of the lack of hair that would normally absorb body oils, Sphynx need periodic bathing, ear and nail cleaning. A bath is not difficult with Sphynx, as most cats have been acclimated from kitten hood with bathing and proper grooming from their breeders. Some people who suffer from cat allergies can tolerate living with Sphynx. This is because there is no airborne hair to deal with and the reactive chemical in their saliva is lower than many breeds. Regular bathing also keeps the dander at bay. However depending on the type and severity of the individual's allergic reactions, there are some who still cannot tolerate any feline dander.

Abyssinian

The Aby, as he's nicknamed, is unlike any other cat. Smart, silly, and impressively athletic, he stays in constant motion—jumping, climbing, and exploring. In other words, this is no lap cat. He also has a unique ticked coat, giving him the appearance of a wildcat. The Aby excels at learning tricks—and he's even better at training people to do what he wants. Abyssinians can live to be 15 years and older. Thanks to his inquisitive, highly social nature, he can be taught to go for walks on a leash. The Aby was bred in the U.S. for the first time in 1935.

American Bobtail

The American Bobtail is a medium-size, muscular cat weighing seven to 16 pounds. His somewhat shaggy coat may be long or medium in length and can be any color or pattern. The American Bobtail has a very short tail, the result of a natural mutation. The American Bobtail has a shaggy medium-length to long coat that can come in any color or pattern.

American Shorthair

The American Shorthair is the pedigreed version of the well-known and beloved domestic shorthair. This versatile cat can be bred for any number of colors and patterns, including the popular silver tabby. The American Shorthair's easy-care coat comes in more than 80 colors and patterns. This is a medium-sized, muscular cat: American Shorthairs weigh between six and 15 pounds — and females tend to be on the smaller side. American Shorthairs are friendly, adaptable family companions who can live up to 20 years.

American Wirehair

The American Wirehair is a medium-size cat with regular features and a sweet expression. This cat's wiry coat, right down to the whiskers, is thick, hard and springy. It has been described as resembling steel wool. His unusual coat comes in almost any color or pattern. This cat's coat may look high-maintenance, but it requires almost no brushing or combing except during the spring, when old growth sheds. The American Wirehair has a crimped coat with a thick, coarse texture. It can come in just about any color or pattern. The American Wirehair is closely related to the American Shorthair and the two breeds are frequently crossed.

Bombay

The Bombay is calm, gentle and affectionate. This solid, medium-size cat was created in the 1950s by crossing sable Burmese with black American Shorthairs. His short, velvety coat is easy to care for. When you look at a Bombay, you see a muscular, medium-size cat. If you were to pick him up, you would find that he is heftier than he looks. To maintain the Bombay's body type and coat texture, breeders may occasionally outcross to Burmese, one of the Bombay's parent breeds. Outcrosses to American Shorthairs or domestic shorthairs are rarely done because the body type is not the same. The Bombay and Burmese differ in that the Bombay is slightly larger and has a longer body and longer legs. While they reach sexual maturity early, sometimes at five months, Bombays may not complete their physical growth as far as size and muscle development until they are almost two years old. The Bombay's nickname is "the patent-leather kid with the new-penny eyes."

British Shorthair

The British Shorthair is solid and muscular with an easygoing personality. As befits his British heritage, he is slightly reserved, but once he gets to know someone he's quite affectionate. His short, dense coat comes in many colors and patterns and should be brushed two or three times a week to remove dead hair. The British Shorthair has a stocky, sturdy, square body with a broad, full chest, short, strong legs, and a short, thick tail that tapers to a rounded tip. He wears a plush, luxurious coat that makes you want to roll around in it. He has a round head with a short nose, chubby cheeks and round eyes, all of which combine to give him a smiling expression Blue is the most popular color for British Shorthairs, so much so that the "British Blue" almost seems as if he is his own breed. Other colors and patterns include white, black, blue, cream, various tabby patterns, tortoiseshell, calico and bi-color (a color plus white). His eyes can be deep gold, copper, blue or green, depending on which of his many coat colors or patterns he sports.

European Burmese

The European Burmese is a very affectionate, intelligent, and loyal cat. They thrive on companionship and will want to be with you, participating in everything you do. While they might pick a favorite family member, chances are that they will interact with everyone in the home, as well as any visitors that come to call. They are inquisitive and playful, even as adults. Expect them to be in your lap whenever you sit down and snuggle up next to you in bed. They become fast friends to other cats and even dogs, making them the perfect addition to your family. The European Burmese is a medium sized, shorthaired cat of far eastern origins. Body type is elegant with gently rounded contours, solid boning, and excellent musculature. Eyes are large, alert, and expressive, with color ranging from yellow to amber. Coat colors include brown, chocolate, blue, lilac, cream, and a soft apricot red. Tortoiseshell colors are also popular.

Exotic Shorthair

The Exotic is nicknamed "the lazy man's Persian" because he shares the Persian's sweet face, but his short, plush coat is easier to care for. Exotics are more lively than the laidback Persian, but they also love to sit in a lap. They can live to be 15 years or more. The Exotic is a loving lap cat with a somewhat more lively personality than the Persian. The Exotic has the look of a Persian but with a short, plush coat that comes in many beautiful colors and patterns, including tabby, tortoiseshell, black and white, and chinchilla silver. The word round is key when speaking of this breed. Exotics have round eyes, round heads and rounded bodies. Exotics can live to be 15 years or older.

Korat

The Korat has a unique color, defined as silver-tipped blue, which gives it a shimmering shine. The color appears to absorb light, giving a "halo" effect. It is a short, single and close-lying coat. Their hair does not float off when they are stroked or petted, so most people with allergies to cat hair find their proximity tolerable. The Korat has a unique head structure that is based off of a "heart shape." There are a total of five hearts associated with the Korat. The head contains three of these heart-shapes: looking straight on at the Korat, you see the Valentine-shaped heart of the head. The second heart is found by looking down over the top of the Korat's head, and the third heart associated with the head is the nose. The fourth heart can be found in the muscular area of the chest when the cat is in a sitting position. But the most commonly forgotten heart is the one inside the cat! As the Korat matures, the heart shapes become more prominent.

Somali

The Somali is a breathtakingly beautiful cat, with a vibrantly colorful coat, full plume tail, and alert personality. The combination of ticked, dramatically colored fur, striking facial markings, large ears, dark hocks, and full bushy tail and britches gives the Somali a wild "little fox" look which immediately captivates. The Somali is a well-proportioned, medium-sized cat with firm muscular development. The medium-length, soft and silky coat requires little grooming. The coat is longer around the ruff, tummy, and britches - with that lovely, fluffy, full tail. The feet have tufts of hair between the toes. The large, almond-shaped eyes range in color from intense green to rich copper. The coat pattern is agouti (also called "ticked"), which has multiple bands of color on each hair. The Somali comes in four recognized colors in CFA: ruddy, red, blue, and fawn. The colors showing in the ticked fur of the back and tail harmonize with the solid, lighter color on the cat's undersides.

LaPerm

The LaPerm can sport anything from a wavy coat to ringlettype curls that range from tight ringlets to long corkscrew curls. The tightest curls occur on the underside of the cat, on the throat area, and at the base of the ears. The longhair is generally blessed with a curly plumed tail and often exhibits a full, curly ruff. The LaPerm comes in every recognized color and coat pattern. Some kittens can be born hairless, but most have short wavy hair or straight hair at birth. Kittens often go almost totally bald, beginning with a spot on the tops of their heads. This process generally starts when the kittens are about two weeks old, and they can be in varying stages of baldness during their first four months or so. The coat will generally come back in and will always be curly if the kitten was born curly. Coat variations throughout the life of a LaPerm range from molting that can leave a sparse, thin coat to a possible full coat after neutering or spaying. LaPerms are gentle and affectionate but also very active. Unlike many active breeds, the LaPerm is also quite content to be a lap cat. The LaPerm will often follow your lead; that is, if they are busy playing and you decide to sit and relax, simply pick up your LaPerm and sit down with it, and it will stay in your lap, devouring the attention you give it.

Maine Coon Cat

The Maine Coon Cat is the native American long-haired cat and was first recognized as a specific breed in Maine where it was named the official cat of the state. Maine Coon Cats are intelligent, trainable, described as "dog like". They will offer you hours of enjoyment with their antics but can at times be intrusive. The Maine Coon Cat has a silky and somewhat oily coat, it is not dense and its upkeep is much easier than that of other longhaired breeds. The coat is almost self-maintained but will require occasional grooming. Because they love attention of any kind, grooming is easily accomplished. Available in a variety of about 75 different color combinations (with the exception of pointed pattern and colors) and two acceptable tabby patterns (classic and mackerel), there is a Maine Coon Cat just right for anyone.

Manx

The Manx were one of the original show cats. They were represented in the first cat shows held in Great Britain. Their ancient legacy continues, as when CFA was founded in 1906, they were one of the founding breeds. To the best of our knowledge, all Manx have at least one gene for a full tail. Therefore, even two cats carrying the Manx (tailless) gene can produce a full-tailed kitten. Besides taillessness, the Manx is known for its robust and rounded appearance with great depth of flank. This breed can actually be drawn with a series of circles. It has a very round head with rounded cheeks which give it a jowly appearance, especially in the male. It has high hindquarters with the back legs much longer than the forelegs, causing the rump to be higher than the shoulders. The shortness of the back forms a continuous arch from shoulders to rump. The Manx eyes are large and rounded, set at a slight tilt towards the ear. The ears are wide at the base, tapering to a rounded tip. Medium in size, they are widely spaced and set slightly outward. The ear should resemble the rocker on a cradle.

Selkirk Rex

The Selkirk Rex is being developed as a large, heavy boned cat rather like the British Shorthair in conformation. The head is round with no flat planes. The curl is plush and loosely curled, showing up more dramatically on the longhair. Selkirks are healthy and sturdy. They are an incredibly patient, loving, and tolerant cats. From the moment of birth, curly kittens can be distinguished from their straight haired littermates by their curly whiskers. The whiskers are brittle and may break as they grow longer. The whiskers and hair do not change as the cat grows older; if they are curly at birth, they are curly as an adult. Even if the coat later shows less curl, the cat has the curly gene and retains the curly whiskers. Selkirk Rexes come in two coat lengths: short and long.

Siberian

The Siberian is a medium to large cat with the overall appearance of excellent physical condition, strength, balance, power, and alertness, modified by a sweet facial expression. Their eyes vary in color from gold to green and all shades inbetween. Some have two different colored eyes, and some even have blue eyes. Siberians are a natural breed and reflect the climate in which they developed, with their very dense, medium to long, water repellent triple coat. This coat is accented with a ruff around the neck, full fluffy britches, and a bushy tail, normally carried up with pride but also quite useful to wrap around the face and paws to keep warm. Lynx tipping on the ear is allowed, and full ear furnishings are required. This means that the tops of the ears can have hair, which makes the ears look pointed when in fact they are rounded, and that the inside of the ear has hair that protects it from the elements. This glorious and quite useful fur comes in all colors and combinations, with or without white markings, and tends to remain relatively tangle-free, requiring only occasional brushing. Fortunately, Siberians like to play in water, so if bathed regularly as kittens they may actually enjoy the attention of a bath. This is a cat designed by nature to survive, with no extremes in type. The Siberian can take up to five years to mature, with females generally being smaller than the males. The general impression of the body is one of circles and roundness, rather than rectangles and triangles.

Singapura

The Singapura's disposition is that of a "pesky people cat," an extroverted, curious, playful but nondestructive cat that insists on helping you with everything. They are very intelligent and interactive with people and remain so even into old age. Disposition is one of their most endearing attributes. If you want a cat geared to "four on the floor," don't consider owning a Singapura. The Singapura is a smaller than average, shorthaired cat with noticeably large eyes and ears. On first impression, you might think you were looking at some new color of Abyssinian. The pattern is nearly the same but on closer inspection you will note that the only other similarity is the large ears, everything else is different. The light beige coloring is unique and thought by some to be similar to cougars. The tail is normal length, the feet are very small, and the body is smaller, of a medium length and should be muscular. Eyes may be hazel, green or yellow but mature eye color is not predicable in kittens. Many veterinarians seeing a Singapura for the first time are apt to think something might be wrong with the kitten since it is so small. The Singapura is slow to develop and will not attain its full size until about 15 to 24 months of age. There isn't much difference in size between mature males and females, females weighing approximately 5 to 6 pounds and males 6 to 8 pounds.

Tonkinese

The Tonkinese is a natural at inventing and playing games, using favorite toys to play fetch or delighting in games of tag and hide-and-seek with other pets - or even humans. Tonkinese are beautiful, medium-sized cats, surprising heavy and muscular. Their fur is short, soft, and silky; it's easy to care for and wonderful to pet! Tonkinese come in 12 color and pattern varieties. The four base colors are the color of the extremes (face, ears, and tail), which are called the "points." The coat patterns refer to the amount of contrast between the body color and the points. The four base colors are Platinum, Champagne, Natural, and Blue. The three coat patterns are Pointed - which has a high amount of contrast between the extremes and the body, and typically have blue eyes; Mink - which has medium contrast and aqua eyes; and Solid - which has a low contrast between the body and the extremities and green to yellow-green eyes. Examples of the color patterns are Platinum Mink, Champagne Point, and Blue Solid.

Turkish Angora

The Turkish Angora's soft, silky coat rarely mats and requires only minimal grooming. Most breeders recommend combing once or twice a week with a fine-toothed comb or slicker brush to remove excess hair and keep the coat looking and feeling its best. Like all long-haired breeds, they lose some coat during the summer months, when more frequent combing may be needed to prevent hairballs. While whites are still very popular today, Turkish Angora breeders have focused increasingly on colored cats. More and more people are realizing how lovely these lithe, elegant creatures look in other colors. At a CFA show today you might see these cats in other solid colors, such as black, blue, red and cream; in tortoiseshell or blue-cream; in classic, mackerel and spotted tabbies of many colors; and bi-colored cats in any of these colors with white. In recent years, many breeders have begun working with smoke and shaded colors as well. Any shade and pattern, except those that denote hybridization (such as lavender, chocolate or the pointed pattern) is accepted for CFA registration.

Turkish Van

The cat known in the United States as the Turkish Van is a rare and ancient breed that developed in central and southwest Asia. The coloration of the Turkish Van, which is considered by many to be the original breed to carry the piebald gene, calls for a white, semi-longhaired cat with colored markings restricted primarily to the head and tail. Other piebald cats that have been selectively bred for many generations to achieve similar markings are said to be "van-patterned" after the breed that originally sported it. The coat lacks an undercoat and has a very unique cashmere-like texture that makes it water-resistant. This brings us to another interesting feature of this breed - they love water and in their native region they have been termed "the Swimming Cats." The Turkish Van takes three to five years to reach full maturity and is a large and agile cat of substantial strength. They are very intelligent as well as curious and make very rewarding companions in the right home. The breed is a healthy one and the unique coat does not lend itself to matting, so they require little grooming.

Cymric

The friendly, affectionate Cymric (pronounced kim-rick) is the longhaired variety of the tailless Manx cat. Other than coat length, the two breeds are identical, with a solid body, round head, widely spaced ears and large, round eyes. The thick coat comes in many colors and patterns, including tabby, tortoiseshell and calico. The Cymric is notable for his round contours, from his round head to his rounded rear end. The ears are wide at the base and taper to a rounded tip. Large round eyes are set at a slight angle toward the nose with the outer corners a bit higher than the inner corners. The Cymric has a double coat that gradually lengthens from the shoulders to the rear. Some of the cats have tufts of hair on the ears and toes, which is especially desirable among breeders. The Cymric comes in many colors and patterns with the exceptions of chocolate, lavender, ticked tabby, pointed, or any of these colors or patterns with white.

Egyptian Mau

The gentle Egyptian Mau is a feline track star. He has been clocked at 30 miles per hour and is possessed of what seem to be springs for legs, which catapult him to high places. He is the only domesticated cat with a naturally occurring spotted coat. The Mau, who takes his name from the Egyptian word for cat, comes in three colors: silver with charcoal markings, bronze with dark brown or black markings, and smoke with black markings. Pet-quality cats come in other colors, including solid black or blue, blue silver, and blue smoke. The "M" shape on the forehead is called the mark of the scarab.

Burmilla

The medium-size Burmilla has a sweet expression, a laid-back but mischievous personality and two coat types. He's generally family friendly, with a coat that's easy to groom, albeit somewhat prone to matting. The Burmilla coat has a sparkling silver background tipped or shaded in black, brown, blue, chocolate, lilac, caramel, cream or red, or a black, brown, blue, chocolate or lilac tortoiseshell (tortie) pattern. The Burmilla usually weighs around 8 to 10 pounds. He has a head that is gently rounded at the top, tapering to a blunt wedge; large green eyes; and a medium to long tail. His lips, nose and eyes look as if they're rimmed with dark eyeliner. The Burmilla can be outcrossed to the Chinchilla Persian or the European Burmese.

Cornish Rex

The playful, affectionate Cornish Rex is a small to medium-size cat with an extraordinary appearance, from his egg-shaped head and curly whiskers to his short coat with bent hairs. The unusual wavy coat comes in many colors and patterns, including bicolor (one color and white) and tortoiseshell. The Cornish Rex looks sleek, but when you pick him up he is surprisingly heavy. His body temperature is the same as that of any other cat, but because of his light coat, he feels especially warm to the touch. The Cornish Rex has a head that is about one-third longer than it is wide.

Himalayan

The popular Himalayan, nicknamed the Himmy, is a colorpoint version of the Persian, although at least one cat registry considers him a stand-alone breed. He was created by crossing the Siamese and the Persian and then breeding the offspring until the desired characteristics were achieved. Some cat registries such as American Cat Fanciers Association and The International Cat Association consider the Himalayan a distinct breed, while the Cat Fanciers Association and the American Cat Association view him as a variety of Persian. The medium-size to large Himalayan looks soft and round, but his stocky body, covered in a long, flowing coat, should be solid, not fat. He has a large, round, domed head set on a short, thick neck; small ears; and a snub nose. Large round eyes give him a sweet expression.

Balinese

The primary difference between the Balinese and the Siamese is coat length, with the Balinese having long, silky hair and a plumed tail. The Balinese shares the svelte but muscular body of the Siamese, as well as his wedge-shaped head, blue eyes, large triangular ears and striking color points. The Balinese looks like a longhaired Siamese and comes in the same Siamese point colors: seal, chocolate, blue and lilac. The Balinese is highly active and vocal. He wants to be involved in everything that's going on in the home. Keep a Balinese indoors to protect him from cars, diseases spread by other cats and attacks from other animals. The Balinese is a chatty cat; he will talk your ear off if you let him.

American Curl

The signature characteristic of the Curl is his unusual ears, which curl backward instead of standing up and coming to a point. The American Curl is a medium-size cat weighing five to 10 pounds, with an average lifespan of more than 13 years. The American Curl comes in any color or pattern. The American Curl's unusual ears are the result of a spontaneous mutation that occurred in 1981. Not every kitten's ears will curl; some will remain normal.

Russian Blue

The sparkling, silvery blue coat and brilliant green eyes of the Russian Blue draw immediate attention to this shorthaired breed. But it's the intelligent and playful disposition that makes the Russian Blue a perfect pet for most households. One of the features of the short, silky, dense coat is the plush feel and the lack of constant shedding. The coat color is an even, bright blue, and each guard hair appears as if dipped in silver - giving the Russian a silvery sheen and lustrous appearance. Russian Blues are registered in only one color - blue - and one coat length - short. In contrast to the blue coat, the Russian Blue has large, rounded, wide-set eyes that are vivid green. The head shape is a broad, medium wedge with a flat top and straight nose in profile. Large ears are wide at the base and set rakishly toward the side of the head. The Russian Blue is a medium-sized cat, fine-boned, long, and firmly muscled.

Scottish Fold

The unique thing about this cat was that her ears folded forward and downward on her head. The resulting look gave the impression of a "pixie," "owl," or "teddy bear" that has captured the hearts of many American cat fanciers and judges. Scottish Folds come in two types: folded ear and straight (normal) ear. The folded ear is produced by an incomplete dominant gene and is the result of a spontaneous mutation. Scottish Fold kittens are born with straight ears. At about three to four weeks of age, their ears fold...or they don't! It is usually around eleven to twelve weeks of age that the breeder can determine the quality (pet, breeder or show).

Javanese

These belles are offshoots of the Siamese family. They have a silky, medium-length coat and a lovely plume of a tail. Most Javanese tend to enjoy human interaction and will not be pleased if they aren't given enough attention. The Javanese coat has solid points in red or cream; lynx points in seal, chocolate, blue, lilac, red, chocolate-tortie, blue-cream, lilac-cream and seal-tortie; or tortoiseshell points in seal or chocolate. The Javanese usually weighs 5 to 9 pounds and has the same tubular body, wedge-shaped head, blue eyes and large triangular ears that characterize other cats of Siamese ancestry.

Japanese Bobtail

This fun-loving cat brings good luck to everyone who is fortunate enough to live with him — or so it's believed in his homeland of Japan. It must be true, because who wouldn't enjoy spending time with a happy, playful cat who makes friends with everyone. His coat can be short or long and comes in calico as well as other colors and patterns. When you look at a Japanese Bobtail, you see a medium-size, muscular cat with a long, lean, elegant body set on long, slender legs. Completing the picture are a triangular head, high cheekbones, large ears set wide apart at right angles to the head, large oval eyes, and a short bunny tail. The longhaired Japanese Bobtail has noticeably longer hair on the tail and rear legs (known as britches). Tufts of hair on the ears and toes are preferred by breeders.

Devon Rex

With his high cheekbones, big eyes, long legs, slender body, and unusual hairstyle, the Devon Rex looks like the feline incarnation of waiflike model Kate Moss. Like his cousin, the Cornish Rex, the Devon has a wavy coat, but his has a looser curl than that of the Cornish. The Devon Rex has huge ears that are wide at the base and set low on the head. They frame the cat's face and give him an elfin expression. Some Devons have tufts of hair on the ears that resemble earmuffs. The eyes of the Devon Rex can be any color, including blue, usually seen in colorpoints, and aqua, usually seen in mink-colored cats.