Cat Breeds

The Relaxed Cat

The Ragdoll got its name because when you pick up the cat it will go limp and become completely relaxed. That is a special and unusual trait.

This cat is pure love.

Appearance

The appearance of the Ragdoll cat may bear a resemblance to the Birman in many ways.

This is a heavy cat. The face is rounded. They have beautiful blue eyes.

The Ragdoll is a huge cat, very much larger than your average domestic cat.

The cat will be in need of cat grooming 2-3 times a week.

Temperament

Ragdoll is a perfect name for this extremely affection and friendly cat.

The Ragdoll cat loves to be around people and will follow you around. This includes bathrooms and bedrooms.

This cat prefers to stay close to its owners.

They do love to play with you.

These are social cats and need your attention.

The Ragdoll can at times be quite mischievous, making your house a total mess, but as a cat lover all is forgiven when they gaze up at you with those beautiful eyes begging for love and affection.

They can also be curious cats believing anything on the floor is a toy.

Many of them enjoy chewing on whatever they find handy.

Most Ragdolls are known to be quiet cats compared with other cat breeds.

An Indoor Cat

The Ragdoll is an indoor cat only. This cat is jovial and easygoing.

It is certainly is not street wise and will not be able to defend itself in dangerous situations.

Alone in the outside world the Ragdoll has a high probability of getting badly hurt.

Ragdoll Cat History

The Ragdoll cat was developed in the 1960’s, making this cat breed fairly new. Anne Baker is responsible for the Ragdoll.

A mating occurred between a white Persian/Angora female cat named Josephine and a male Birman. Two of Josephine’s kittens named Blackie and Daddy Warbucks, are said to have been the founding fathers of the Ragdoll.

Daddy Warbucks later was crossed with a daughter of Blackie. Two of the kittens from that litter are known to be the first Ragdoll cats. They were named Tiki and Kyoto.

There is a story that has been passed around for some time now about Josephine being involved in a road accident.

The injuries Josephine suffered after being hit by a car had broken her pelvis.

The tale goes on to say that after this accident all the kittens Josephine gave birth were born with the uncharacteristic limp and seemed somewhat immune to pain.

There is no evidence that the car accident has anything to do with the unusual behavior of the Ragdoll cats.

Ragdoll are in reality not immune to pain, they do need to be treated with tender loving care.

Another breeder named Denny Dayton and his wife Laura did tremendously important work to develop the Ragdoll as a recognized breed.

This couple was rewarded for their hard labor when they achieved the goal of getting championship status for the Ragdoll cat.

A British breeder named Lulu Rowley purchased four Ragdoll cats from the Dayton’s in 1981.

These four cats were some of the first of the breed to arrive in Britain. Their names were Prim, Proper, Lad and Lass.

About the Persian Cat Breed

The Persian cat is simply luxurious!

It is no wonder this cat is among the most popular cat breeds in the world. It is a gorgeous cat.

The Persian cat comes in a great variety of different color and coat patterns combinations.

It has a thick, long woolly coat. It sure is pure pleasure to pet this cat.

Considering that this cat has the longest coat of all the long-haired cat breeds, it does require cat grooming every single day. The hair of the Persian can be as long as 12 cm or 4 ¾ inches.

The owner of a Persian needs to commit to loving brushing and grooming of the cat daily.

The Persian has a broad, round head with a flat face. It has small ears. The nose is small as well. These cats have short necks and stout legs. Their tails are quite bushy.

Temperament

If you are looking for a quiet lap cat, then the Persian may just be the cat for you. They do love to settle close to you or on your lap and love being cuddled.

The Persian cats are not very vocal, but they will answer if spoken to.

These cats are placid, calm and good-natured.

They are very friendly cats and get along great with children and with other animals in the home. They do enjoy playing from time to time.

The Persian cats should be considered strictly indoor cats. They are dependent on humans to care for them.

A Persian will not survive for long as a free cat roaming about on its own. A Persian as an indoor cat has a lifespan of 12 years or more.

Persian Cat History

The Persian is said to have originated in Persia. Persia is the former name of the country known as Iran today. The Persian cat is one of the oldest cat breeds around. No one can say for sure the origins of the Persian cat.

What we do know is that that an Italian traveler named Pietro della Valle spent five years in Persia and simply fell in love with these beautiful cats.

This man soon decided to keep some of these cats. He returned to Italy with several Persian cats in 1626. His route back to Italy was via India, Mesopotamia and Levant.

This is how Pietro della Valle described the Persian cat;

“There is in Persia a cat of the figure and form of our ordinary ones, but definitely more beautiful in the luster and color of its coat. It is of a blue-gray, and soft and shining as silk. The tail is of great length and covered with hair six inches long.”

At the first major cat show at the Crystal Palace in London, England in 1871, the Persian cat was shown. The Persian cats became a favorite among the wealthy Europeans in late 1800’s.

European Royal families have also taken to the Persian. Queen Victoria of Great Britain had two Persian cats.

Today the Persian cats are it seems more popular in the United States than in Europe.

The Spotted American Cat

Ocicat is a gorgeous spotted cat. It is a rather new American cat breed.

The Ocicat has a short, thick coat. The eyes can be any color except blue.

On newborn kittens the spots are not always apparent; the spots will develop as the cat matures.

The Ocicat is a tremendously active cat. It loves to play, jump and run.

This cat likes action. The Ocicat is a quite affectionate and friendly cat, but does need tons of attention.

They get along great with children.

It is a perfect cat for a large cat loving family.

These cats are very social and do not appreciate being left alone for hours daily.

They are also quite vocal and will answer when spoken to.

History

The Ocicat actually came to be by accident. An American breeder named Virginia Daly from Michigan was endeavoring to produce an Abyssinian pointed Siamese in 1964.

A female Abyssinian was crossed with a male Seal Point Siamese cat.

One of the male kittens came as a surprise. This kitten was golden spotted and was given the name Tonga.

Tonga was not a planned part of the breeding program. He was neutered and sold as a pet. As it turned out Tonga was essentially the first ever Ocicat.

Later Virginia Daly decided to pursue the idea of a spotted cat.

She tried again and was successful. A new stunning cat breed had come to stay.

Another cat breeder named Tom Brown was also successful in breeding and developing the Ocicat. He had worked the breeding program through five generations by 1970.

Some cats were also crossed with the American Shorthair which resulted in larger Ocicats.

In Europe cat breeder named Karen Dupuis who lived in Germany started the European breeding program.

The first European Ocicat was named Nadir. Nadir was born in 1984.

The Ocicat received the champion status in the United States in 1987.

Today they are increasing in popularity in many countries around the world.

How Ocicat got its name

The Ocicat got its name because the cat resembles the beautiful wild cat, Ocelot. The Ocelot cats live wild in Central and South America.

Unfortunately because the Ocelot is so stunning, this wild cat has been the victim of ruthless hunters killing the cats for their fur.

Norwegian Forest Cat Appearance

The beautiful Norwegian Forest cat is a natural cat breed of Scandinavia.

In Norway it is called “Norsk Skogkatt” which literally means Norwegian Forest Cat.

Another name used for the Norwegian Forest cat is “Wegie”.

The Norwegian Forest cat is in many ways similar to the Maine Coon.

This is a large powerful built cat.

This cat is well adopted for cold weather.

It is a semi-longhaired cat.

It has a thick double layered coat which is water resistant. The undercoat protects the cat from the cold.

They will need to be combed about 2 – 3 times a week during spring when their winter coat does shed.

The head of the Norwegian Forest is more of a triangular- shaped, this does set it apart from the Main Coon which has more of a square-shaped head.

Their eyes may be any color.

Their tails are long, thick and bushy.

An Outdoor Cat

The Norwegian Forest cats love the outdoors. They are skilled hunters.

These cats are also very good climbers.

The Wegie also has the ability to climb down a tree head first. Most cats will back down a tree.

They do enjoy playing with running water.

Some owners report that their Norwegian Forest cats have enjoyed trying to catch fish in small streams.

These cats may adapt to inside living, but they do require a lot of space.

Remember these cats used to roam the forests and were also favored farm cats.

The Wegies are not especially talkative, except to tell you of an important matter, for example when they are hungry. The Norwegian Forest cat or Wegie, as many prefer to call the cat, is a wonderful family pet.

These cats are great with children. They are friendly and loyal. They do tend to follow their owner around the house.

The Norwegian Forest cats are very affectionate cats.

The first Norwegian Forest cats arrived in the United States in 1979. Their popularity is growing in many countries around the world.

In 1994 the Norwegian Forest Cat received recognition from the American Cat Fanciers Association.