Cat Breed Information

How cats fit into the cat family: The domestic cat is thought to descend from the African wild cat, possessing many of its physical characteristics.

Cats were first domesticated by the ancient Egyptians in 2000bc, tamed for the practical purpose of killing rats and mice. Cats soon became important to the Egyptians who worshiped them as gods.

During the medieval period cats became associated with sorcery and witchcraft, and were subsequently subject to torture and death. This persecution of the cat is believed to have encouraged the proliferation of rats, which in turn is thought to have assisted in causing the great plague. In recent years the cat has grown in popularity and has displaced the dog as the number one pet.

Long Haired Persian

The Long-haired Persian is probably the most popular of the pedigree cats, perhaps being the most elegant and luxurious of cats. This breed has both a placid temperament and an affectionate disposition.

Persians are ideally suited to closed environments and enjoy a indoor existence. This breed of cat thrives on human company however, it does require grooming several times a week. If this routine is adopted whilst the cat is young, it will learn to enjoy the attention. The use of talcum powder assists in removing tangles and the coat must be combed and brushed everyday.

Failure to keep the coat tangle free in extreme cases can lead to the cat having to be clipped all over and the coat allowed to regrow.

The Colourpoint

The Colourpoint is a variation of both Persian and Siamese cats. It combines the fluffy body and coat type of the Persian, with the distinctive colouring of the Siamese.

Regular grooming of the Colourpoint is essential because of its long thick fur and therefore demands a devoted owner.

In return the Colourpoint is a loving and affectionate cat, has lots of personality and will thrive on lots of attention.

The Siamese

The Siamese cat is one of the most popular breeds, second only to the Persian. These cats have short, light-coloured coats with darker shades present at the extremities of the face, tail and limbs. They do not require excessive grooming, but they will enjoy the attention.

The Siamese cat is known for its loud and insistent voice, and is not a breed for owners looking for a quiet life. They are extremely affectionate, sociable and love to be part of the family. This cat demands a tremendous amount of attention, but in return will give a great deal of love and companionship. They are highly intelligent and need stimulation from toys, cat furniture and scratching posts to prevent them from becoming bored.

British Shorthair

The most common colour for the British shorthair is blue, and it is the third most popular breed of cat in the UK.

The British Shorthair has a stocky appearance with deep orange eyes. Regular grooming is important, however, this cats coat does not require a great deal of maintenance to keep it looking good. The short haired cat has a placid and gentle nature, making it an excellent companion

Burmese

The Burmese cat has a smooth, glossy coat, with a fairly uniform colour across the whole of the body. Brown is the most common colour yet there are five other colours including blue, chocolate and lilac.

Intelligent and incredibly sensitive, these cats are said to tune in to their owners moods and it is claimed that they understand every word said. They do not like to be left out of family life and will insist on being part of what’s going on, they will greet you when you return home or speak when they want something. Big on personality, they make fantastic companions and every once in a while will behave like a kittn and charge around the house like a thing possessed. Curiosity is also high on the agenda and this combined with intelligence makes them the cat equivalent of Houdini!

They are, however, demanding and can become bored very quickly with no one to play with. They are very vocal and will follow you around crying for attention. For this reason they are best kept in a family where someone is at home most of the day.

Russian Blue

The coat of the Russian Blue is its most distinguishing feature. Their coats are always coloured a medium shade of blue with an attractive silvery sheen.  Even the Russian Blues' nose and paw pads are blue, however, they have vivid emerald green eyes which contrasts with their coat.

The Russian Blue cat thrives in a quiet and secluded environment, and has a gentle and loving temperament.

Abyssinian

The classic Abyssinian has a brown coat with black flecks, a slim body and large ears.

In recent years other colour variations have been bred, but it is the classic Abyssinian that is recognised for its similarities with its Ancient Egyptian ancestors.

Abyssinians are renowned for their friendly and intelligent temperament, and enjoy a lot of interaction with their owners.

Rexes

There are two varities of Rex cats, the Cornish and Devon Rex, both of whom have been bred in the UK from mutations that occurred in the domestic cat.

The Cornish Rex has a short, wavy coat with crinkly whiskers. While the Devon Rex, has a coat that is more tightly twisted than its Cornish counterpart. A Rex’s coat is plush and wonderfully soft to the touch. It has an intelligent ‘foxy’ face and its alert expression combined with kittenish playfulness makes it an appealing companion. It craves attention and so is ideal for families where there is always someone at home, or where there is another cat to keep it company.

Cornish Rex’s generally have voracious appetites, which can lead to obesity if owners are not careful. Sometimes described as ‘dog like’ in their behaviour, many Cornish Rex’s enjoy retrieving games and learning tricks in return for rewards. They definitely prefer games where their owner throws and dangles toys for them to a cuddle in front of the TV. A stimulating environment with plenty of toys, scratching posts and things to climb on are much appreciated. They are friendly and good mixers and will make a wonderful friend for a child that treats it with respect.

Both the Cornish and Devon Rex make lively and intelligent pets.

Maine Coon

The Maine Coon is a breed that originates from the New England area of North America. Its heavy, shaggy coat is well-adapted for a harsh climate.

The cat has a large muscular body and can weigh up to 8kg without being excessively fat.

The Maine Coon is well known for its loving nature, kindly disposition and great intelligence. Maines are especially good with children, dogs and other cats and have always been a popular and sought after companion. They don’t achieve their full size until they are three to five years old and remain kittenish throughout their lives; they are big, gentler, good-natured cats. The Maine Coon’s coat is fairly self-maintaining and needs minimum grooming t keep it in good condition. They are noted for the quiet chirping sound they make which they use for everything from courting to cajoling people into playing with them. While Maine Coons are highly people-orientated cats, they are not overly dependant and will tend to follow you about watching what you are doing rather than sitting on your lap. They are relaxed and easy-going in just about everything they do.

Birman

Birman cats, also known as the 'Sacred Cat of Burma', first appeared in the UK in 1919.

Its semi long-haired coat has similar colouring to that of a Siamese, complete with four distinctive white paws. Unlike Persians, its coat will only need weekly grooming.

Birman cats have a docile and quiet temperament that enjoy human company.