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HomeTopicsCat Breeds
Cat Breeds and Their Hair TypesMany people think all domestic cats are the same. However, this simply isn't true. In fact, most registries recognize between 30 and 40 different cat breeds! Interestingly, breeders are always developing more breeds, with one or more being added each year, on average. From longhair to hairless cats, there's a cat out there to suit everyone. The Concept of Cat Breeds The concept of breeds began in the mid-19th century, when cat shows became popular. During that time, breeders developed pedigrees, or purebreds, from natural breeds that had been around for centuries. These breeders took cats with favorable traits and bred them with others to reproduce desirable characteristics.Interestingly, only three percent of all owned cats are pedigrees, meaning that both parents were registered pedigrees. The difference between pedigree and non-pedigree cats is that only a pedigree can consistently produce kittens of the same:
Here's a partial list of pedigree breeds:
Common Cat BreedsAlthough they aren't pedigrees, the most popular breeds in America are the domestic shorthair and the domestic longhair cats:
Other Hair TypesAlthough most cats have either short or long hair, there ones with unique hair or even no hair:
The Hypoallergenic CatIf you're allergic to cats but want a feline companion, don't fret: Some cat breeds produce fewer allergens and may cause fewer allergic symptoms than others. The Siberian cat and Rex cats, for example, are touted as being hypoallergenic.
In fact, people allergic to cats aren't actually allergic to the cat's hair but rather to a protein in the cat's saliva. If you have a cat allergy and have a cat in the house, try vacuuming with a vacuum outfitted with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter several times a week to remove cat hair and dander on carpets, rugs and furniture. You might also consider bathing your cat once a week to help eliminate some of its dander. Related Cat Sites |
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