Persian cats are one of the oldest cat breeds, originally owned solely by royalty and regarded as a treasure. These cats were smuggled in the 17th century from Persia along with jewels and spices. Today, Persian cats have become the most popular in the world. These indoor cats are recognized by their pansy-like face, simply meaning that their face looks smushed together. The most beautiful quality possessed by Persian cats is their long, luxurious fur coat. Unfortunately, 40% of these cats are susceptible to kidney disease. Despite this, Persian cats are loving, friendly, and enjoy lounging around with their owners, the perfect cat for any family!
Siamese cats are one of the most unique and beautiful cats! They possess strikingly large ears and perfect blue eyes. Siamese cats are short haired, slim figured, and generally have a pale body color with relatively darker extremities(the face, ears, feet and tail). As its name suggests, the cat originally came from Thailand (formerly known as Siam). Like the Persian cats, Siamese cats were adored by royalty. It was said that after a member of the royal family died, their soul would rest within the Siamese cat, and then the cat would live out the rest of their life in luxury. These outgoing cats depend on human companionship. If they don’t receive love and attention, they can become sad and lonely very easily. Moreover, these cats are wonderful life long companions!
This “gentle giant” is native to the American state, Maine, and is the official state cat. Its origins are impossible to figure out; however, a popular myth suggests that this cat is a mixture between a domestic cat and a raccoon, hence the name Maine Coon. These felines have long, heavy, and water-resistant, shaggy hair. Due to the make-up of this cat, Maine Coon’s are able to survive in very harsh conditions. In addition to the heavily-furred ears and big feet, the cat wraps his bushy tail around himself when he curls up to sleep, which can protect him through cold winters. Contradictory to most cats, Maine Coon’s can be trained just as dogs are and love to play fetch. Although they may seem large and intimidating, these fluffy pets love attention and spending time with their owners!
American shorthairs are calm and balanced. They exhibit qualities of hard work and endurance; however, they are very quiet and adjust well to change. American shorthairs are perfectly ideal for someone who just wants a cats to sit peacefully on their lap. The most striking color for the American shorthair coat is a sterling silver coat with black marking, but there are over sixty more color combinations throughout the world. Additionally, the American shorthair is one of the healthiest cats around. It’s roots began in England and 300 years ago, migrated into the United States. For this reason, the American shorthair was a descendent of the British shorthair. This common house cat in Britain was purely used for rodent control. With this being said, sailor’s often brought these cats on their seafaring voyages. Ultimately, American shorthair had humble and hardworking beginnings, and has remained a very loyal cat.
The British Shorthair is native to Great Britain in the same way that the American Shorthair is native to America. In the late 1800’s longhaired cats became tremendously popular and because of this, the Brit’s, (oldest breed of cats in Britain), population declined dramatically. After the war, many breeders wanted to prevent the extinction of the Brit, and so they were interbreeded with numerous other cats, thus creating the British shorthair. Like the American Shorthair, the British shorthair is known for its health and energy. They have a massive head (something that sets them apart from other cats) and a round face. British shorthairs have short, velvet-like fur that needs to be groomed regularly. Most of these cats are grey; however, there are other fur colors present in the world. At first, British shorthairs are very shy and reserved. They remain quiet, undemanding, and independent their entire lives, but as they get to know their owners, these cats are extremely loyal. Unlike many cats, British shorthairs tend to show their loyalty to the entire family rather than select one person with whom to bond.
