How is the breed determined?
There is a whole branch of zoology responsible for the physiology of cats and their breeds - felinology. In accordance with it, standards were determined by which a particular animal is classified as purebred or not. In kittens at an early age, colors may change. And only after the age of 6 months does the cat’s fur acquire a permanent shade. There are a number of primary characteristics by which professional breeders evaluate the breed of an animal.
- Length, coat color.
- Eye color.
- Ear and nose color.
- Paw pad color.
If at least one part of the body does not meet accepted standards, then this individual will most likely be rejected.
You might be interested in: Unusual cats.
Interesting fact: according to statistics, most often the most unusual colors are cats, not males.
These pets also have an undercoat, and it happens that it differs in color from the main shade. This point is also taken into account if the cat takes part in competitions and selective mating.
History of domestication of cats
The history of relations between humans and cats goes back several thousand years. Ancient chronicles and archaeological finds testify to this amazing neighborhood.
For a long period, scientists believed that the first who managed to domesticate cats were the ancient Egyptians. This conclusion was made after studying one tomb, which was built in 1950 BC. There were corresponding images on the wall paintings. However, studies of Cypriot burials in 2004 refuted these claims. The tomb, which dates back to about 9,500 BC, contained the remains of a man and a cat.
In ancient Egypt, these animals were given special attention. They were treasured because they helped people get rid of mouse infestations.
The Egyptians considered cats to be sacred animals. In the Middle Ages, attitudes towards them were ambiguous: in some countries cats symbolized kindness and tranquility in the home, while in others they were credited with magical properties and connections with evil spirits. Animals were especially widespread in some countries of Europe and North Africa, as well as in Russia, Japan and China.
In those ancient times, people did not attach much importance to cat breeds. This concept came into use about 200 years ago, when the rapid development of such a science as selection began.
On the territory of modern Russia, yard cats and cats appeared during the formation of Ancient Rus'. The breeding of purebred groups began only in the second half of the 18th century. In those years, the most popular breed was considered the Russian Blue, presumably bred in Great Britain.
Types of cat colors
Felinology divides pets into two types depending on the shade of their fur:
- With stains.
- Solid color.
It is worth noting that a single color is quite rare. Most often, cats have a body of one tone, and paws, the tip of the tail, ears, parts of the muzzle, or in various combinations of them, another, forming intricate spots and patterns.
Each shade has a name and number. Pedigree cats that regularly attend exhibitions and competitions are assigned a several-digit code in their passport, which describes all the characteristics and individual features of the appearance of their owner.
Bombay
When it comes to photos of rare cats , then, as a rule, Bombays will appear in the pictures. Very strong, simply bursting with strength, giving the impression of wild animals and vaguely reminiscent of panthers, these cats sparkle with deep amber eyes against the background of an even, pure color of short, glossy fur - from charcoal to blue.
When breeding Bombays, Burmese were used, from which these cats adopted equanimity and intelligence, and they received their grace. from the Burmese and Siamese, of course.
Pictured is the Bombay cat breed
They were bred in Kentucky, and these cats have been a “state property” since 1958. The breed received worldwide status only in 1976, but only because no one was puzzled by receiving this status. The weight of the animal varies from 3.5 to 7 kg, the main thing for this breed is the complete proportionality of the ratio of all parameters - length, height and weight.
The most unusual colors of cats
Lilac color
The lilac shade combines blue and pink. This tone is distinguished by its tenderness; there are both plain varieties and those with marble transitions. Breeders hold pro color in high regard. The British breed, the Oriental breed and, least of all, the Persian breed can boast of it. It is interesting that lilac cats have an unusual and contrasting eye color - yellow.
Blue color
The base of this color is smoky gray. Blue tints form on it. The color can safely be called rare and noble. The most striking representative of this color is the Russian Blue breed. The shade is also found in British and Oriental “fluffies”. Eyes - green or blue. The British most often wear yellow ones.
Chocolate color
Individuals with coats of a single chocolate color are extremely rare. The color of chocolate is more likely to be associated with something tasty than something unusual. Many black cats have a brown undercoat, so in the light they get a beautiful chocolate tint. By nature, only the Abyssinian breed has such fur. But British, Persian, exotic cats, as well as rexes, can have a chocolate “coat” after artificial selection.
Cinnamon color
Cinnamon color was obtained artificially relatively recently. It only happens to the British. But the history of the appearance of this color comes from the Abyssinian color. To be more precise, this shade is something between copper and brown. British cinnamons are an expensive proposition, as there are very few individuals of this species. They are bred only in nurseries.
Golden color
Breeders have made many attempts to develop a noble golden hue by crossing different breeds. The owners of this exclusive are the British and Persian breeds. In another way they are also called golden chinchilla. The color has peach tints. At the same time, the color on the chest and muzzle is predominantly white, and the tail has stripes. There are not many golden chinchillas in the world.
Tabby color
This color is divided into 3 groups:
- Stripes.
- Stains.
- Marble.
The basic colors of Tabby are white, black, gold, silver and brown. Many breeds have this shade naturally. There are also individuals bred by selection, but in this case a large number of crossings are necessary. A distinctive feature of a tabby is a clear outline on the nose and muzzle, and marbled or spotted patterns on the chest.
Tortoiseshell color
There are two types:
- In patches.
- Scales.
One of the brightest and most unusual colors is considered to be tortoiseshell. There is a combination of three colors: black, white and red. As the name suggests, a skin with this shade resembles a turtle shell. The color is found in many breeds: Fold, British, Persian, Norwegian, Angora. There are also cases of this coloring among street representatives.
In ancient times, cats with a tortoiseshell “coat” were a talisman that brought well-being in the home and good luck. If a cat was found on the street, it was sure to be taken home.
Brilliant Californian
Brilliant California cats were bred by breeders as a result of numerous crossings of various pedigree cats. For 10 years, experts have been trying to get a pet that is visually similar to the royal cheetah, but without the admixture of wild blood, so for crossing they used only domestic cats of the American Shorthair, Angora, Siamese, British and Abyssinian breeds. The desired result was achieved in the 80s and the new cat breed was officially registered in the USA.
The appearance of the shiny Californian cats is as follows:
- large, muscular build;
- short, thick coat;
- large, slightly slanted eyes;
- small ears, rounded at the tips;
- elongated tail, dark at the end.
For shiny Californian cats, only one coat color is allowed, resembling leopard or jaguar. Cats of this breed are very sociable, active and good-natured. They treat strangers calmly and get along well with small children and other pets. An active pet needs long walks in the fresh air.
Elf
These handsome guys are quite young. They were first seen in America in 2006. To get such hairless pets, breeders had to work hard. Curls and Sphynxes took part in the painstaking work.
In addition to the fact that cats do not have hair, they have rather unique ears. Friendliness, intelligence, mischief, sociability, and curiosity are the main features of these pets. Elves are not a cheap pleasure. They cost at least 2000 dollars.
Elves got their name because of the ears that resemble those of fairy-tale characters.
Napoleon
Whether these American shorthaired cats are named after the emperor or after the cake is unknown. It is only known that when creating the breed, which was first exhibited in 1994, cats were involved - Munchkins, Siamese and Persians.
This breed received official recognition in 2001, and is truly exclusive. The cat's structure and proportions are similar to dachshunds. At the same time, the weight of this fluffy miracle does not exceed 2-3 kg, and the colors are very diverse.
The photo shows the Napoleon breed
With this anatomy, the appearance of a classic Persian and Siamese colors look quite unexpected, but not at all comical. The animals are full of dignity and have the temperament and fearlessness of lions, or emperors.
York chocolate cat: rules for keeping a purebred kitten and care
- Grooming.
Since the York Chocolate Cat is the proud owner of a thick, long coat, it requires more serious care. In order for your pet’s fur to always look chic and well-groomed, it needs to be combed, and one procedure once a week will not be enough. The optimal frequency of brushing a York cat is approximately three to four times a week, and during the shedding period this procedure should be carried out daily, or even better, twice a day. To do this, it is best to use a medium-hard massage brush with medium-frequency teeth. Beauty is beauty, but do not forget that this is necessary, firstly, for the health of your four-legged friend, and, secondly, for the cleanliness of your home. If you do not rid your cat of dead hairs in time, then half of them will be on all surfaces of your home, and the other, predominant part will be in the animal’s stomach, which can lead to a lot of problems. But even if you scratch your cat three times a day, she will still have fur in her gastrointestinal tract and this needs to be dealt with. If your pet is on lawns, he can find the right “healing potion” for himself, but if not, then you need to make him such a “lawn” at home. For this purpose, pet stores sell seeds of a special grass that is good at removing fur from a cat’s stomach. In addition, you can periodically feed the purr with special vitamins for hair removal or food to which special substances are added. As for bathing, the Yorkie chocolate cat cannot be called an ardent fan of water, so you should not expose it to stress again. The cat needs to be bathed; if this cannot be avoided, it is optimal to do this once a season using high-quality shampoo. Air conditioning will also come in handy. - Hygiene.
York Chocolate Cat is very clean, but he cannot cope with some tasks without your help. Once a week they need to clean the external auditory canal, as a large amount of earwax, dust particles and dead epidermis can accumulate there. If this is not done, then these products clog the ear canal and little by little the animal develops hearing loss, which can lead to total hearing loss. Cats need to have their teeth brushed, as plaque very quickly turns into tartar, which leads to dental disease and tooth loss, which significantly worsens the quality of life of your pet. To carry out this procedure, you need to arm yourself with a special toothbrush and a cleaning agent, this can be either cat toothpaste or powder. When brushing your teeth, it is recommended to carefully clean your gums, but this is extremely difficult to do with a brush. In this case, you need to wrap a piece of thick, clean cloth (lint-free) around your index finger and thoroughly clean the cat’s oral cavity. Animals must be taught all hygiene procedures from early childhood, so they will not experience so much stress. - What to feed?
Yorkie Chocolate cats are not picky when it comes to food, so the choice is yours. If the food is purchased, then it should be of high quality, premium or super premium; it is better to combine dry food and canned food. Natural homemade food consists of lean meats, offal, chicken eggs, dairy products, cereals and vegetables. Fish is strictly prohibited. From time to time you need to add additional vitamin and mineral complexes to your home diet. Clean drinking water should also always be freely available for York Chocolate Cat, the main thing is not to give the cat raw water - either boiled or filtered.
Serengeti
Although it rightfully belongs to rare domestic cats , rarity in this case is conditional. The breed is simply little known outside of California.
Moreover, this beautiful animal, painted in restrained, laconic brown-sand tones, covered with stripes and complex combinations of dark spots, looking at the world with huge gray, marsh-green eyes, in Europe is often mistakenly classified as an African breed.
The photo shows the Serengeti breed
This is a completely American animal, during the breeding of which the genes of Bengals, Abyssinians and Orientals were mixed. As a result, the Serengeti received a little from everyone, not only in terms of appearance, but also in terms of character.
Likoy
The mutation that gave Lykoi his werewolf appearance was a natural process of crossbreeding between feral cats over many years. In 2011, breeders Patti Thomas and Johnny Gobble produced their first litter of werewolf kittens. Some Lykoi are still born in wild colonies. The name "Lykoi" is a variation of the Greek word "Lycos", meaning "wolf". All current domestic specimens of this breed can trace their ancestry back to wild ancestors. Until now, the Likoi is considered an extremely rare breed of cat; there are less than 100 show-standard specimens in the world.
The Lykoy, also sometimes called the "wolf cat," is certainly one of the most visually unique cat breeds in the world. Despite their wild appearance, they are friendly, affectionate, playful pets that get along with people and other animals.
This medium-sized cat has a thin, fit body, a wedge-shaped head with a hairless "mask" of skin around the eyes, nose, muzzle and back of the ears. Some Lykoi are even completely bald. Because of this, they are often confused with sphinxes, although there is no genetic connection between them.
The coat of the Lykoi is thin, short and relatively soft, although it appears harsh in appearance. Standard colored cats have roan coats with a slightly silvery tint. Instead of an undercoat, they only have fine top hairs, which can make them look mangy. The cat's eyes are almost round, amber or green.
This breed is friendly and flexible. The behavior of Lykoi cats is generally quite playful, although they will wander off on their own from time to time. They are open to strangers, but can seem somewhat aloof as they prefer the company of their regular human companions.
Their thin coat provides little protection from cold or direct sunlight, so to keep your Lykoi healthy and happy, it is recommended that you keep him exclusively as an indoor cat. Despite its relatively short coat, the Lykoy is not considered a hypoallergenic breed. They sometimes shed even more than the typical domestic shorthair cat.
La Perm
As is already clear from the name, she is French, but this is only partly true. The breed originated from crossing individuals with certain characteristics, which began in 1982 on a farm in Oregon, near Dallas. The farm belonged and still belongs to ethnic French.
The photo shows the La Perm breed
It is distinguished by curly, curly long hair and surprises with a variety of colors. Outwardly, these animals resemble both Norwegian forest cats and lambs.
There are no weight or height restrictions for these most charming creatures. The coat is practically fat-free and needs constant care, for which the cat will definitely thank you with a vibrating purr, affection and kindness.
Don Sphynx
This special breed was first spotted in Rostov-on-Don in 1986. City resident Elena Kovaleva took away a mangy kitten from schoolchildren, which they were mocking. As she aged, the cat Varvara lost her remaining hair. Crossing her with a European shorthair cat led to the appearance of hairless offspring, which became the founder of the new breed “Don Sphynx”. The International Cat Association officially recognized this unique breed in 2005.
Although the Don Sphynx is similar in appearance and structure to ordinary Sphynxes, it is very distinctive and is not easily mistaken for representatives of other breeds. The Don Sphynx is a medium-sized cat with long legs, a muscular body structure, a small wedge-shaped head, large ears and characteristic webbed toes. The hairlessness of the breed requires special attention, since, despite the lack of maintenance required, the skin of the Don Sphynx is very similar to human skin and requires regular bathing. Being hairless, Don Sphynxes are sensitive to temperature, so they need warm clothing in the winter months and sunscreen in the summer.
Breeders and owners described Don Sphynx cats as even-tempered cats with an affectionate and inquisitive nature. They benefit from both physical and mental exercise. Tolerant of children and other pets, Don Sphynx cats display calm behavior most of the time, without being overly shy or aggressive. Otherwise the breed is active and very sociable. On average, a healthy adult cat will weigh 3.6-4.5 kg with a life expectancy of approximately 12-15 years.
Naked wrinkled
This is the general name for rare cats that lack hair. Among them are Egyptian Hairless, Devon Rex, and, of course, American Elves. At the moment, the breed status has 10 hairless wrinkled varieties.
A distinctive feature of such animals is the absence of hair. However, bare skin does not make it easier to take care of your pet’s appearance, but rather, on the contrary, requires increased attention.
The photo shows the Elf breed
The animal sunbathes and may well get burned. The skin needs a softening cream; in cool weather, the cat needs to be dressed if you plan to go outside. Wrinkles or folds sweat - it is necessary to remove this secretion, otherwise eczema will develop. Rare cats of the world are the same cats as the rest, but they have more status for their owners, and look a little differently.
