The Ocicat was created entirely by accident in 1964 when Virginia Daly was trying to develop a Siamese with points the same color as the Abyssinian. Her efforts didn't seem to be going anywhere when she bread a seal point Siamese to a ready Abyssinian and the kittens all looked surprisingly Abyssinian. Not discouraged, she kept a small female from this litter and later bread this cat to a chocolate point Siamese.
The results were rather surprising. This breeding had produced some Siamese kittens with Abyssinian. Determined to reproduce your success, she repeated the same breeding and was rewarded with a beautiful ivory continue with gold on spots. She names this kitten Tonga. Because Tonge looks like an ocelot, he was called Ocicat. The name stuck and was eventually used to describe this new breed. But because a new breed was not Virginia's goal, Tonga was neutered and adopted into a new home.
This might have been the end of the story if Virginia hadn't mentioned Tonga in the letter to geneticist Dr. Clyde Keeler. Keeler, with his interest in feline genetics, expressed an interest in producing a cat that resembled the extinct Egyptian Spotted Fishing Cat. He would have liked to have bread Tonga back to his mother, but since this was not possible Virginia repeated the initial breeding and was rewarded with the Tony spotted male. This kitten was left intact so he could be used in a new breeding program. American Shorthairs were used to provide genetic diversity.
Things might have gone well from this point on if life hadn't intervened. Virginia was forced to suspend her breeding program so personal reasons until the early 1980s. At this point, other breeders became interested in these spotted cats and new lines were developed with surprising speed. The International Cat Association (TICA) granted the Ocicat championship status in August of 1986.
The Appearance of the Ocicat
The Ocicat is one of the larger cat breeds and has a sleek body with a slightly foreign appearance. Weighing up to 14 pounds, these cats are well muscled and strong. The eyes should be almond shaped and fairly large, giving the face and exotic appearance. With its quick movements and lean body, this cat is athletic and graceful.
The coat of the Ocicat should be short and how to be traditional spotted and striped pattern. Though there is only one pattern, there are a variety of colours. These include blue, brown, chocolate, cinnamon, fawn, and lilac. Black spots are most common, but silver varieties also exist. Either way, the Ocicat looks like a small jungle cat.
Spots should be thumb-shaped and arranged over the body so they resemble a bull's eye. Individual hairs have several bands of ticking, contributing to the beauty of the overall pattern. Sometimes kittens are born in the classic tabby pattern, but these kittens are not eligible for competition and are not typically bred.
The short coat is fairly low maintenance. You can remove loose hair with a soft rubber brush every week or two. If you want to encourage a natural luster, consider buffing your cat with a chamois cloth.
The Personality of the Ocicat
An inherently playful cat, the Ocicat is active, curious, and exciting. They love to play and will happily engage in many games. This breed is certainly smart enough to learn quickly and will follow you around waiting for the next game. They love children and other pets, so they fit well into most households.
There are few breeds that bond to their families the way the Ocicat does. Because of thus, you really shouldn't leave an Ocicat alone for long periods of time. If your cat does need to be left alone, consider getting a second Ocicat. They will keep each other company.
If you're looking for a cat that looks and acts like an affectionate jaguar, the Ocicat may be for you. Just make sure he gets plenty of exercise and has a playmate and a few toys and he'll be the happiest little cat on the block.
Also known as the Skogkatt or Norsk, the Norwegian Forest Cat is a breed straight out of Viking legend. It is, in fact, mentioned in many Viking myths and is said to have traveled with the Vikings on their ships. Because of the mythology surrounding the Norwegian Forest Cat, we'll probably never know how old this breed really is. We do know they've been around a while and they have adapted to their climate and surroundings quite well. But we don't know how old the breed is.
In the early part of the 20th century, the Norwegian Forest Cat's numbers had declined enough that they were actually in danger of extinction. Several breeding programs were started to try and save the breed, but World War II (WWII) got in the way, causing almost all of the programs to be put on hold.
It wasn't until the 1970s that things got back on track again, particularly in Norway. This elegant breed was declared the official cat of Norway and breeding programs were established to focus just on revitalizing the breed and saving it from extinction. The first breeding pair was imported into the United States in 1979, but the breed wasn't given Championship status with The International Cat Association (TICA) until 1984. Since then, it has slowly gained in popularity. It is still not the most common cat, but at least it no longer faces extinction.
The Appearance of the Norwegian Forest Cat
Though not necessarily as large as the Maine Coon Cat, the Norwegian Forest Cat is still on the large end of domestic cats. He's muscular and strong, but he's also agile and relatively light for his size.
The ears are very large, but they're also quite wide, so wide they resemble an equilateral triangle. Eyes are also large, and are almond shaped, giving him a sweet and expressive face. Eyes often vary in color, but they should be clear and gleaming.
The coat of the Norwegian Forest Cat can come in any color and pattern. It's really the fullness and texture that are important for this breed. Though the outer coat is soft and fluffy, the undercoat should be dense enough to keep the cat warm in the depths of the Scandinavian winters. The coat should also be water resistant. In winter the coat should be long and flowing. In summer it should be shorter, but still water resistant. The tail should be long and flowing, just like the coat.
Though this breed definitely has long hair, the coat isn't as high maintenance as other longhaired cat breeds. You don't really have to groom these guys every day for their coats to maintain their beauty. Instead, a brushing once or twice a week to remove dead hair is generally enough.
The Personality of the Norwegian Forest Cat
A highly intelligent feline, the Norwegian Forest Cat is quite resourceful and is probably one of the most adaptable cats around. They are perfectly happy hunting mice in a country field, but they're just as suited to lazing about on the couch all day while you read a book. Even a cat who is confined to an apartment will find a variety of ways to entertain himself.
This cat really loves toys and games, especially if they involve hanging out with people. He'll run through cat tunnels, chase catnip-filled toy mice, and leap after feathers on sticks. In short, this breed is constant entertainment. He's also great with kids and other pets and will even play with older children if his mood right.
If you're looking for a mild-mannered cat who can cuddle up like a small dog, the Norwegian Forest Cat might be for you. Be prepared for his pranks, though, because this perky cat is always looking for a little bit of nonsense.
There are many ancient breeds of cats. The Nebelung is not one of them. It was, in fact, not even conceived of before the 1980s. The name 'Nebelung' is derived from the German word 'nebel' (meaning fog). It is also based on the medieval German saga Nibelungenlied, which is said to represent the cat's distinctive blue coat that is as silky and wispy as fog.
Initially developed by Cora Cobb, the first two registered Nebelungs were born in 1984 (Siegfried, a male) and 1985 (Brunhilde, a female). Siegfried's parents were unremarkable, as were Brunhilde's. Still, the two became the foundation of what would become the Nebelung cat breed and had their first litter in 1986. In 1987 Cobb applied to The International Cat Association (TICA) for New Breed status.
Because the coat color is so important for this breed, the Russian Blue was officially designated as an allowed outcross. This encourages the development of the gene pool without compromising the stunning color of the breed. After a decade of breeding, the Nebelung was granted Championship status in 1997.
The Appearance of the Nebelung
The Nebelung is on the larger end of the medium-sized cats. He should be a muscular cat with a long tail and ears that are large but still in proportion to the head. The eyes should be wide set and open. They should be green in color, though a yellowish-green is also acceptable. Gold is too yellow a color the a Nebelung's eyes.
The coat is really what sets these cats apart. Like the Russian Blue, the coat is a silvery blue color. Unlike the Russian Blue, the Nebelung has long hair instead of the shorter hairs so characteristic of the Russian Blue. The hair is silky but quite dense, requiring a good grooming at least twice a week to remove any lose hair and prevent matting. These cats don't like matts at all, so do groom your feline companion well.
The Personality of the Nebelung
This cat breed is on the more sensitive end of the scale when it comes to temperament, so take care when introducing him to new people, children, and other pets. A kitten will need ample time to adjust to a new environment, an adult cat even more so, so be patient with him.
Once your new friends does adjust, however, you will have a loyal and loving companion. They are very people-oriented and need to be around people familiar to them to feel comfortable. This is not a cat you should lock in the back room while you make dinner. He would prefer to sit at your feet instead.
If you want a quiet cat who will shower you with kisses and cuddles, the Nebelung might be for you. They are affectionate cats to those they love, but you will have to be patient with his sensitive breed.
The Munchkin is a relatively new breed, having its roots in the early 1980s, but the mutation that resulted in the shorter legs actually appeared sporadically throughout the 20th century. The first reported mutation occurred in Britain in 1944. Dr. HE Williams-Jones wrote an entire paper on four generations of short-legged cats. This line, which may very well have gone on to found an entire breed, was tragically lost during WWII (World War II).
Fortunately for the cat fancy world, the short-legged trait appeared again. Several times, in fact. It could be found in Stalingrad in the 1950s, New England in the 1970s, and Louisiana in the 1980s. It was in 1983 that Sandra Hockenedel found a pregnant cat who happened to have the shortened legs the Munchkin would become famous for. This cat, who she named Blackberry, would become the foundation for the modern Munchkin breed, though several outcrosses would be necessary to establish a diverse gene pool.
After a decade of careful outcrossing, the Munchkin was recognized by TICA (The International Cat Association) in 1994, but only in the New Breed development program. This program ensures that the breed is stable and healthy before championship status is granted. It was during this time that the gene which results in the shorter legs is actually dominant, much like the gene in the Corgi and Dachshund dog breeds. This helped with the breed's stability and in 2003 TICA granted the Munchkin cat breed championship status.
The Appearance of the Munchkin
The Munchkin cat looks very much like most other cat breeds, including the American Shorthair, except for the length of the legs. The mutation that makes these cats so unique shortens the leg bones, but does not affect any other part of the cat. So unlike the Corgi or Dachshund, the Munchkin doesn't have the back problems you might expect to see in a breed with such tiny legs. In fact, this breed has few health problems at all.
A medium-sized cat, the Munchkin typically weighs in between 5 and 9 pounds. Because of the early outcrossings, they can be of any color or pattern, so there is great variety in the Munchkin breed. They come in both longhaired and shorthaired varieties, the only difference between the two being the length of the coat. Shorthaired cats have an all-weather coat that is silky to the touch and requires only light grooming. Longhaired cats have an all-weather coat that is silky to the touch and requires more intensive grooming. Other than this slight difference, they are the same cat.
The Personality of the Munchkin
You might think this cat looks like a lot of fun, and you'd be right. They love to run and jump (though they can't jump as high as cats with longer legs) and will happily dash after whatever toy has been tossed for them. The Munchkin has a lot of energy and rarely slows down unless dinner is on the table.
The Munchkin has a sunny disposition and gets along with everyone from small children to strange dogs. They like everyone and want everyone's attention. A highly curious cat, this breed can sometimes get themselves into trouble with all their exploring, but you'll never want for excitement with this little bundle of energy around.
If you're looking for a cat that is unique and has a great personality, the Munchkin might be for you. They are happy and fun companions for the young and old alike. As long as you don't might a short little cat dashing around your living room at all hours.
