Choosing a pedigree cat is a big decision, especially for those cat lovers who have never had a cat of a specific breed before. It is easy to choose entirely by looks, but better to know a little about each breed's personality, and also how much care and attention it is likely to need. Here is a brief overview of the different types available.
Persian or Long-Haired Cats
Persian cats are beautiful, and have always been very popular. However, they need a great deal of care, with many of them needing daily or even twice daily brushing. Cat lovers who cannot spare this amount of time should choose another breed, perhaps a semi-longhaired cat if they like the long-haired look. Persians tend to be relaxed and laid-back in temperament, and many of them purr almost all the time. They are relaxing cats, but some owners prefer more feisty pets.
Those who like the Persian temperament but not the long hair may prefer an Exotic, which is a short-haired version of the Persian.
Semi-Longhaired Cats
Included in this group are Burmans, Maine Coons, Norwegian Forest Cats and the very similar Siberian Forest Cats, Ragdolls, Somalis, and Turkish Vans. These cats will require less grooming than Persians, but the owner will still need to brush them at least once a week. Maine Coons and the Forest Cats tend to be intelligent and sociable. Burmans are quieter, and some owners claim they are not very clever. Ragdolls are laidback and friendly, while Turkish Vans love water, to the extent of sometimes taking a bath with their owner!
British Cats
British shorthaired cats are the ancestors of British moggies, and tend to be friendly and easy to take care of. They come in a huge variety of colours. Also included in this category are the tail-less Manx and Selkirk Rex cats.
Foreign Cats
These include the Russian Blue, Abyssinian, Cornish and Devon Rex, Tonkinese, Bengal, and some less common breeds. These cats are all short haired and easy to take care of, but they differ hugely in personality, and the prospective owner should read up about them before committing herself.
Burmese Cats
Burmese cats are very popular and easy to take care of. However, they have strong personalities and need lots of attention from their owners. Those who are out at work all day may find their Burmese cat becomes depressed, and would do well to acquire two of the breed, or perhaps a cat which is better coping by itself.
Siamese and Oriental Cats
Siamese and Orientals are lively, loud-voiced, and loving. However, even more than Burmese, they want to be around their owners, and if left alone may become unhappy or even destructive. In this respect they are more like dogs than the average moggie or the more laidback cat breeds. They always want to be top cats in a multi-cat household, so may not mix in well if the owner has other cats.
The above is of necessity only a brief overview, and the cats are divided as is done by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy in the UK. Other countries will have others methods of categorization, and indeed different breeds. Prospective owners should obviously do some more research, but hopefully this article has helped them a little. And remember, whatever cat the owner chooses, it will end up as the best cat in the world to him or her!
 |
