An Overview of Cat Breeds

Cats were one of the last animals to be domesticated. They were first found in households in Egypt about 5000 years ago. Currently they are the most popular house pets, outnumbering dogs by more than two to one. The earliest domestic cat was probably a Tabby, descended from the wild tabby cat. The first cat show was held in London in 1871. There were 17 breeds listed at that show. oday there are 37 distinct breeds recognized in the United States, though other countries may list more or less. Though dogs were initially bred to do specific jobs, such as pulling, hunting or herding; cats have been bred for looks alone. As with dogs, the desired physical trait that is bred for often carries with it undesirable defects. Manx cats (which are tailless) for example often are born with malformed urinary tracts. Persians can have lethal defects of the eyes, nose and jaws. Both Persians and Siamese have a high incidence of cleft palate. Blue-eyed white cats are often born deaf, and may be sickly in general. Cat breeds are first classified by coat type, longhair or shorthair. Then each breed is divided into accepted color classes. The most common and most popular "breed" is not a breed at all, but the ordinary housecat, known as the domestic shorthair or the domestic longhair. They are also commonly called tabby cats, though this term actually refers to specific markings and coloration. Of the purebred cats, the currently most popular are the Persian, Maine Coon and the Siamese.