Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Pay attention to basic indicators
• Method 2 of 2: Identifying specific breeds
• Tips
• Warnings

The sheer number of cat breeds in the world makes it difficult to identify a cat's breed. A complete overview of all cat breeds would require a complete tome. This article provides a foundation for you to start learning about cat breeds. It can help you make your decision about choosing a cat, or it can help you recognize your own cat's breed.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Pay attention to basic indicators

1. Learn about pedigree cats. Purebred cats are bred by cat breeders and the cats must meet certain standards according to the cat association they are registered with. The breed standard defines the appearance of an ideal specimen of that particular breed, and usually describes size, build and head shape. It also defines facial features, including the shape of the muzzle, the placement of the eyes and nose, size and shape of the ears, and shape and color of the eyes. Other factors may include tail length and type, coat length, texture, color and patterns, and sometimes even personality.
   • There are more than 100 pedigree cat breeds worldwide, not including coat and color variations within the breeds, or newly emerging breeds.
   • A purebred cat has papers showing its pedigree up to four or five (or more) generations back, depending on the association, and will almost certainly produce offspring that meet the standard.
2. Learn about randomly bred cats. Random-bred cats usually have unknown ancestors and vary widely in size, build, head shape, variations in ears, eyes, tail length and species, coat length, coat density, colors and patterns, and personality.
   • If a cat has no papers from the association or associations where it was registered at birth or purchase, it is not a purebred cat. This can be confusing at times as pedigree cats are sometimes referred to as "purebred". This is a misleading term as a purebred cat is no "purer" than a scruffy stray cat.
3. Note the length, pattern, and color of the cat's coat. A cat's most important landmarks are the length, pattern and / or color of its coat. Therefore, it is important to study and describe the coat of the cat you want to identify. For example, is it short and gray, or long and two-tone?
   • Knowing if the cat you want to breed is long-haired or short-haired, you can reduce the number of options when trying to determine the breed. Most cats are divided into long-haired and short-haired, although some breeds have both hair lengths. Sometimes you will also see medium hair length mentioned.
4. Look at the cat's face and eyes. Some breeds have very specific facial features that make it easier to determine the breed of a cat. For example, does the cat have a short muzzle? Blue eyes? Long ears? An angular or long face? Or other striking features? Watch and take notes on these traits to help you determine the breed.
5. Think about the cat's personality. Some cats have very specific personalities that allow you to determine the breed as well. For example, is the cat shy? Lovingly? Energetic? Empowered? Or something else? Think about the cat's personality and use this information to further reduce the number of possibilities.
   • Talk to a vet about your cat, they can help you roughly get a picture of what breed your cat is.

Method 2 of 2: Identifying specific breeds

1. Recognize a long-haired Persian cat. Typical features of this cat are short noses, small ears and a lot of fur. Judged from the image of exhibitions, that cat must meet the same standard for type, build, size and coat length. Patterns and colors include tabby (possibly the brown tabby is the oldest Persian type), smoke, lilac, white, black etc. They are often calm, undemanding cats and are usually very friendly by nature. Well-known long-haired Persian types are:
   • Chinchillas
   • Color point (aka Himalayan)
   • Shaded silvers
   • Exotic Longhair
2. Learn how to recognize British and American shorthair people. These cats look much the same to the untrained eye, but there are different expectations between the American and British standards. Although these cats have a short coat, they have a very thick undercoat that tangle easily. Coat colors are white, black, blue, cream, chocolate and lilac. The patterns can be tabby, calico (tortoise), calico with white, colourpoint, tipped, smoke, bi-color etc. These cats are usually heavy, large cats when fully grown, but they are calm, gentle, affectionate and balanced in nature. temperament. They are great with children. A number of better known varieties are:
   • Manx
   • American Shorthair
   • British shorthair
   • Exotic Shorthair
3. Determine if a cat is a Burmese. The Burmese cat is an attention grabber who is usually always on something. This cat needs a lot of care because it hates to be left alone. They are known for their temperament, which is both loving and boisterous. They are also known for their doggy tendencies of retrieving and loyalty. This cat's coat comes in many colors including brown (sable), blue, chocolate (champagne), lilac (platinum), red, cream, brown tortoise (calico), blue tortoise (calico), chocolate tortoise, lilac tortoise.
4. Recognize a Siamese. This cat is one of the most easily recognizable cats due to its unique coloring pattern with colored tips. He is very noisy and cannot stand being left alone, but must have company and be involved. Siamese cats are intelligent and very social, but they tend to bond with an owner. They come in various patterns and colors. Coat colors include seal point, blue point, chocolate point, lilac point (frost point), cream point, tabby point (lynx point) and many more depending on the association.
5. Learn to recognize Oriental Shorthairs. These cats look like Siamese in size and build, but they have various coat colors that do not match the Siamese. Their temperament is much the same as that of the Siamese and they are elegant, affectionate, playful and intelligent. They can also be noisy, chatter incessantly and be destructive if left alone for too long. These are:
   • Cornish Rex
   • Devon Rex
   • Abyssinian
   • American Wirehair
   • American Curl
   • Bengal
   • Ocicat
   • Burmilla
   • Russian Blue
   • Egyptian Mau
   • Korat
   • Japanese Bobtail
   • Tonkinese
   • Traditional Siamese
   • Scottish Fold
   • Sphynx
6. Consider whether a cat does not have a pedigree. Cats without a pedigree do not match any of the pedigree standards and they come in a variety of colors and sizes. Large and small, black or white, tabby or bicolor, these cats make up the largest group of domestic cats in the world.
   • Consider purchasing a DNA test online. This provides a nice overview of the cat's breed inheritance.
   • If you're trying to decide what kind of pet cat you want, consider getting one without a pedigree. There are always many who need a home and unless you are determined to adopt a particular breed for a very good reason, you can give a home to an intelligent, often healthier, random breed. In general, randomly bred cats often have fewer genetic health problems.

Tips

• Volunteer at a local cat shelter to help clean, feed, and care for the cats. This will give you a sense of the variation in non-purebred cats and you can learn about the temperament and behavior of cats.
• At local cat shows you can often find willing owners who are happy to tell you all about their cat and cat breeds.

Warnings

• Long-haired cats need daily grooming to prevent tangles, which can lead to skin infections.
• Cats with "pressed" muzzles can have facial skin infections and respiratory problems if not properly cared for.
• Cats with sensitive skin are more at risk for fleas and skin infections.