Black kitten

Photographer: pszem

Usually we laugh at people picking their noses. But when it's up to a kitten all will say "it's very cute!" :) So, I will pick up my nose with my tongue until someone tells me it's cute.

Funny Cute Cat : Hey Guys Where is My Food???

Awsome white cat

Photographer: kittygeek

Just look at that white cat! Isn't it awsome! Hats down for the photographer. Really good job.

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The Ragamuffin Cat picture

The Ragamuffin Cat picture

The Ragamuffin is a relatively recent cat breed that originated through periodic breeding of Ragdolls with Himalayans and Persians. A large cat, the Ragamuffin weighs in the range of ten to twenty pounds, with males typically being heavier than females. It is a somewhat rare and expensive breed at the moment. This is largely owing to its relatively recent recognition and development, not to mention the sublime beauty and appeal of this felid. Like the Ragdoll, Ragamuffin is one of the most sought after domestic cats.

Like other large cats, Ragamuffins take time to develop, reaching full size by around four years of age. Thy have a rectangular profile with strong chest and shoulders. Heavily boned and well muscled, they often have a fatty pad on abdomen though they are not obese. Fur is long and silky with a prominent neck ruff and plush tapering tail. A broad variety of coat colors and patterns exists. Eyes are large and expressive. There is a nose dip and whisker pad is puffy, adding to the cat's sweet facial expression.

Despite similarities, certain differences do exist between Ragamuffins and Ragdolls. The former have a rounder skull with a slightly fuller face and tilted ears. Eyes are walnut shaped in contrast to the oval eyes of Ragdolls. Also Ragamuffins are allowed to breed outside their stock every fifth generation to prevent continuous inbreeding and maintain genetic variety.

Ragamuffins are docile and gentle cats. They are non-aggressive and should not be allowed outdoors unsupervised. Still they are active and quite fond of playing with their toys and fetching them and climbing scratch posts. They show a very affectionate attitude towards people and lovingly follow them around the house. Ragamuffins are not demanding and do not require daily grooming. Their rabbit like fur does not matte easily and they have no particular health problems in their lines.

Funny Cat photos

I am taking a huge leap! I am now offering free jpeg images of funny cat photos on my web site. I never thought I would be saying that! But there it is. It is a limited offer. I am giving permission for people to download web resolution images from a total of twenty-four of my funny cat pictures…specifically a series of images featuring a cat named Maude in humorous anthromorphical situations. The images were originally made for a line of greeting cards, but the cards are no longer being published. And these aren’t out takes or inferior images, they are highly produced, digitally composited, art directed photos.

I have decided to migrate the images to CafePress, again as greeting cards, but also as a number of other products from mouse pads to pet bowls to coffee mugs. As web resolution images people may use them provided they either link to my site or leave the copyright notice on the images. If they want large enough files to use for print quality or better, they can license them for a fee. In addition to CaféPress I will place these images, or at least try to place them, with a non-exclusive rights managed agency (so that I can still sell through CafePress and license images for advertising and editorial uses).

These are not images well suited to advertising, though I imagine I can make a least some advertising sales. They are really best for exactly what they were designed for, greeting cards. That being said, they might work well for some people for blogs, for Myspace uses or Facebook or twitter backgrounds…who knows? There is a chance that offering some free images may help drive traffic to my site or to my CafePress store.

I am also optimistic that the free image may stimulate more publicity for the Maude collection of images and that offering free images allows me to legitimately optimize my site for high traffic-volume keywords such as free images, free jpeg images, funny cat pics and free downloadable images. I optimize pages where those images appear, and work at getting some links from outside my site with good anchor text in them.

I am using Wordtracker to find out which keywords make sense to go after in relation to my silly cat pictures and I have liberally used those keywords in my meta data, title tags, headings and body text. I will also write an e-zine article to help gain SEO traction. By submitting articles to the article directories I will get some backlinks with good anchor text.

You hear a lot these days about how in this brave new Internet world you give away what you used to sell and you sell what you used to give away. I’m not sure I entirely believe that, or that it exactly applies to photographers, but this does feel right to me. What is it they say, Nothing ventured, nothing gained?

Having Cats and Dogs at Home

Having Cats and Dogs at Home picture

The saying "fighting like cats and dogs" didn't come up as superstar's idea of a hoax just for cartoons (Tom and Jerry comes into brains). Dogs are regularly territorial and will combat not just new cats but other new dogs as well. They cultivate to celebrate their territory and will attack somebody who invades their span. Cats have the same tendencies and even if they are lesser than to dogs, they will abandon and fight for their territory.

Most pet lovers who have both a cat and dog have a hard time making their pets coexist with one another. The everyday reaction to this is separating the two pets and making surefire they won't encounter. This is not sincerely a workable emulsion to this snag as, both pets tend to wander around the house and there will come a time when they will collect. This would also trigger a lot of shattered time if you have to allocate twofold the time for playing with your pets. Another reaction would be to impound both pets but this practice is frowned ahead by most pet lovers. The best thing to do is to prepare the cat and dog to coexist peacefully. In this item is a chain of steps to sentence harmony between cats and dogs.

Perhaps the hardest thing for pet lovers to do is the introduction. Introducing a new pet requires both time and patience as, both cats and dogs requires time to adjust to something new. Both cats and dogs take up to 30 years to adjust. It is even longer if you have adult pet, but with modest retraining you can lecture your old dogs and cat's new tricks.

The first stride is agreement. This is vital especially for the dog which is mostly the provoker in this kind of spot. You have to tutor your dog to obey when you say "no." This could be done by viewing him some handle and every time he looks at it you say "no" you impede him from ingestion it. Do this every day and reward him every time he obeys.

While burden this with your dog, make reliable the cat and dog are solitary from one another, allowing your cat to wander around the house. Cats adoration to journey and this will make her trail scattered in your home. After burden this, link your cat in one room and let your dog wander around the house sniffing for the cat's sniff. This will make your dog acquainted to your cats smell and instruct the dog that the cat is part of the household.

Once you've done this for about a week, it's time for them to see one another physically. This part requires that you have somebody to help you. Have someone who can foothold your cat securely and that knows how to respond quickly and get your cat to shelter if the dog is showing aggressiveness. Your part is to be able to restrain your dog and making steady that if he starts lunging for your cat, you'll be there to prevent him.

Dogs mostly birth barking when they see some other animals in their territory, eager to scare them away. They won't actually pounce at something immediately. Once he starts barking, this is where the respect part starts to come in. Say "no" and make him reach that the cat is also a pet.

If your dog starts to calm down when in the aura of the cat, then it's the time to let him sniff the cat. Once your dog starts to choose not to bark at your cat you know that you've done the introduction part successfully.

The final movement is making effective that both pets have the time to coexist. This part is usually the cat's liability. Cats have the leaning to be remote and delay away from the dog and other people. It's not because they are scared of the dog but more because it's their life to be deserted. Be sure that your dog sees your cat as regularly as workable. You can allocate sometime nightly where you can do some activities with both your cat and dog. This will permit them to play with one another and you'll have the confidence that they won't gain fighting when they're unsupervised.

Wrestling With Cats: Story of a Funny Cat Picture

Wrestling With Cats: Story of a Funny Cat Picture

It was very early on in my Animal Antics series of anthropomorphized animal pictures for greeting card when I was given the task of shooting Big Time Wrestling…with cats.

At that point I had only done four or five such images.



I was doing the compositing work with Live Picture, which at the time had better tools for selecting the hair and fur. But neither Photoshop nor Live Picture was anywhere near the tool that Photoshop is today.


Excitement, Intimidation and Challenge

When I saw the sketch from the art director I was both excited and intimidated. It was easily the most challenging job I had been asked to do yet, but done well, would be a really cool image that would certainly stand out from everything else out there.



The original sketch did not show the audience, and for better or worse, I suggested that we make the audience all cats. Boy did that turn into a nightmare!


Blood, Sweat and Funny Animal Photos

To create this funny animal photo my art director, Collette Kulak, had a miniature boxing or wrestling ring built. She also crafted, herself, small plastic cat-sized uniforms. Now photographing cats is not an easy process.



Photographing cats, upside down, wearing miniature wrestling uniforms…now that is a challenge! This was way back before we had mastered the process, and we were doing our best to actually get the cats into the necessary poses. Now we just shoot one part at a time and it is one heck of a lot easier!



We did manage to get all the shots I needed, but not without shedding just a little blood, sweat and, well, thankfully, there were no tears.


An Audience of Cats and 1000 Layers

It took me about two days to assemble the main elements of the picture. Then I set about building the audience of cats. That was my idea, right? Man! Everytime I would drop one cat’s face in I would have to adjust the one next to it, then the one next to it, and so on.



Plus, I only had about twelve different cat faces to work with, and I didn’t it to look like I was using the same ones over and over. To help with that I had the background go darker and darker the further back the audience receded. By the time I had completed the image I had over 1000 layers (in Live Picture…Photoshop wouldn’t go over 99 layers back then).


A Poster, Books and Greeting Cards

At nine days of imaging, the cat-wrestling photo takes the record for the longest time I have ever spent digitally manipulating a single composite image. This funny cat photo has been used as a poster, in books, as a greeting card (still being distributed) and in a variety of other uses. It is still one of my favorite images…though I may be influenced by what a challenge it was to create, a phenomena that must of us photographers, ah, wrestle with!



Research Your Clients, and Get an Advance

When licensing your images it is really important to research your clients thoroughly and to only license the rights for an image that a given client needs and is good at distributing. A company that is great at selling and distributing greeting cards may not be particularly good at distributing calendars.



In the long run you will do better by researching your clients and paying close attention to your licensing. If your client does not distribute, and distribute effectively through out the world, then don't give up world rights! I would also recommend getting an advance. Just recently I agreed to let a company distribute my images in a calendar without an advance.



The company folded, sold the rights to the calendar to another company who also then folded. I end up with nothing. Research your clients, pay attention to the rights you license, and get an advance.

The Savannah cat picture

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Pictures Of Cats

It is estimated that three quarters of the population of the United States has pets. Of the three quarters, more than half have cats as pets.

Cats have dated back to early Egypt; hieroglyphics depict cats lounging next to the pharaoh's throne. Their stature among the pharaoh's is shown even as guards to the pharaoh's tombs. Skeletons of cats have also been found in the tombs themselves, buried with their owners.

Unlike other domestic animals, cats are not sloppy or messy; they are very clean animals that have a lot of love to offer the family that adopts them. Cats, even though very independent creatures, can enrich our lives in so many different ways. They comfort us when we are sick and love to play all day and sometimes all night.

Studies have shown that having a cat can be very therapeutic; results have shown that by simply petting a cat that is curled up in your lap can lead to lower blood pressure.

There are many different places to adopt a pet, however, pet stores have by far, the best selection. In the past few decades, pet stores have become popular in almost every city and town in the United States.

When you first walk into a pet store to choose a cat for your family, you will notice that each cat or kitten has its own distinct personality. Their cute little faces and playful personalities will make the choice difficult for you.

Each will come to the front of the cage and look at you curiously. They will want to play with you and perform all of the tricks that they can so you will choose them. They roll over, play and jump up on the cage to get the attention of the person passing by.

There are a lot of different breeds of cats, it is important that you choose your pet carefully. If you have an active household, you do not want to choose a cat that is nervous or skittish around a lot of activity. This can lead to a cat becoming aggressive and start to scratch or even bite.

You also do not want to choose a cat that is very active if you have a quiet household. Many people choose a cat as a pet so they can have company if they live alone.

If you choose a cat that jumps around all day, knocking things over or tearing at your furniture, you may not have a good experience. It is important that you make your choice based on the type of personalities that are in your home.

When you decide to adopt a cat, it is important that realize that is a responsibility that cannot be taken lightly. There are many things that you must do to ensure the health and safety of your cat.

No matter how independent your cat is, your pet will depend on you to take care of him or her for the rest of his or her life.

For more helpful articles about pets and pet care at http://animals-beautifullanimals.blogspot.com round the clock. We love cats!

The History of the Domestic Cat

Cats have always been very fascinating creatures and they are no less so today. They have become one of the worlds most sought after pets over the years as they are perfectly suited to the lifestyles of everyone. Independent, beautiful and easily cared for, cats are the ideal pet for many people.


Lions and tigers, today’s wild cats, descended from miacids, which were early carnivores. The wild cat developed into 3 main types of cats. These are the European wild cat, the African Wild Cat, and the Asiatic Desert Cat. The African Wild Cat is believed to have evolved into the domestic cat due to the Tabby markings they possess.


The domestic cats of today still show many of their wild ancestors’ traits. Those intelligent, almost human appearing eyes, their body shape as well as their feeding and grooming habits all come from these ancestors. They also possess the ability to spring into action at a moment’s notice. These are some of the characteristics that seem to make the cat so fascinating.


Cats were first domesticated around 4,000 years ago. The first people to realize the value of keeping cats were the Ancient Egyptians. They used them to protect their stores of food from vermin and other pests. The cats were also quite revered by the Egyptians as hunters, as well as being worshipped as gods and goddesses. Cats living in Ancient Egypt were quite safe as anyone who dared to kill a cat was put to death. In addition, cats were mummified upon death before they were buried.


It wasn’t long before other ancient civilizations began to domesticate cats. Tame felines made their way to Italy and spread throughout Europe from there. Shorthaired domestic cats began in Egypt and longhaired cats had their origins in Turkey and Iran. Domestic cats also began spreading over the world from India and into China and Japan. Eventually, the Pilgrims brought domestic cats to the New World with them. Aside from a brief period of time during the Middle Ages, when some people believed cats to be in league with the devil, they had become the most popular house pets in the world.


There are 36 recognized breeds throughout the world, with the Siamese being at the top of the list. However, it is the non-pedigree domestic cat called the mixed breed that seems to be the most popular among house pets. Of these, the black and white cat is the most popular, with the solid black cat and Tabby following respectively. With the evolution of these cats, it is very difficult to find homes today that do not boast at least 1 cat as a pet.

The Bombay Cat picture

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A shorthair felid, Bombay was created in nineteen fifties in United States through crossing of American Shorthairs with Burmese cats. The idea was to creature a small Indian 'black panther'. After a number of attempts, finally an all black cat was developed that would consistently produce black colored kittens with 'copper penny' eyes. It was named 'Bombay' after the famous Indian coastal town of the same name. It took a further two decades for the cat to be formally recognized. The modern Bombay shares majority of its attributes with the Burmese since American Shorthairs are no longer used in the periodic outcrossing of the breed.

A lithe yet muscular cat, Bombay is surprisingly heavy for its appearance. It has a medium slender physique with a shiny coat. Head is well rounded with gold to copper colored circular eyes and slightly tilted ears. Both the eyes and ears are big and widely set. Muzzle is short with a minimal nose break. Legs are long with round paws. Tail is medium in length. The highlighting feature of the Bombay is its stunning lustrous coat. It is short and close lying and yet has an unparalleled shine. It is black throughout, including at its roots. Sable colored kittens are often born in litters, though they are not formally recognized by cat fancies.

Some Bombays share a hereditary skull disorder with the Burmese in their lines. The result is an abnormal craniofacial presentation in kittens who are unable to survive and thus have to be euthanized at birth. This is an issue of some controversy around breeders today of the traditional Bombay and Burmese cats.

Affectionate and calm, Bombays are famous for being total lap cats. They follow their humans around everywhere and try to supervise all their activities. They are outgoing and active cats and keep themselves and their companions busy. Temperamentally they are quite good. Bombays readily accept other pets, particularly dogs, into their household. They are cool with children and are social cats in general.

A beautiful Cat picture

How to Take Beautiful Pictures of your Cat?
When you first bring your new pet feline home after purchasing it, there is a mixture of excitement and happiness in the household, especially for the kids. Make sure you have your camera ready in your hand so you can capture some sweet and adorable memories your family and yourself can cherish in the time to come. Don’t just snap rolls and rolls of pictures of your cat on the first day it arrives in your home. Always have some film available, and take the pictures of your cat’s progress over the months. This way, you will be able to see its growth, and how fast it learns.

Here are some tips to help you to take delightful photographs of your cat:

Create pleasant backgrounds. Pictures are best taken when the background is clean and uncluttered. Neutral backgrounds are best, such as plain white walls, or various single-colored backgrounds. Furniture such as bookcases, tables, chairs and such will interfere with the quality of the picture and the beauty of the photograph might be lost.

Put your children in the pictures as well. Children are photogenic, and they do not have the awkwardness as adults do when asking them to pose in a photo. Therefore your children and your cat are able to look natural in photographs, and being able to capture moments of happiness as your child play with the kitten is most heartwarming. Let your children play or tease the kitten with some toy, and take pictures during these times, as candid photographs are the perfect ones.

Take pictures outdoors. Sunlight provides a better lighting for taking prettier pictures. The early morning sun would be the best time to take photographs. Taking pictures in natural light will prevent the annoying ‘red eye’ that occurs sometimes in photographs. With your pet cat being in the outdoors, the pictures will turn out to be more natural, as that is where a cat belongs. Before you open the door to let your cat out, please ensure that the neighborhood is safe and there are no harmful creatures that will pounce on your cat.

Get as many close up shots as possible. Close-up shots of cats are sometimes the most adorable pictures of all. Seeing a kitten’s contented and natural expression on its face up close and personal is beyond words.

Cat House - The Solution To Your Sleeping Woes

Every night, you wake up to your cat neatly perched next to your head, sleeping away as if it was normal for your two to share the same pillow. So, you end up pushing him off and then you get back to sleep, only to have the same thing happen only a couple of hours later. If this is you, there is an easy way to solve this problem, all you need to do is purchase a cat house, which will give your kitty its very own spot to take it easy and rest.

What makes a cat house such a great alternative for your cat to sleep on other than your bed is its lovely design. Usually, one will be cylindrical in shape and will be crafted out of some type of wood, usually particle board, that is then covered in some kind of durable fabric. This cylindrical shaped structure will feature enclosed sleeping areas, anywhere from one to three, even four depending on the number of levels the one you get has, giving your furry companion a nice, cozy spot to catch some Z's.

Now, the above design of a cat house is a very basic one that you can get for your cat because there are actually a slew of other elaborate options that are also available. Like, you can get one that that have different limbs juxtaposing out of them, providing your kitty with a place to run and jump around. There are others that have hanging toys perfect for your cat to swat around and play with. And, there are even ones that have different open perches, so if your cat does not feel like being cramped for the night in an enclosed area, it can just sprawl out and sleep that perch.

In addition to cat houses, there are also many other cat furniture options that you could purchase for your cat. Like, cat trees or kitty gyms, which provide a nice spot for your cat to get rid of all its energy. Some of the other selections available include scratching posts, cat towers, cat houses that are for the outdoors made from sturdy, weather resistant materials, and cat stairs if your kitty needs a boost to get on certain things.

To check out all the cat house options, and other cat furniture selection, that you could buy for your cat, forget about going to the local pet store. You don't need to waste a trip there or the gas. What you can do instead is just hit the Internet and do some online shopping. Really, you can find what you want online and what's great is that it generally will be at the best prices possible, plus, your purchase will be shipped right to your home. Shopping has never been so convenient.

So, if you want a good night's sleep without your cat bothering you, a purchase that you need to make is buying a cat house. It will give your cat its own spot to snooze, allowing you to sleep without any distractions.

Diet Tips For A Healthy Cat

Most of us know that feeding our cat is not really a chore at all. Dump the food in a big bowl or dish, and the cat will eat when it's ready. Unlike a dog, cats tend to not overeat and therefore are more easily manageable than most other house pets. However, we need to be careful when assuming that the food that we are feeding our cat, and the manner by which we feed our cat, are the best choices for our cat. Here are some tips on how to maintain a healthy diet for your kitty.

Feed your cat based on their activity.

Is your cat an active cat or does it to lay around the house all day waiting for its next meal? If your cat is overweight and not very active at all, leaving a bowl full of food is probably not the best idea. It is at this point that you should begin to manage how much you feed your cat, what you feed your cat, and how often. By taking charge of your cat's feeding habits, you will be able to increase the life and longevity of your cat by making this simple and easy choice. A simple "Here kitty kitty kitty" will make your overweight and hungry feline run for the bowl to eat your rationed healthy amount of cat food.

Watch the weather!

Simply put, the environment in which your animal lives directly affects and influences their energy needs. Extreme hot or cold weather can increases a pet's energy needs and drinking habits. Make sure that on hot days water is readily available and that you feed your cat more canned food then dry. The water content within the canned food will help the cat retain water if it is not able to get to the water dish on a regular basis. If the weather is cold, make sure that you are feeding your cat very nutritional cat food that is not full of filler so that your cat will have more of the necessary nutrients to digest to ensure that it stays healthy.

Cat feeding times

Although discussed previously, there is much more to say about having a specific feeding time for your cat. Not only does this allow you to feed your cat nutritional canned food, you will also know that it will not be left in the open. Preservatives are nice, but let's not take any chances with the food left out.

Also, by having specific feeding times, this allows you to monitor your cat's diet by providing the food at regular times. It is a kind of portion-control feeding, however, most cats will simply eat until they have what they need.

Bottom line: keep a bowl full of a regular dry cat food and monitor the intake of canned food to ensure that your cat does not get overweight and is as healthy as it can be.

Buy the best

Though this sounds economically wrong, the truth of the matter is this: cheap cat food usually is cheap because of the added fillers that are put into the food.

As a general rule, cats need a daily regimen of protein found in meat, fish, or poultry. They also need an essential amino acid called Taurine and various other vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids.

If you have looked at a label for cat food, you will notice that wheat, rice, and even corn is used as filler for both canned and dry cat foods. Make sure that the cat food that you choose has the proper amounts of protein, vitamins, and minerals and not as much filler. The price of the cat food usually justifies its quality. And, as an added benefit, cats usually only eat as much as their bodies need. Therefore, your cat will probably eat less of the expensive of cat food because it contains more of the nutrients that it needs and not as much filler.

Avoid food addictions

Cats are said to be finicky animals. Whether this is true or not, cats have been known to develop a certain affinity toward particular brands and types of food. This could become a problem, especially if your cat develops a food allergy to certain ingredients and preservatives that may be contained within that cat food.

In order to avoid this, it is recommended that early in a cat's life that it gets used to having different varieties of cat food and different flavors. This way, the cat is less likely to develop an affinity for a particular brand which may inevitably lead to the cat developing a food allergy because of the lack of variety in its daily diet.

Overall, by avoiding cat food products that have chemical preservatives like BHA, cornmeal, and other carbohydrate fillers, you should be able to maintain your cat's health at an optimal level.

Picking the Perfect Persian Cat

The exotic and majestic appearance of the Persian cat captures the attention of cat lovers everywhere, making it one of the most desirable breeds of cats today. Their dense and lush long-haired coat, short legs and broad head with round eyes and flat muzzle faces are distinct physical traits that make them easily identifiable to just about everyone.

According to the Cat Fanciers' Association, there are seven main categories of Persians. You can visit their web site for specific information on each group and view pictures.

1. Himalayans

2. Solid Colors

3. Silver and Golden

4. Calico and Bicolor

5. Smoke and Shaded

6. Tabby

7. Particolor

Within these categories, there are many colors and variations. The many different kinds of Persians that are available permit anyone to pick the perfect companion. However, before running out and snatching up the first Persian you see, there are several factors for purchasing a Persian you ought to consider.

First, give some thought on how this new addition will get along with any pets you already have. Then assess if you are able to take the time to groom this cat properly everyday. The next issue might be the hardest thing to decide. That is narrowing down which of the seven types of Persians you like the most. However, once that is resolved, you could even settle on the color you would prefer. After that, you may have a partiality for the specific sex of your pet. A significant issue to consider is if you intend on entering your cat in show competitions or if you are just looking for a buddy. A show quality Persian will generally cost more.

Depending on your personality and time constraints, do you want and are you able to raise a kitten? Then you will want to locate a reputable breeder. This is an important matter because the better the breeder, the better your chance of acquiring a strong and healthy kitten. See if the kitten appears to be well taken care of and is being raised in clean surroundings. Has a veterinary done a complete checkup for health problems and is it up-to-date with shots? Is the breeder aware of any genetic conditions that may run in this kitten's pedigree lineage? Remember to obtain a health contract or guarantee from the breeder. A honest breeder will have no problem supplying you with one. Additionally, you will need the vaccination certificate. If the kitten is registered or you are planning to register it, you will need these papers from the breeder too.

Perhaps you are leaning toward an older cat. Adopting from a shelter or rescue could be a rewarding experience, not to mention saving a life. Just realize that this cat might have been abandoned due to a major health or personality problem. Ask a lot of questions and spend as much time with the cat as you can to determine if it will be a good pet for you.

No matter what cat you ultimately select, by doing your homework and being honest with yourself on your particular personality and situation, picking the perfect Persian can be a fun experience that later grows into a long loving relationship.

Most Popular Cat Breeds picture

Back to ancient times, cats are already around. Today, we can assess any owner of a cat. There are no restrictions at all on their owners, unlike other pets that require high maintenance and are subject to state or federal regulation.

A cat can also help you forget an exhausting day at work or school. She can caress you and purr. Any cat lovers, it does not need a reason or a question of ownership. However, for those who do not have a chat in May that they believe is an enormous task.

In fact, cats are the easiest to own pets. A simple set and some training sessions may be dispensed to treat the problem of dirt, especially for indoor cats.

Getting Your Own Cat. Having a cat in the house will certainly be an experience you do not want to miss. Again, they can be easily updated in the household; there is no need to worry.

All you have to do is choose a type that best suits your personality. There are many breeds of cats there to choose, not to mention those who have been raised on the cross.
Each race has its own characteristic and personality. This can affect how they behave, how they play and even if they require more maintenance.

The best thing to do is choose the best breed for you. Here are the top 10 breeds to choose from.

1. Persian cat

They are known for their long and fluffy hair that can measure up to 3 inches. They also have beautiful colors ranging from white, black, gray, orange or a combination of these colors. Persian cats require more maintenance depending on their hair. They also need a comfortable environment and they feel secure.

2. Siamese Cat

Siamese are also very popular. They have brands in the hair that make them very distinct. They also have thin bodies and very elegant posture. They tend to be too noisy or cry a lot if they want to attract your attention.

3. Manx

Manx cats are very different because of their own back end this in a short tail. Their structure gives them a very rounded which makes them more adorable and cuddly.

4. Siberian Cat

Siberian cats are known for their proportions and their fur. Some even claim their furs are hypoallergenic, although this is yet to be confirmed. They are almost like dogs in their personality.

5. Maine Coon Cat

Maine Coon Cat, or as some would say Mancoon cat, is one of the oldest breeds of cats. Throughout the world there is one, you will find, because they can withstand warm and even cold climates. One will be a very faithful family. They are fun-loving. Their good-natured personality will be very hard with the children.

6. Ragdoll

Another wonderful breed for soon to be pet owners is the ragdoll. This cat is medium length hair. They are very sweet, easygoing and affectionate. They must be kept indoors, away from the aggressiveness

7. Burmese Cat

The Burmese cats are shorthaired. Burmese cats tend to be like the Siamese voice. Draw the hair is enough for grooming. They can really make a bonded and trust with their owners.

8. Somali Cat

Somali cats are long-haired cats that wee of the Abyssinian race. They are ideal for homeowners who want an active, intelligent and playful animal. They have little hair and throw it ideal for those who do not want too much time grooming.

9. Russian Blue

This breed of cat is blue to blue-gray coat. They usually have green eyes or black. They also bond very well with their owners, but they are very shy to strangers.

10. American Bobtail

American Bobtails are clearly recognized for their tails are shorter than the ordinary type and look like it has been specially bobbed. They may have short or long coats.

Conclusion:

Cats are the most wonderful creatures in the world.

Persian Cat: Chocolate and Lilac Color

Persian Cat picture Chocolate and Lilac Color

Chocolate or lilac Persians?

Can it be possible? I, as an owner, breeding Persians and exots, pose myself such a problem quite recently. Of, course they exist, if to see from genetic point of view. These colors are included into standard, there is their description, but... Where are they? By all accounts from abroad, they have such animals but for some reason they are more often met in pedigrees of British cats as experimental partners for leading new color into the breed, but not like exhibition stars. It had to spent lots of time to answer the question: "What is the real situation with Lilac and Chocolate in the Persian group?"

The paradox came to light at once: there is enough big number of Points with Chocolate and Lilac masques and practically full absence of equally colored individuals. Probably, the fashion played its role in it. After all, from the genetic point of view Lilac-Point color is more difficult in receiving than, for example, Chocolate Solid (solid-monochromatic, "firm" colour). Now, thanks to fashion's jokes, selectionists are forced to word for word take out Chocolate and Lilac either from Solid-carriers CRC (carriers of Color-Point gene) or to work simpliciter with color lines, making copulations Solids (moreover it is desirable of stronger type) with Colors and further interbreeding on the Color parents. Such copulations are made for a long time, but purposeful selection are begun recently in this direction.

Only several breeding nurseries work today in this direction:

This is JUKI in Poland. It is world-famous nursery. But again they have Chocolate and Lilac not like purpose of selection, but like a side effect of Color-Points' breeding of modern type.

This is Smaragd in Estonia, which specializes in Persian and Exotic cats of Lilac color and uses in the work cats from JUKI and Finnish nurseries.

Lilac cat of strong type, reached high victories by FIFE system. Pedigree program of the nursery is various and includes copulations with Chocolate sires.

This is Tair Polling in Ukraine, using also bloods of JUKI, but specializing, vice versa, only in Chocolates and Tabbys. You can see first kittens from this oldest Kharkov nursery in Moscow.

This is club Irbis (FIFE) in Krasnodar, working at the Colors' bloods and carriers of Chocolate. Today the nursery Rarity of one sire, cat of Lilac color. Now you can see the first Lilac prosterity of show-quality.

The nursery Kelisa in Sochi is the nursery of Chocolate Persians. Prosterity of the same type, thought-out pedigree program. The nursery plans the receiving of Lilac Exots and the perfection of the type.

Several animals of Chocolate color appeared in Russia and Ukraine, but you can't see the result of breeding yet. Or these cats still too young, or the pedigree program is not thought out, giving a soon result. Chocolate Exot of Kharkov bloods lives in Saint Petersburg (owner is Orlova S.), also the city on Neva can boast of Chocolate Color-Point, imported from Poland, one more Exot from Kharkov is purchased by the nursery Dimarsh (Moscow).

Ther are animals of modern type in Perm and Voronezh, but because of their remoteness from the capital or passivity of the owners we have a few information about them.

The nursery Alexander-Fred (Moscow) has three Chocolate Persian cats ( of different blood lines), one Chocolate Exot, Chocolate Cream cat, and also several cats-carriers of chocolate gene. The nursery plans the receiving of Chocolate and Lilac Bicolor cats. The nursery leads common pedigree program with Kelisa (Sochi).

Several enthusiasts in Moscow started the breeding of Chocolate and Lilac Persians, but probably they either didn't have enough means to purchase interesting sires or purposefully decided to go all the way of coming-into-being of animals' type, who originally received chocolate color by the way of interbreeding.

It is necessary to understand genetic appropriatenesses of these colors to know the rules of breeding and receiving of Lilacs and Chocolates.

Black color of the hair equally with red is considered to be the basic color. Pigment melanin in black color - eumelanin, in red - pheomelanin. All the rest various colors (except white) are only derivatives of these two. Black color of the hair is formed under the influence of gene B - black, which is defined full chromogenesis. The pigment equally assignes to the axis of hair from the root till the tip. Gene B - black of black color is prepotent, and behind it the row of recessive genes can be hiden:

Gene brightener D (delutor - i.e. diluent), that gives an opportunity to receive from the given sire kittens of blue color. This gene is charged with distribution of pigments, their more thin location along the axis of hair, making the tone of the hair more light;

Gene b of chocolate color ( special location of pigments along the axis of the hair) , giving an opportunity to receive from the giving animal kittens of chocolate color and, in combination with gene-brightener D, lilac color. Consideration must be given to the fact that gene b is recessive. I.e. to receive kittens of chocolate color, both of parents must be carrier of this gene, and to receive the posterity of lilac color, both of parents must have at the same time genes D and b;

Gene of siamese color is interesting by opportunity to receive the posterity with siamese marks, including blue, chocolate and lilac colors (in the presence of genes of clarification and chocolate color at the same time).

Presence of given genes can define, studied the pedigree of sire or in practice, choosing partners with known genetics. But to receive the color, close to ideal, it is necessary to keep to the rule - to pair similar with similar. The main requirement for the quality of lilac and chocolate color is their tender, warm tone. These colors go well together, but as possible partners it is allowed to choose cats of Red, Cream colors, who give their Lilac and Chocolate progeny pinkish tint of hair and bright eye color. To Lilac and Chocolate Tabbys can be recommended Golden Tabbys as possible partners or improvers of type.

Peculiarity of today's situation in Chocolate breeding of Persian is that the task to get rid of Siamese gene became the purpose of the selectionists. At the first stage of the work it comes to the leading this gene into the recessive state. In future, numerous copulations of Chocolates and Lilacs 'inside them' will allow to clear up the color gene of the population.

It would seem that there is nothing simplier to pair Lilac-Point with Red cat, and then interbreed littermates between each other. But the question of the type stands the most sharply in Persians than in other breeds. That's why such way is inconvinient - doing the step forward, it has to do two steps back. What we have to do? Very often animals of black color, especially in extreme breeds are the carriers of the strongest, modern type, that's why they are used as improvers in the breeding of animals of different colors such as Points, Smokes, Bicolors and even Chinchillas. That's why it is appropriate to attract exactly them (or Tortoiseshell cats, received from black, high-class sires) to the chocolate program.

Extract from the standard of Persian colors WCF (edition by 1995)

PER b CHOCOLATE
Color: All colors of brown are accepted, without rust, white hairs or picture. Without grey undercoat, color must be equal.
Lobe of the nose: Color of milky chocolate
Pads: Color of cinnamon or chocolate
Eye color: Copper or deep-orange

PER c LILAC
Color: Color of hair is pale lilac with light pink shimmer, without white hairs or picture. Without grey undercoat, color must be equal.
Lobe of the nose: Lilac
Pads: Lilac-pink
Eye color: Copper or deep-orange

Today the interest to the rare Persian colors increases. That's why I hope that very soon we can often see the rarest and the most mysterious Chocolates and Lilacs on the shows!

Some Gift Ideas For Cat Lovers

There are a lot of great gifts that you can give to cat lovers, although photo frames are among the most popular. Photo frames are very affordable, and make a great gift for anyone who owns a cat or other pet. Those who own more than one cat will truly appreciate photo frames - as it gives them a chance to show off their pet. Cat lovers can also frame pictures of their pet for memories as well - and keep them forever and ever.

Before you give a cat lover a gift, you should take into consideration what type of cat the person owns. There are several breeds out there, including tabby, pure breeds, calico, Persian, and of course the infamous Siamese breeds. Someone may own several cats as well, which is why you should know a little bit about the breed or breeds someone owns before you get them a gift.

You should take into consideration whether or not the cat lover has an outdoor or indoor cat. Cats, unlike dogs, are more than happy to spend all of their time outdoors. Outdoor cats can be a lot of fun, especially if the owner spends a lot of time outdoors. Cats have a natural urge to go outside, even if the owner has an indoor cat.



Cats who reside indoors are less exposed to sicknesses and common health problems that outdoor cats are exposed to. Indoor cats are almost always trained to use the litter box, which makes them easy to maintain for their owners. Nearly all gifts that you can get for a cat lover are designed for those who keep their pet indoors.

If you're looking for a humorous yet exciting gift, you can always give the gift of catnip. Catnip is one of the most popular treats for cats, as it's a naturally occurring plant that has a unique affect on a cat. Catnip gives off aromatic oils that will often make cats appear to be drunk and very hyper - which is always great entertainment for both owners and guests. Catnip is completely safe for cats to consume, often times being included with gifts such as chew toys and play balls.

Other great gifts for cat lovers include decorative mats with cat pictures, which you can get personalized for the owner if you prefer. You can also give cat videos, musical cat dolls, cat shaped mail boxes, toys and treats, and various other goodies that are directed towards cat lovers. If you do your shopping on the Internet, you'll find that the possibilities are endless. Cats are very popular pets - meaning that you'll have no trouble finding the perfect gift for the cat lover in your life.

Taking Proper Care of Your Cat

Cats make some of the best pets you can have. They are especially good pets for people who have busy lives and schedules that can't afford to give a pet all of their time and attention. Cats are pretty private animals that don't constantly need your attention, which frees up a lot of time. They are also fairly quiet pets which make them nice pets for people who live in apartments.

There are a lot of different aspects to taking care of cats that everyone should probably learn about before bringing home a new cat. One of the most important aspects of taking care of any cat is the type of diet your cat has. Nutrition and the type of food your cat eats will determine how long your cat's life span is. There are tons of different brands and tons of different types that all claim to be the healthiest choice for your cat. You should do a little research and make sure that none of the companies you are considering have had any type of recalls lately. Also if you aren't sure which one is truly the healthiest you should contact your vet who can help you pick the best brand for your kitty. The vet can also give you instructions about how much to feed your cat.

It's extremely important to make sure that you avoid overfeeding your cat. By overfeeding your cat you may cause your cat to gain a lot of weight. This weight gain can eventually lead to your cat being very obese and unhealthy. This can shorten your cat's life span and end up being fatal to your beloved pet. Cats don't typically need the same kind of exercise that dogs do. They tend to get their exercise throughout the day around the house.

Grooming is another essential to taking proper care of your pet cat. You should divide up the grooming duties between those that need to be done daily, and those you can do weekly. Brushing out your cat's loose hair is something you should probably do daily as this will also improve the shine of your cat's coat. You should also check your cat for fleas and ticks regularly while playing with them and petting on them. Make sure you get the right type of shampoo to wash your cat in as well. You may want to sport some elbow high rubber type gloves when washing your cat to avoid getting scratched.

While cats are private animals that don't exactly do back flips to get your attention, that doesn't mean you should never play with your cat and spend time with him. Make a little time each day just to sit down and pet your cat or get out his favorite toy and just play with him. As stated earlier this is the perfect time to check and make sure he or she doesn't have any ticks or fleas as well.

Having a cat for a pet is a wonderful experience that millions all over the world enjoy every single day. If you are looking for a pet that doesn't require your constant attention, yet you can still cuddle and pet, a cat is the perfect pet for you. Make sure that if you have any questions you call your vet and ask so that you can be sure you are providing your pet cat with all the care and attention he or she needs. Your cat isn't simply an animal that sits around the house; he or she is now another member of your own family.

Ailments In Cats

Cat Allergies: Cats, like humans, can suffer from various allergies. The most common allergy among cats is flea allergy. As cats get older, their sensitivity to flea bites increases. Other food allergies account 5-10% of cat allergies. Food allergies can manifest themselves as dermatitis and the severe itching, or vomiting and diarrhea, but it may take up to 10 years appeared.

Vomiting: Some cats vomit all the time, while others rarely do. One of the most common reasons for vomiting hairballs. All cats benefit from regular brushing to help minimize the consumption and hair shedding. To check to see if your cat has been vomiting as a result of hairballs, examine carefully throw a small gray pellets or lumps, regardless of hair color cat. Hairballs can occur even with shorthair cats. Another reason to throw your cat may be allergic to food. Try switching to another brand with different materials and substantially no food coloring to see if that helps. Sometimes cats vomit when they have worms. Consult with your veterinarian for an appointment worms. Periodic throwing-up can also be a sign of an overactive thyroid or kidney infection. This is especially common in older cats. Your veterinarian can do blood tests to know better. You know your cat's habits. If you vomit more than usual or in some way indicate a departure from normal practice, take it to the vet. The main is to give plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

Diarrhea: If your cat has diarrhea, you can try to change eating patterns. You can try rice, cottage cheese, bread, yogurt, boiled chicken, chicken broth or strained meat. Choose your favorite cat. If symptoms continue for more than two days, take your cat to the vet with a stool sample. You should also immediately contact your veterinarian if your kitten is weak or listless, or refuses to take fluids.

Feline Urinary Syndrome (FUS) Feline urinary syndrome, or FUS, is an inflammation, irritation, and / or lower urinary tract obstruction. Inability to urinate may be a situation of life and death if not treated quickly. FUS is much more common among male cats than in females. Your cat may FUS if it strains to urinate, has blood in the urine, often making trips to the recycle bin with only small amounts voided, or forget how to use the litterbox.

Diabetes: Diabetes occurs in cats that can not properly regulate their blood sugar levels. Symptoms may include thirst and urination excessive weight loss or obesity. Older cats are more likely to develop diabetes than younger ones. Diabetic cats should be kept in the house to prevent food that can increase blood sugar.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) Although this disease associated with HIV, it is NOT possible to contract AIDS from a cat with FIV. FIV is transmitted through open wounds such as cat bites, which cause immune system disorders. As there is currently no vaccine for this disease, FIV positive cats should be kept inside and away from other cats.

Upper Respiratory Disease Upper respiratory disease will manifest itself in your cat by cold or flu symptoms such as runny nose and sneezing combined with reddened, watery eyes.

Feline Herpes Virus: Do not worry, you can not get herpes from cats! FHV affects only cats.

Psittaci Chlamydia: Chlamydia is a bacteria-like organism that inhabits the tissues around the eyes. The most common symptom is conjunctivitis, which is usually seen in one eye at first, then spread to both eyes.

7 Natural Cat Behaviors

Have you ever wondered why your feline friends acts they way they do? What makes them want to stalk, scratch, greet you, purr, or at times be a complete loner? What makes them so independent?

They really only require humans to fulfill a couple of needs then from there they can mostly take care of themselves. Knowing the reasoning behind what they do, will make it easier for you live in harmony with your beloved kitty.

1. Purring:

We all know that cats purr at times when being pet to demonstrate their pleasure or satisfaction. Did you also know that cats purr when they are sad or in pain. A female cat purrs while giving birth to kittens. Purring shows that they require some help or attention.

2. Greeting:

Greeting is a part of cat's behavior, which is expressed by rubbing its body or face against your body. Cats show their love and trust in you by lying down, turning over, yawning or stretching and retracting their claws.

3. Privacy:

After a cat uses their litter box, they bury their business. Most people believe this habit is because they are a clean animal. The real reason for this is to hide it from more domineering animals. In the environment they live in now this domineering creature would be you, their master.

4. Grooming:

Because cats are such clean animals they groom after eating. Because they have uneven surfaces on their tongues that untangle and remove the muck, they use their tongues to moisten their paws and use them to wash off their face. They also do this to wash any other part of their body that they can't reach.

5. Kitty Tails:

When a cat wags it's tail it usually is because they are irritated, annoyed, or angry. However, this is not the only time a cat will wag their tail. Cats also do this when they are stalking their prey. When you might see it is when they are chasing their favorite toy, or even a laser pen. This is just a way of letting of some steam from plotting their next move.

6. Catnaps:

The term 'catnap' is not just a term. In fact a cat's favorite past time is sleeping. It includes deep sleep, cat snooze and sleeping with shut eyes. The older cats doze more than the younger ones. They explore for soft places to nap that are warm and cozy.

7. Food Habits:

A strange meal time ritual is when a cat removes their food from their bowl and puts it on the floor. Well, after knowing why they do this it's not so strange. This helps them grind down their food into small pieces and makes it visible to which pieces are ready to be consumed.

Another strange eating habit is when a cat eats grass, or some of your favorite houseplants. This isn't to annoy you. Your cat eats these things when they have indigestion. After eating these things your cat will vomit making them feel much better.

Cats are multifarious creatures. Their behavior mainly depends on natural factors as well as on the genes and the atmosphere in which the cat develops. To really understand a cat and their behavior could take a lifetime and a fun and love filled lifetime it would be.

Cats Love to Hunt - It's in Their Genes

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Natural Cat Care picture

Natural Cat Care picture 1

Caring for your cat is easy when you try to remember her origins. Being domesticated doesn’t mean you should abandon how she would live in the wild. Cats have evolved in the wild over millennia. They have been domesticated for a mere trifle in comparison.

This means that their nutritional and emotional needs remain identical to those of their forebears. In attempting to provide the best cat care means looking at these needs.

Lets look at their nutritional needs first.

Wild cats hunt on their own. They hunt small animals, sometimes up to about their own size, but mostly smaller than themselves. They rarely eat anything other than freshly killed meat.

Contrasting this with a typical domestic cat’s diet of dried pellets and you realise how off the mark commercial pet food is. Even if dried pellets were made with the best cuts of meat (which they aren’t), the meat is still not fresh or raw.

So, if you’re trying to provide the most complete cat care, what should you feed your cat?

In my opinion, the best cat food is raw meat and bones. You can’t completely duplicate a wild cat’s diet, but you can come so close as to not compromise her health. Cat care starts with food as this is consumed daily. Something done daily has much more impact on our health than say something that only happens once a year.

Natural Cat Care picture 2

When a cat eats her prey, she will eat all the meat, including the bones. Bones are the best source of calcium for a cat. And meat can only be properly digested when it is consumed with bones. After all, all carnivores eat meat with bones.

Not only that, crunching up on bones is the best way of keeping her teeth and gums healthy, as long as they’re not too big. No dried pellets can do that as well, despite the promises on the label.

Some think that giving a cat raw meat will trigger their hunting instinct. In my experience, it does the exact opposite. Because raw meat is nutrient dense, your cat will be satisfied and won’t feel the need to supplement her diet as when fed a nutrient deficient diet.

Natural cat care also means providing your cat with her basic emotional and physical needs. Cats are intelligent and inquisitive. They need visual stimulation. This is best served by being outdoors, where nature provides an abundance of stimulation.

If it’s impossible or too dangerous to let your cat outside, do make sure she has access to safe stimulants, perhaps in the form of toys. Make sure you play with her to ensure she gets adequate exercise.

Sun is an important aspect of good cat care. Cats love the sun and it is essential to good health for all of us, not just your cat. Regular outdoor access will allow her to choose for herself. For confined cats, make sure there are times when you can open a window (safely) to allow the sun’s rays in, unhindered by glass or plastic.

Easy cat care really means allowing your cat the freedom she desires. Confining cats indoors is going against good animal husbandry,

I am also of the opinion that declawing cats is not only painfully inhumane, it deprives the cat of the natural joy of stretching. If you are considering declawing your cat, maybe you should also consider having a cat is not for you. Cats have already adapted a great deal to live with us. Putting them through an unnecessary, inhumane and painful operation is purely for your benefit, not your cats.

Cats provide us with an abundance affection, love and enjoyment. To provide even adequate cat care, we should at least do the same for them.

Persian Cat Picture

Persian Cat Picture 1

The Persian is one of the oldest cats in existence, with records of its presence dating back to times of Pharaohs in Egypt. It is generally believed though that the cat originated in Persia, now known as Iran. They were brought over to Europe centuries ago though it was not until the later half of the nineteenth century that their fame truly began to spread. In United Kingdom they are called Persian Longhairs or simply Longhairs. A felid without an established pedigree is referred to simply as Domestic Longhair Cat.

Over the years, through selected breeding the appearance of Persian cats has changed quite a bit from the time when they were first introduced to the rest of the world. Their traditional doll face has been developed into a shortened muzzle and flattened high nose. Coat has become more and more thick and long with a variety of colors and patterns include silver, gold, tabby, solid and bicolors. Body is cobby with short and strong legs and round head. Eyes are big and expressive and ears low and widely set.

Persian Cat Picture 2

Though they are highly sought for their beauty, the Persians also suffer from some health issues. Their long silky double layered coat frequently gets matted and requires regular washing, drying and combing to prevent tangles and hairballs. The modern flat-faced Persians frequently develop respiratory problems owing to their flattened nose that obstructs breathing as well as the tear ducts, meaning that their eyes and nose require daily wiping to clean away crusts. Some Persians develop Polycystic Kidney Disease as well. Responsible breeders though are making efforts to preserve the health of this splendid cat above all.

Persians are the most gentle and docile of all cats. They are very affectionate and tolerant animals who fare best in a peaceful, loving environment. It is best to keep them as indoor pets to free their long exuberant fur from parasites even as they have been occasionally reported by some to be surprisingly good hunters.

Angora Cat picture

Angora Cat picture 1

The Turkish Angora is a natural cat breed, and has resided for centuries around the city of Ankara in Turkey. It shares similarities with Turkish Van and Persian. As a matter of fact the Turkish Angora was used heavily for the development of the modern Persian. So much so that nearly all purebred cats were lost. Fortunately this beautiful cat was declared a national treasure in its native land and a dedicated breeding program was initiated. Thus the Turkish Angora was preserved and in coming years found its way to other parts of Europe. It gained recognition in United States in nineteen sixties. However, only white colors were accepted initially and it was not until a decade later that all colors except for the pointed variants were included in cat fancies.

A lithe and muscular cat, the Turkish Angora is a medium sized breed with an average weight between seven to ten pounds. Body is finely structured with a triangular head, almond shaped blue, green or amber eyes and longish ears. Coat is single in layer, silky in texture and often white in color. Other colors and patterns include black, blue, cream, red, silver, smoke, tabby and tortoiseshell.

Angora Cat picture 2

Like the Van Cat, the Angoras show fondness towards water. They have a graceful air about them and usually establish themselves as the top cat in a multi-pet household. They are healthy and active in general though there are reports of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and deafness in some lines. Occasionally kittens with a genetic neurological coordination disorder are born that pass away in infancy.

Turkish Angoras are very active and playful. They maintain their level of activity as they age. Also known for their intelligence, these felines are attention seekers and vocal. They are not shy and try to bond with strangers as they do with family members. Curious by nature, they follow their humans around everywhere, trying to take part in their every activity.

Turkish Van Cat

Turkish Van Cat picture

The Turkish Van originated from the rugged and remote parts surrounding Turkey's Lake Van centuries ago. Initially known as Turkish Cat, it was subsequently named as Turkish Van to distinguish it from Turkish Angora, another feline of Turkey with whom the former is often confused. However, the two cats have differences in their appearance and areas of origin. Even as 'Van Cat' has resided for a long time in villages and towns in its native lands, it was brought to the United States relatively recently. As a result, this breed is still somewhat rare.

A large muscular cat, Turkish Van is among the largest feline breeds, particularly in case of adult males who often cross twenty pounds in weight. Females are smaller. Coat is generally white apart from markings on head and tail, and occasionally on trunk. They can be blue, black, brown, cream and red in color and tabby or tortoiseshell in pattern. Eyes are amber, blue or odd-colored. Fur is soft like that of a rabbit, though it is dense and waterproof. It grows long in winter, with development of a neck ruff, and sheds to accommodate for the scorching summers of its native habitat. Chest and shoulders are quite broad and strong and alongside the wide pelvic girdle, add to the swagger of the cat's gait.

Perhaps the most remarkable attribute of these beautiful cats is their unparalleled fondness for water among felines. They are very fond of playing and swimming in water. Probably it is an evolutionary adaptation to the hot summer climates in their part of the world. In any case, these 'Swimming Cats' just love water, be it in a tub, sink or any natural water body.

Intelligent and active, Turkish Vans are quite playful. Like some other breeds, they are often compared to dogs owing to their affectionate attitude towards people, bright personality and tendency to play 'fetch' games with their humans.

Persian Cat Breed Origin picture

Persian Cat Breed Origin picture

There's a beautiful legend which tells that the Persian cat was created by a wizard from a sparkle, which jumped out of the fire, the shimmer of two far away stars and a curl of grey smoke. I'd say that this legend rather closely describes appearance and temperament of the Persian cat, but the real history of persian cat breed is not less interesting or less mysterious.

So how does such mutation as long hair appear in a domestic cat? None of its wild counterparts has long hair gene. Well, if only lynx and snow leopard have a slightly longer coat due to the environmental conditions of their habitat.

It's rather difficult now to investigate the origins of the long-haired cats, but most probably they are rooted in Persia, which is now called Iran. That's from where Pietro della Valle brought several long-haired cat beauties to Italy in 1620. And a few years later the scholar and naturalist Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc brought long-haired cats form Angora (now Ankara in Turkey) to France. When the first long-haired cats appeared in England (which is now called 'the second motherland of the Persian cats) they were called 'French cats'.

It's not exactly known whether those were the cats of one and the same breed. Nowadays it is the recognized fact that there existed several breeds of long-haired cats in the East. Angora cats were described as fluffy, light and active animals of a medium size, while well-known Alfred Edmund Brehm described long-haired Angora cats as big-sized and clumsy cats. He as well noted that grey and blue Angora cats were observed in the South of Siberia.

It's not easy to answer the question why the animal from hot Asian counties has got long hair, while Mother Nature usually gifted long-hair to animals from severe Northern countries.

There are several versions regarding the long-haired cats origin. Some believe that among the ancestors of the Persian cat breed there were long-haired cats form Siberia which at first got into East and Small Asia, and only then were brought to Western Europe.

Others believe that long hair was a mutation which happened to a short-haired cat in the East, which then was kept in the process of domestication and some sort of selection - thus the cats which got into Europe and Siberia were aborigineous to Eastern countries.

The third theory roots in the phenotypic differences between the Persian cats and other domestic cats. This theory suggests that massive stocky with the ears set wide, big round head are related to Pallas' Cat ( Felis manul ) otherwise known as Manul - wild cat which lives in Central Asia and has comparatively long hair, flat face with round eyes and ears set low on the head. Recent research however refutes this theory.

Such are the different Persian cat origin theories but anyway, all of them are pointing to Iran, Turkey and Afghanistan as the Persian cat native lands.

England is rightfully called the second Motherland of the Persian cats, as it were British cat fanciers who started to purposefully breed cat breeds (and primarily - Persian cat breed) in the 19th century. Although that was the time when the long-haired cats started being differentiated into Turkish Angora (long flexible body, silky but less thick coat, big pointed ears) and Persian cats (massive, with big round head and small ears), as a matter of fact only blue cats of the latter were called Persian, and all the rest were simply called 'long-haired' cats. Every of about 50 colors of long-haired cats was considered to be a separate breed. Till nowadays the Persian cat in England is not in fact called 'Persian' but rather 'long-haired', and every color variation is attributed to a separate cat breed. Also the official ruling of the British cat fanciers club regarding this issue was issued as early as 1910, the Englishmen still follow this kind of breed distinction.

The Persian cats arrived into America in the eighties of the 19th century and soon became a very popular cat breed. Unlike British clubs, in America all the color variations of the long-haired cats were attributed to one cat breed - "the Persian cat". There are lots of color variations for Persian cats but Persian show cats are limited to the following colors: solid color, shaded and smoke, tabby, particolor, bicolor.

For today we know about 150 variations of the persian cat breed and contemporary persian cat, due to the efforts of many breeders, is a work of art among the other cat breeds. New age Persian cats are quite different form their ancestors. The Persian cats of the 'old type' had a narrower face, the color variations were not so rich and the coat was not so thick and delightful. Contemporary Persian cat might have its coat as long as 10 centimeters. One could say that the contemporary persian cat is the result of selective breeding by cat breeders from different countries. Probably due to that fact there are several Persian breed standards and some of the traits are still not agreed upon.

For one, starting form the middle of the 20th century, American cat breeders's efforts were aimed at reinforcing traits peculiar to Persian breed - they were trying to breed a cat with even more massive, short body, even more round head and flat muzzle. As a result a new variation - Extreme Persian (or Peeked Faced Persian) - emerged. The first kittens of that type were born to red and red tabby persians in 1920-s. Although veterinarians believe that extreme manifestation of such traits is harmful to the animals health (specifically affecting their sinuses and breathing), and the despite the fact that British cat fanciers stand against such breeding, extreme persians are extremely popular in America and many European countries.

Contemporary persian cat became progenitor to a new breed - Exotic cat - a short-haired cat breed which has all the traits specific for the Persian cat breed with the exception of the coat length. Exotic cat is a hybrid with adorable temperament and excellent physical condition. The breed was created by American cat breeders in 1960-s. FIFe (Federation Internationale Feline) recognized the Exotic cat breed in 1984. Short (though longer than with other short-haired cat breeds) but awesome sparkly coat of the Exotic cat does not cause any problems with grooming.