Cat Breeds - Choosing The Best Breed

Which types of cats are right for you and your family? There is a large number of different cat breeds that one can choose from. Many of these breeds can easily adapt to home living, and make excellent pets for you and your children. So how do I find the best breed that is appropriate for me? Here is an excellent list of tips that you can use before making your final decision.

Quiet Or Noisy Cats
Some cat breeds can be very loud and noisy. You will want to consider this when choosing your pet cat. You and your family will need to determine if you can handle a vocal type of cat within your home, or would a quiet cat be more enjoyable. A number of cat owners don't usually have any issues with a more vocal cat, although if you live in an apartment, then you might have to reconsider choosing a loud cat. Some of the more loud or vocal types of cats include: the Korat, Siamese Cats, or the Burmese. If you are in the market for a quiet cat, then the following breeds may be more to your liking: Scottish Fold, Somali, or the American Curl.

Cuddly Or Playful
The next decision that you will want to make is to determine whether you want a cat that is more of an aloof breed or one that is more affectionate and cuddly. Some of the considerations to keep in mind are the amount of free time that you can spare. If you have a lot of available time then a cuddly cat who craves attention may be a great choice. Affectionate cuddly cats are also a great choice for those with children.

Friendliest Cat Breeds:
Maine Coon
Snowshoe
Abyssinian
Ragdoll
Tonkinese
Himalayan Persian
Less Sociable Breeds
Nebelung
Russian Shorthair
Norwegian Forest

If you are looking for a cat breed that will not get into constant mischief, and ones that can amuse themselves, then the following breeds may be a bad choice:
Siamese
Rex
Sphynx
Balinese
British Angora

These cats have a lot of energy and can be very inquisitive. These breeds are an excellent choice for someone who has a lot of free time and is home-bound. They can be a great source of entertainment; in fact the Rex can be enjoyable and silly to watch as he attempts to amuse those around him.

Other Important Features
There are also other important features that you want to look at in addition to the right temperament of the cat. An important feature to consider when choosing the right cat is whether you want a long haired or short haired breed. This is especially important to those owners who do not have a great deal of time to devote to a pet. These owners may want to opt for a short haired breed. The attraction of a fuzzy ball of fluff may look great, but grooming adult long haired cats can be very time consuming. A cat's coat of hair can tangle and matt up right down to its skin at an alarming rate if you do not provide proper grooming. If this should happen, your only choice is to have him completely shaved, which can be very traumatic. Your cat would need to be sedated, and this could pose some potential health risks.

Making The Final Choice
Having looked at the many different cat breeds and their unique features, you are now able to begin selecting your new cat. You should first ask yourself a few questions such as: should I get a baby kitten, or start with a feline that is somewhat older or even one that has been abandoned.

There are many new kittens available at various cat shows, and you might want to check out your local listings. There will more than likely be a number of cat exhibitors who are looking at selling some of their kitten litter. A great place to find an older feline would be at the humane society, or possibly the animal shelter in your town.

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Balinese Kittens - The Most Intelligent? It Could Be!

Being around since the 1920s, the Balinese kittens are a variant of the Siamese species of cat. They are an oriental breed of kitten and have been seen in the Americas. Having been bred with Siamese type, some of these litters with a longer hair have since evolved into the Balinese breed through a series of genetic mutations.
The length of the fur is a good way to tell the difference between a Balinese breed and Siamese one since Balinese cats has longer fur which is in a single layer, and not in a double layer like most other cats do. This double layer makes the other cats' coat look rougher, like a washboard. This long fur does not interfere with the grooming of the cat, luckily, since it isn't extremely long.

The bright sapphire blue eyes of the purebred version of Balinese felines will make you fall in love at first sight due to their sheer brilliance and beauty. Their ears, feet and tail would usually appear as dark spots on their furry bodies. The Lilac Point Balinese kitty has silver-blue spots just as other versions of the Balinese will have varying color combinations.

The Balinese kittens have the enviable reputation of being the most intelligent creatures amongst the variations in the Siamese breed and are usually seen to be silent. Those who are fond of peaceful moments in their homes should look to adopt this cat breed due to its silent demeanor. Unless something serious is bothering them, they are usually a silent type of cat. And even if they decide to open their mouths and utter a few meows, the sound is much gentler than other cat breeds. They can be expected to live anywhere from 18 to 21 years in a human life span. This is quite high for cats which, in general, live for an average of ten to fifteen years.

The Balinese Kitten breed is sought the world over. To learn more about this wonderful breed, please click here. Also, visit our top-notch site which contains all kinds of fun articles about kittens as well as beautiful kitty pictures at http://kitten-pictures.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stan_Beck

10 Fun Facts About Long Haired Cat Breeds

Long haired cats are known for their beauty and lustrous but labor-intensive coats. Popular breeds include the glamorous Balinese, the affectionate Himalayan, the almost dog-like Maine Coon, the water-loving Turkish Van and the quintessential Persian. If you're a lover of long haired cat breeds, keep reading for 10 fun facts about long haired cat breeds.

1. Long haired cats were first spotted in Europe in the early 16th century. The first known longhair, the Angora, was named after the Turkish city of the same name. Meanwhile, Persians weren't imported into Europe from Persia until 1620.

2. The Maine Coon is the largest domestic, non-feral cat breed and regularly grows to over 20 pounds. This hardy and robust cat originated in Maine and is known for its love of snow and unique willingness to "play fetch."

3. The Norwegian Forest Cat is another long haired breed known for its size. These winter-loving, independent and robust cats will reach up to 22 pounds and are believed to be ancestors of the popular American Maine Coon.

4. The Turkish Van is one of the oldest cat breeds and unique because of its love of water. Vans are known for enjoying the occasional swim and love to get into bathtubs, puddles and any other body of water they can find.

5. The Persian cat, a longhair, is the most popular purebred cat breed in North America. Beloved for their sweet and gentle dispositions, these cuddly felines could win their way into anyone's heart.

6. Most long haired cat breeds are known for their docile and sweet dispositions. Because so many long haired breeds, like the Himalayan and Persian, are very passive, it's important to keep these gentle and kind cats inside and safe from potential predators.

7. The Javanese, a cousin to the popular Balinese breed, is a longhaired breed known for its intelligence. Hailed by breeders and fans of the cat, the Javanese is often touted as the most intelligent feline. These frisky cats have been known to open doors, break into cupboards, and track down hidden treats in safely locked drawers.

8. The Birman, a popular Asian longhair, is believed to have sacred origins in its homeland of Burma and Thailand. The legend goes that Sinh, the first Birman cat was owned by a respected and renowned priest named Mun-Ha and was appointed guardian of the temple of Lao Tsun. The legend says that one day Mun-Ha was killed during an attack on the temple. When he died, Sinh put his feet on his fallen master and his legs turned brown like the Earth, his eyes blue like the sky and where his feet touched his master turned pure white.

9. The Cymric, a close long haired relative of the Manx, is known for its small and sometimes absent tail. This unique breed is known as "the rabbit" thanks to its bobbed tail and tufts of fur on its neck and belly. This playful breed also has a reputation for chasing anything that moves.

10. The Ragdoll, a fairly new large long haired breed, was first bred in 1960s in California. Bred specifically for their gentle personalities, the Ragdoll is often considered the gentlest breed.

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Your Guide to Cat Breeds

For the first 8,000 years of their relationship with humans, cats pretty much took care of their own breeding. People kept them for one purpose - hunting rodent - and they are already perfectly designed for that. More than 100 years ago, however, we began systematically breeding cats to appeal to our aesthetic tastes. Hair length, color, coat pattern, as well as head and leg proportions contribute to the "look" of specific breeds.
Look at enough cat bodies and faces, and you'll see two distinctly different types.

Faces are either triangular or rounded. Bodies that are lean and slender belong to the lithe oriental, or foreign breeds. Short legs supporting a broad, compact body are characteristic of a "cobby." Mixed breeds usually have an "in between" body type.

There are more than 70 distinct breeds of cats that are recognized by formal cat registries. Some registries recognize only about 40 breeds, because they exclude those such as Bengals which are hybrids of domestic and wild cats. Some "breeds" are simply variations of primary types. For example, a Balinese cat is a longer haired type of Siamese cat.

Some breeds have roots that go far back in history. The Japanese Bobtail, distinguished by a short, rabbit-like tail, can be traced more than 1,000 years. The Egyptian Mau cat retains the physical characteristics of ancient Egyptian cats found in ancient paintings.

With an elegant body that is randomly spotted, banded legs and tail, communicative eyes and an ellegant cheetah-like stride, it is no wonder that the Mau attracts such a tremendous amount of attention at shows.

Other breeds reflect new aesthetics. Ocicats and Savannah cats are wild-hybrids -- the result of breeding wild cats with domestic cats - which fill a desire for some cat lovers to have a "wild" pet. The Cornish Rex, with its soft, wavy coat and curled whiskers, is a dramatic, visual contrast to the typical smooth-coated cat. Likewise, the "hairless" Sphynx cat is a breed for the esoteric cat fancier.

Because the Sphynx cat has little hair, the cat needs to be bathed periodically. This is an easy task with a cat that has been accustomed to a bath from kittenhood.

Sometimes, cats are just "ordinary felines." "Domestic" is the veterinary term used to classify cats of unknown heritage. Cats in these categories are broken into groups as domestic short hair (DSH), domestic long hair (DLH) and domestic medium length hair (DMH). Some people classify cats based on living circumstances; house cat or alley cat, but these are not true breeds.

Hair length and texture contribute to a breed's "look, " but color is not a reliable identity factor. Black cats with white paws, belly, and chests are referred to as "tuxedo cats," but this is simply a description of coat pattern found in both domestic and "exotic" breeds. Tortoiseshell and calico coated cats are sometimes referred to as "ginger," "marmalade," or "orange tabby" cats, making them sound like specific breeds. In reality, they are just descriptors, much like "green-eyed Asian" or "brown-eyed European." While it is true that some cat breeds only come in one hue (Russian Blues and Korats only show gray) most breeds display a range of coat color and pattern.

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Asian Cat Breeds

I would like to share with you today the cat breeds of Asia. The cats of Asia are unique breeds both natural and developed types. They have their own markings and and personalities. Some of the breeds date back to ancient times when a cat was worshiped like a god.

The Balinese is a longhair mutation of the Siamese. The Balinese has a long silky coat, plumed tail and Siamese markings. The Balinese's coat is white or cream colored with grey, blue, lilac or chocolate points. The Balinese is intelligent, alert, curious and fun loving.

The Birman, originally from Burma, was a sacred companion of the priests. The Birman is a large, long stocky cat with silky hair. Its' coat is light with darker points and white feet. The Birman is gentle, active and playful.
The Colorpoint Shorthair is a hybrid of the Siamese. The Colorpoint is very similar to the Siamese with a white or cream coat but has 4 times the point colors. The Colorpoint produces low levels of dander making it a good choice for someone with cat allergies.

The Japanese Bobtail is a symbol of good luck in Japan. Originally from China, the Japanese Bobtail has been around for centuries as shown in ancient paintings. The tail is the unique feature of the cat. The Japanese Bobtail is friendly, active and intelligent.

Named for the island next to Bali, the Javanese is identical to the size of the Balinese but differs in coat color. The Javanese is highly intelligent and easily adaptable to its' surroundings.

Considered a symbol of good luck in Thailand, the Korat (or Si-Sawat) is a rare breed of cat. The Korat is known for its' green eyes and keen sense of hearing, sight and scent. Its' coat is silver blue and multi-layered. Pricing of a Korat depends on its' bloodline and show history.

The Oriental is a very curious and intelligent cat. The Oriental's coat is fine and silky and can be over 300 different colors. The Oriental's body is sleek with a whippy tail. The Oriental is very loyal.

Originally from Singapore, the Singapura is a small shorthaired cat with large eyes and ears. Its' light beige coat is unique. The Singapura can have hazel, green or yellow eyes. The Singapura is intelligent, curious and playful.

Native to the mountains of Lake Van in Turkey, the Turkish Van is a desired breed due to its' rarity. Its' coat is white with semi- long hair. Its' eyes can be amber, blue or one amber, one blue. Unlike most other cats, they love the water.

Probably the best known of the Asian cats is the Siamese. Originally from Thailand (formerly known as Siam), the Siamese can be found in most parts of the world. The Siamese have short silky coats with almond shaped eyes. The light coat with dark points make them easily recognizable. The Siamese is intelligent, curious and loving.

When considering a cat for a pet, you may want to explore the attributes of the Asian cats. You can view pictures of the Asian cats at petside.com.

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Cat Breeds

When you decide to get a cat for a pet, then there will surely be a number of things that you will have to consider. One of these pertains to cat breeds. This is because there are various cat breeds in the market, and choosing amongst the many choices can be confusing altogether. Thus, it would be better do some research on the different cat breeds so that you can choose the best one for your family. This is because cat breeds do differ in terms of shapes, sizes, and demeanor.

One of the popular breeds is the Abyssinian, also known as the Aby cat. If you want to have a playful cat, then you should consider this breed because the Aby cat is very energetic and has quite the personality. The great thing about this cat is that it is also very loyal to its owner and it is also very attentive.

Another popular breed is the Balinese cat. Back in the day, the Balinese is known as the Longhaired Siamese cat simply because the markings on Balinese cats are quite the same as that of the Siamese breed. The only difference is that the tail of the Balinese is actually more plumed in appearance. If you want a cat that is particularly attentive to you, then you should consider getting the Balinese because it does not feel any inhibition about giving attention to its owner. This is because the Balinese also enjoys having the attention of its owner. And since this cat is particularly energetic, make sure to leave it with a chew toy or a plaything when you go off to work. This way, your cat will be able to keep himself entertained.

The Manx is another breed that deserves mention. In appearance, you will definitely say that the Manx is just like any other cat. However, do not be surprised to see a Manx that does not have any tail. Because of certain mutations in this breed's spine, most Manx cats have very short tails, and some do not have any tail at all. Moreover, if you want to get a cat that you and your family can play fetch with, then the Manx is definitely the breed to get.

These are just some of the top cat breeds that dominate families today. If you are still not too sure which breed to go with, you can ask the help of your vet. This way, your very can help you decide which breed is the best for your family.

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Adopting Kittens - Balinese Appearance and Personality

The Balinese is an oriental breed of cat with long hair and a Siamese look. They have a medium-length silky coat and a plumed tail. They are not nearly as fluffy as a Himalayan and require much less grooming.

The following physical description is given for you to use as informational tips for deciding if this breed of cat is right for you and your lifestyle.

Physical Description:

• Long, fine, silky coat that covers its long, hard, tubular body

• The coat ends in a plume tail with no appearance of a ruff around the neck

• When you first see a Balinese, your first thought might be, this is a Siamese cat

• The Balinese cat comes in four colors that are seal point (dark brown) chocolate point, blue point and lilac point

• Color is restricted to the points of the cat, which are the tail, the feet, the mask (entire face) and the ears

• The head is a long, tapering wedge that starts at the nose and flares out in straight lines to the tips of the ears and forms a triangle

• The ears are large and flared following the wedge

• There should be no breaks at the whiskers

• Balinese breed of cats have very striking deep blue eyes

• They are a medium size cat with males ranging from 6 to 8 pounds and females ranging from 5 to 7 pounds

• The most distinctive feature is the luxurious tail plume

The following personality description is given for you to use as informational tips for deciding if this breed of cat is right for you and your lifestyle.

Personality

• Balinese cats are very intelligent, however, less talkative than their Siamese ancestors

• Active

• Social

• They like being included in the everyday lives of their family or owners

• They can learn to play fetch

• They care capable of jumping very high

• The Balinese love attention and are very playful

Balinese cats were originally registered as longhaired Siamese with examples known from the early 1920s. The Balinese name comes from a breeder who first started raising them. Her name was Helen Smith. She felt they showed grace and beauty like Balinese dancers. Today there are two entirely separate strands of Balinese cats. Some owners prefer a traditional or apple headed Balinese. Breeders and judges tend to prefer a more contemporary appearance.

The following are grooming tips to help you decide whether or not the Balinese breed of cat is right for you and/or your family and lifestyle.

• The Balinese has a long, fine and silky coat with not much undercoat, therefore, they shed very little hair

• The coat does not mat

• Little grooming is actually required for the pet Balinese

• Occasional brushing and a bath when it appears necessary for the pet

• Grooming for the show cat involves bathing the cat as close to the show as possible, preferably the night before.

• Cat's nails should be trimmed before the bath

• Type of shampoo varies according to what works best for the cat you own, so will take some experimenting most likely with different kinds of shampoo

Who is this cat just right for? Families, singles and elderly people able to play with the cat as this is a very playful breed that may not like just perching in one spot all day. The Balinese is active, so be prepared to be active with this type of cat.

Follow the link in the resource box of this article to find pictures and more information about many different breeds of cats.

Written by: Connie Limon. Visit "Adopting Kittens" at http://smalldogs2.com/AdoptingKittens to find a complete online reference for choosing and caring for the perfect kitten, which matches you and your lifestyle. Learn about litter box training at http://smalldogs2.com/LitterBoxTraining

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

Copyright © 2008 Connie Limon

Written by: Connie Limon. Visit "Adopting Kittens" at http://smalldogs2.com/AdoptingKittens to find a complete online reference for choosing and caring for the perfect kitten, which matches you and your lifestyle. Learn about litter box training at http://smalldogs2.com/LitterBoxTraining Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Connie_Limon