American Shorthair

          The American Shorthair is the pedigreed version of the well-known and beloved domestic shorthair. This versatile cat can be bred for any number of colors and patterns, including the popular silver tabby.

Breed Characteristics 

Adaptability	5 stars	Energy Level	3 stars	Shedding Level	3 stars
Affection Level	5 stars	Grooming	1 star	Social Needs	4 stars
Child Friendly	4 stars	Health Issues	3 stars	Stranger Friendly	3 stars
Dog Friendly	5 stars	Intelligence	3 stars

         Most of us have either lived with or come across a domestic shorthair, a cat that closely resembles the pedigreed American Shorthair. The one difference between the two breeds: Unlike domestic shorthairs, which come in a variety of looks, the American Shorthair produces kittens with the same distinct appearance.

         The American Shorthair is an easygoing and tolerant cat who takes life as it comes — preferably while perched on a sunny windowsill where he can indulge in his favorite hobby of bird-watching. If he’s well socialized as a kitten, he’ll happily interact with guests — toddlers should be supervised, so they don’t tug on his whiskers or tail — as well as cat-friendly canine companions.

Other Quick Facts

• The American Shorthair’s easy-care coat comes in more than 80 colors and patterns.
• This is a medium-sized, muscular cat: American Shorthairs weigh between six and 15 pounds — and females tend to be on the smaller side.
• American Shorthairs are friendly, adaptable family companions who can live up to 20 years.

Picture of the Americans Shorthair

Reference : http://www.vetstreet.com/cats/american-shorthair#overview

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The Persian

The squishy-faced, long haired Persian cat is one of the most popular cat breeds in the world, not only due to their beautiful appearance but also for their quiet, calm temperaments. The Persian is not one of the most active cats as a general rule, and will be quite happy to be stroked and receive attention on a regular basis from a thoughtful child. As your child gets older, you can also enlist them to help with brushing and grooming your Persian cat to keep them in tiptop condition.

Picture of the Persian

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Abyssinian

A love of heights is a signal trait of the Abyssinian. He likes to be as high up as possible and will appreciate having one or more ceiling-height cat trees

Abyssinian Cat History

          Although many believe the Abyssinian to be direct descendent of the sacred cat of Egypt, the exact origin of the breed is obscure. Certainly, there is a strong resemblance between the modern Abyssinian and the cat depicted in ancient Egyptian bronzes, paintings and the agouti coated cats found buried in the tombs, with the lithe long body large ears and long tail. The Abyssinian shape and distinctive coat however also bears a striking similarly to the African Wild cats. The first registration of the breed appeared in English studbooks in 1896. The earliest identifiable Abyssinian can be found in the Leiden Museum in Holland. The label reads "domestica India", indicating the origin to the same area. More recent studies have indicated the coast of Indian Ocean between Singapore and Ceylon to be the "homeland" of the Abyssinian Tabby colour pattern - Abyssinians are one of the oldest breeds and they are possibly the closest to a natural breed of all the purebred cats in the world.

Abyssinian Cat Appearance

          The overall impression of the ideal Abyssinian would be of foreign build, not as extreme as the Siamese not as rounded as the Burmese but somewhere in between. The Abyssinian is an extremely beautiful and colourful cat with a distinct agouti ticked coat. It is this agouti ticking (flecking) that gives the Abyssinian this rather special "wild cat " look. It is of medium size, lithe, very regal in appearance, hard and muscular showing eager activity and lively interest in its surroundings. Watching an Abyssinian lope across the room invokes images of a wild hunting cat, swift and capable.

Abyssinian Cat Personality

           The Abyssinian is an affectionate intelligent cat, very people orientated, extremely active and a cat that thrives on interaction and play. They are not constant lap cats, rather, they need to know what you are doing; like to help you make a telephone call; read your newspaper or make your bed, in fact they insist on being included in all family activities as a right. Whatever it is, an Abyssinian has to be totally involved. Abyssinians are not always ideal for every one so if this higher level of activity will annoy you then a quieter breed should be sort.

Abyssinian General Health.   

            Abyssinians are generally a healthy breed, and depending on their life style will live well into their teens. As with all cats they should be kept indoors in order for them to avoid many of the contagious and fatal diseases easily transmitted from the stray population. Vaccinations should always be kept up to date and routine checks should be made regularly. The first sign of any illness should be attended to promptly by a veterinarian. 
             Many felines are prone to gingivitis, as are some Abyssinians. Incorrect diet is often the main contributor, start by feeding kittens raw chicken wings and necks at a very early age. This will exercise the gums and prevent tartar from forming on the teeth. 
             The kidney disorder "Renal Amyloidosis:" has been associated with the Abyssinian cat and is thought to be genetic. This disorder often results in kidney failure and the cat's prognosis is often poor. This disease is also seen in many other breeds of cats but unfortunately, some veterinarians incorrectly label it as purely an Abyssinian disease. Only a few breeding lines are likely to produce kittens with Renal Amyloidosis, so this should not deter the public from buying an otherwise relatively sound breed. Responsible breeders will do their utmost to avoid perpetuating health problems, so it is important when purchasing a kitten to chose a reputable breeder and one with whom you can discuss all aspects of the Abyssinian including health matters. 

Picture of Abyssinian

 

How does Cats Jump Higher Than Dogs?

       Cats definitely rule in jumping exercises when compared with dogs — or humans.The average dog can only jump about one body length high, with breed and size (and personal skill) determining exactly how high he can jump. Humans aren’t even that good at  jumping — we can only jump straight up in the air a little over one and a half feet on average. So how high can a cat jump on average? A young, healthy cat is capable of jumping five or six times his body length in one huge leap.

How Do They Do It?

       According to Animal Planet, cats owe their unique jumping talents to their strong leg and back muscles. Also contributing to their acrobatic finesse is their good calculating skills. First, a cat will push off with great strength, testing the sturdiness of the take-off point with his hind legs. Next, he sizes up the distance from point A to point B and figures out how much hind leg force is needed to make a successful plunge. Cats usually land on their front paws and pull their hind legs in. Their flexible shoulders, along with their solid feet, ankles, and wrists absorb the brunt of the landing. Their padded paws serve as mini shock absorbers.

 What is  cats ?

   

           The domestic cat (Felis catus or Felis silvestris catus) is a small, usually furry, domesticated, and carnivorous mammal. They are often called a housecat when kept as an indoor pet, or simply a cat when there is no need to distinguish them from otherfelids and felines. Cats are often valued by humans for companionship, and their ability to hunt vermin and household pests.

          Cats are similar in anatomy to the other felids, with strong, flexible bodies, quick reflexes, sharp retractable claws, and teeth adapted to killing small prey. Cat senses fit a crepuscular and predatory ecological niche. Cats can hear sounds too faint or too high in frequency for human ears, such as those made by mice and other small animals. They can see in near darkness. Like most other mammals, cats have poorer color vision and a better sense of smell than humans.

         Despite being solitary hunters, cats are a social species, and cat communication includes the use of a variety of vocalizations (mewing,purring, trilling, hissing, growling, and grunting), as well as cat pheromones, and types of cat-specific body language.

         Cats have a high breeding rate. Under controlled breeding, they can be bred and shown as registered pedigree pets, a hobby known ascat fancy. Failure to control the breeding of pet cats by neutering, and the abandonment of former household pets, has resulted in large numbers of feral cats worldwide, requiring population control.

         Since cats were cult animals in ancient Egypt, they were commonly believed to have been domesticated there, but there may have been instances of domestication as early as the Neolithic from around 9500 years ago (7500 BC).A genetic study in 2007 concluded that domestic cats are descended from African wildcats (Felis silvestris lybica), having diverged around 8000 BC in West Asia. Cats are the most popular pet in the world, and are now found in almost every place where humans live.