Abyssinian

 Thought to be a direct descendant of the sacred cats

worshipped by the Egyptians.
 Reputation as the clown of the cat kingdom
 Very playful
 Medium-length hair with 2 or 3 dark bands of ticking
 Medium-long body, graceful, well developed muscular
strength
 Colors: ticked or agouti; coat comes from combination of
colors on each hair shaft.
 Medical Concerns: Prone to Gingivitis, Tooth Decay,
Amyloidosis (hereditary kidney disease)

American Shorthair

 May have been brought on the Mayflower; Became working

cats in fields and barns
 Look a lot like random-bred domestic cats.
 Solidly built cat. Medium in size, build and temperament.
 Colors: Solid, Particolors, shaded and smoke colors, tabby
patterns (tortoise shell, calico)
 Medical Concerns: Cardiomyopathy

Birman

 Known as the sacred cat of Burma; Originated in Burma

(Now Mayanmar).
 Gentle & affectionate; Large, stocky and has long, silky
coat that doesn’t mat.
 Carries itself with poise and wears a pale colored coat,
dark face, ears, tail and legs with white gloves. Sapphire
blue eyes, born from a famous legend that explains their
eye color.
 Color: Color-pointed coat with long, silky hair and 4
white feet. Kittens are born all white and develop colors
on the points, with shading on legs developing even
later.
 Medical Concerns: Hairballs

Burmese

 Playful, very smart and interactive cats

 Have a raspy voice
 Medium sized with short, sath-like coat
 European and contemporary versions. European has a
longer muzzle, narrower head and more colors.
Contemporary has a shorter, broader muzzle and
broader, rounder head.
 Colors: Blue, Sable, Platinum, Champagne
 Medical Concerns: None 
Cornish Rex

 Coat is curly and similar to the fur of a Rex rabbit.

 Completely lacks guard hairs; soft awn hairs form a
tight, uniform wave that lies close to the body.
 Long and slender torso, back is arched, head is small
and long, have a roman nose, ears are large and erect,
eyes are large and round
 Colors: All color patterns; “Si-Rex” is the unofficial
name for cats with Siamese coloring and pattern.
 Medical Concerns: Hypotrichasis

Devon Rex
 Guard hairs are fragile. Has large eyes and short
muzzle.
 Colors: all colors and patterns
 Medical Concerns: Myopathy

Exotic Shorthair
 Cross of the American shorthair and Persian to
improve body type and to introduce the silver Persian
color. Quiet, mellow personality. Must continue to
breed back to Persians to maintain body type and
coat.
 Persian body type (cobby) without the long, easily
matted fur; Brachycephalic (breathing problems)
 Colors: All Persian colors and patterns
 Medical Concerns: Feline Polycystic Kidney Disease

Himalayan
 Gentle and sweet, playful. Cross between
Siamese and Persian. Has long hair of Persian
and color point pattern of Siamese. Considered a
variety of the Persian breed.
 Large, cobby-shaped body; short legs, blue eyes,
long-haired coat, brachycephalic (breathing
problems)
 Colors: color point pattern
 Medical Concerns: Feline Polycystic Kidney
Disease & Hairballs
Maine Coon
 Considered native to America. There are many
legends about its origin. They have a long, lush tail
and the tendency to wet food before they eat it.
 Playful and loving, likes to play with water. One of
the largest domestic breeds. Males can be 12-18 #,
females can be 10-14#. Takes 3-4 years to become
adult size. Heavy, all weather coat.
 Colors: Brown tabby is most common but can be any
color except for the pointed pattern.
 Medical Concerns: Feline Hypertrophic
Cardiomyopathy, Spinal Muscular Atrophy and Hip
Dysplasia

Ocicat
 Cross of Siamese and Abyssinian. Highly
intelligent and playful, can be taught tricks.
Bonds with one person, very vocal. Long bodied
and muscular.
 Colors: have leopard like spots, unknown how
they were produced. Coat is agouti pattern and
they come in many colors.
 Medical Concerns: Gingivitis

Oriental
 Siamese cross-bred with domestic shorthair,
Abyssinians, Russian blues. Bred with Siamese body,
but a variety of colors. (Siamese have blue eyes and
pointed pattern only). Long and short hair, energetic,
haughty attitude, bond with one person, very vocal.
Siamese body, long and muscular.
 Colors: Wide variety
 Medical Concerns: Feline Hypertrophic
Cardiomyopathy

Persian
 Imported from Europe in the 1800’s. Quiet, docile,
“furniture with fur”, affectionate and love attention.
Require significant amount of grooming, need daily
brushing. Often, part near rear is clipped to prevent
matting
 Brachycephalic (breathing problems), weepy eyes,
heavy-boned, cobby-shaped body, short legs, long
and thick coat.
 Colors: Many; Seven color patterns, Himalyan
included.
 Medical Concerns: Urinary Bladder stones
  Maybe imported from Russia. Appear to be
smiling; Have a reserved personality. Dislike
change, picky about litter box. Long, muscular,
medium length muzzle, plush double coat.
 Colors: Blue with green eyes. Guard hairs are
tipped in silver.
 Medical Concerns: PRA & HC

Scottish Fold

 From Scotland. Ears curl forward. Carries

skeletal deformities. Born with straight ears, not
prone to ear infections. Medium sized, short
coat.
 Colors: All colors and patterns
 Medical Concerns: Osteochondrodysplasia

Siamese

 One of the oldest breeds of domestic cats.

Originated in Thailand. Were thought to carry
the souls of royalty on their way to the afterlife.
Known for kinked tail, crossed eyes (both
disqualifications in show ring), and being very
vocal. Long cats with fine bones and firm
muscles. Long, tapering head with large, pointed
ears and blue eyes. Short, glossy coat.
 Colors; Point pattern in seal, blue, chocolate and
lilac point. Born white and develop point colors
later; blue eyes.

Russian Blue
  Cross between Siamese and Burmese. Vocal like
Siamese and affectionate.
 Medium sized cat with well developed
musculature. Medium-short coat.
 Colors: solid (like Burmese), pointed (like
Siamese), mink (combination of both). Aqua
colored eyes.
 Medical Concerns: Gingivitis

Ragdoll

 Large, laid back, semi-long haired cats with blue

eyes. Pointed breed. Altered males are 15-20#,
females are 10-15#. They reach full coat color at
2 years and full size at 4 years (slow maturing).
More interested in humans than most cats. They
follow you, sleep with you, and play fetch. They
have a floppy body.
 Medical Concerns: Feline Hypertrophic
Cardiomyopathy, Polycystic Kidney Disease
(PKD)

Tonkinese