Cat Breeds of the World: Asia
By Vanessa Tolentino
Cat Breeds of the world: Asia! One of my favourite books as a kid was “Cat Breeds of the World” by Patty Cutts. As a child I wasn’t allowed pets, so I tried to read every cat related book I could get my hands on to prove that I would be a good owner. I remember flipping through the pages, memorizing facts about every cat that was listed. Suffice to say, I was destined to become a cat person. My nicknames for people were based on different cat breeds, using the first letter of their name and matching it with a breed. To this day, I still have somewhat of an encyclopedic knowledge of cat breeds from all around the world. Here’s a few awesome breeds!
1.Siamese:
Siamese cats are some of the most iconic Asian breeds. Originating from Thailand, they became popular in the 19th century. Featured in Disney’s The Lady and the Tramp, they are known for their cream coloured fur, distinct pointed colouring and blue eyes. Siamese cats are very social kitties and love to entertain! They are often thought to be chatty kitties with a distinct meow. It’s never a dull moment with a Siamese around! Many other breeds of cat have been derived from the Siamese, including some of the other breeds I discuss below!
2.Oriental Shorthair:
Oriental Shorthairs might be some of the strangest looking cats around! They are known for having very long limbs, big ears and long faces. Although they may look like they are from outer space, they are actually very closely related to Siamese cats! Unlike their relatives, they do not have the same fur patterns and can come in tabby, smoke and solid, just to name a few!
3.Korat:
Korats are known for their silver fur and big green eyes. Korats are one of the oldest natural cat breeds, meaning they have naturally changed in appearance over time without human intervention. They are another breed that originates from Thailand and are thought to bring good luck. There are very specific requirements to be accepted as a Korat breed. Their fur must be blue with silver tips, but there are variations of Korat-type cats with pointed, lilac and lilac pointed fur. Korats have exceptional memory and grow very attached to their owners.
4.Japanese Bobtail:
Originating from Japan and South East Asia, Japanese Bobtails are obviously known for their short rabbit like tails. They are a playful breed that are extremely loyal and intelligent. Bobtails are capable of learning tricks and playing fetch. Many
Japanese Bobtail cats will enjoy being walked with a harness. Throughout Japanese history, Bobtails have been featured in folklore. Have you ever seen a maneki neko? Maneki Neko’s are the little figures of a cat waving its paw that greets. These are based off of Japanese Bobtails
5.Bengal:
The Bengal is known for its iconic spotted fur pattern, which appears to be similar to that of a cheetah or jaguar(Also known as a Rosette pattern). The Bengal cat is the only domesticated cat breed to have such spots. Bengal cats can also have marbled fur patterns. They enjoy playing in water and known to be very energetic! Bengals were intentionally bred to have the markings of a wild cat. Jean Mill was the first to breed modern day Bengals and is credited to have created the breed itself.
You can discover all the breeds of the world
here
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