The domestication of cats has been estimated between 8000 to 12000 years ago – though many would argue that we did not ‘domesticate’ cats – rather, they graciously allowed us to feed and shelter them. Domestication coincides with human agricultural endeavours; our grain storage attracted the mice and rats, which in turn attracted wild cats looking for a quick meal.
Our bond with cats has not been all smooth sailing, popularity for felines grew early on and they were even worshiped in Egypt as gods, however in the middle ages their popularity then declined – especially in Europe where they became associated with witches and the devil and were even persecuted alongside alleged witches. It was not until plagues carried mostly by rodents, began to strike – did we again find value in having a good mouse catching cat around. Cats became popular indoor house-hold pets closer to the mid 1900’s when an Edward Lowe accidently invented kitty litter using clay as a by-product from a different business adventure, previously people had used sand and ashes from the hearth, but these materials did not help with the odour that the clay kitty litter did.
Fast forward to present day, and we have approximately 3.9 million cats in Australia alone. We have many breeders and associations dedicated to developing breeds and maintaining responsible breeding standards and preserving some of our weird and wonderful breeds. Some of those associations include the CFA (Cat Fanciers Association), TICA (The International Cat Association), The World Cat Federation, and our very own ACF (Australian Cat Federation). Most of these associations recognise 40 to 80 cat breeds! Here are some of our more unusual and fascinating breeds.
Maine Coon
The Maine coon cat originated in America as a large long-haired cat, first recognised as a specific breed in – you guessed it – Maine. They were very popular in the early 20th century, however as more long-haired breeds of cats were introduced to America, they dwindled in number and even at one point – popular belief was that they were extinct! Lucky for us – and them, this was not the case.
These cats were a favourite to keep around as good mousers, especially around shipping docks where the mice and rats were naturally attracted and were often found in and around boats, this may be why this particular breed is generally quite fond of playing in and around water. As they had originated from a cold climate, they use their long and fluffy tails to wrap around their body like their very own scarf to keep warm. Maine Coon cats can also be ‘polydactyl’ meaning they can have extra toes! It is believed that the extra digits added width to their paws, making walking in snow just that bit easier for them and giving them the nickname ‘snow shoe cat’.
Lykoi
The Lykoi cat is a relatively new breed of cat, its name is of Greek origin, roughly translating to ‘Wolf’, it is often referred to as the ‘Werewolf’ cat. A natural mutation causes this partial hairless look – specifically around the eyes, chin and legs, giving them that classic ‘Werewolf’ appearance. DNA testing has ruled out any relations to the Sphynx and Devon breeds as well as any hair loss due to disease or infection. This mutation has occurred over the last 20 years and its origin appears to come from average, domestic cats.
Not only do they have a dog-like appearance, they are known to exhibit some of those behaviours also, these cats are fun-loving and active, they mostly prefer running and chasing over snuggles. The CFA (Cat Fanciers Association) have newly added the Lykoi to their recognised breeds, meaning these fascinating cats will be allowed to compete/ show in 2018 – so we hope to see a lot more of them in the near future!
Turkish Van
The Turkish Van is believed to have originated from Turkey in the Lake Van region, but was also found in neighbouring countries – eventually migrating to central Europe. The cats were bred in England by breeders who imported many of their cats from Turkey, from there cats began to move to America where they were eventually recognised as a breed by TICA in 1985. When a survey was completed in 1992 of the Lake Van area, it revealed that there were actually very few of the cats left in their native region; the government then took steps to protect them and the Turkish Van is now rarely exported to other countries.
While the Turkish Van come in several colour variations – including red, cream, black, blue and tabby, the colour is always restricted to the top of the head and the full tail, the rest of the cat’s body is white. They have a very soft, medium length coat, with a long haired tail and their coat is water resistant. This cat has also been known to have two different coloured eyes, often one blue and one amber, or two different shades of blue.
The Turkish Van is a very active breed, they love to run and can be trained to perform tricks and walk on a lead, owners have reported that fetch is a favourite past time. These cats are also well known for liking water, people would often watch them swim from the shores of Lake Van and it is believed that they did this to catch fish and to cool off in the hot summer months!
Sphynx
The very first Sphynx was born in Canada, this was a hairless kitten called “Prune” who was born to a Domestic Short haired mother. These cats were then inter-bred from a small gene pool to develop the desired characteristics at the time – mainly little to no hair.
Though these cats are often described as ‘hairless’, they actually do have very fine, downy hair on their body, often most obviously on the bridge of their nose, muzzle, tail, ears and feet. Despite their almost hairless body, this does not guarantee that people with allergies will not still react, as the Sphynx cat still produces Fel d1, an allergenic protein in cat saliva and skin secretions. They are often quite wrinkly when born and should retain most of those wrinkles into adulthood, most obvious wrinkles are around the face and neck. As the skin still produces oil, due to the lack of coat to disperse this, this cat does require bathing to avoid a build up of oil.
Don’t be fooled by their lack of hair – these guys still love cuddles! They are sociable, loving and playful.
Scottish Fold
The first Scottish fold was born into a litter of farm cats in Scotland, the breed was developed from a white cat called “Susie”, who was born with a mutation that affected the cartilage in her ears – causing them to ‘fold’ down. The breed was further developed using crosses with British and American short hairs, though the Scottish Fold’s particular look is not dominated by either of these, but could be placed somewhere between the two looks. The Scottish Fold was granted championship status in 1978 by the CFA and has become quite the popular pet.
These guys are born with straight ears and at 3 to 4 weeks of age the ears begin to fold, however you can have ‘straights’ that carry the gene but their ears do not fold. Generally by 11 weeks a breeder can judge the quality of the ‘fold’ for showing purposes. The voices of these cats are very quiet and they are not known to be not very vocal at all. The Scottish fold is an affectionate cat that is known to adapt easily into multi pet households, busy lives, or can quite happily settle into the single person’s life style.
Cornish Rex & Devon Rex
The Cornish Rex originated in Cornwall in England and the first kitten was discovered in a littler of barn cats. This lone kitten was bred back to his mother and the breed was eventually further developed with Burmese, Siamese and the British Domestic Shorthair.
These cats have a short and curly coat that is very soft, they are not known to shed very much, however still cannot be classed as hypoallergenic. They have angular faces, large ears and with a deep chest and arched back – often being described as the whippet of cats. The Cornish Rex is known to be quite affectionate, but they are also fairly active and often use their paws to toss objects around during play.
The Devon Rex has similar history to the Cornish Rex, only the first kittens were discovered in Devonshire in England. The breed has been developed with slightly different characteristics that you can see physically and also shines through in their personalities. The Devon Rex is often affectionately referred to as the ‘Pixie cat’ due to its large ears, small face and mischievous disposition. The Devon Rex is very affectionate and social, so this breed is not suited to being left alone for long periods of time. They are at their happiest if they can be where ever you are, following you around, eating with you, sleeping with you, or hitching a ride on your shoulder to supervise you!
Domestic Shorthair, aka, DSH, Ally Cat, House Cat, Common Cat or Moggy
Often described to us as ‘just a domestic shorthair’, this cat is not ‘just’ a cat, it is ‘THE’ cat. These guys likely came over to Australia via boat with the European settlers, helping to reduce the rodent population on board.
These guys can come in any colour (and there are many) and they come with all kinds of personalities and quirks. Letting a DSH into your home is like having a cat lucky dip. Several of the breeds mentioned above started out from the humble DSH, so we would not have some of these breeds without them.
So thankyou Domestic Shorthairs, you may not be as fancy as some cats, but we definitely still love you!