What breed is my cat?
Unlike dogs which are often 2-5 distinct breeds when you adopt or buy a mix, most rescued cats are not 1 or 2 or 5 breeds but tend to be closer to 15-20. Dogs have been domesticated and split into separate breeds for longer, and most dog breeds were bred for a rigid look, purpose, and personality. Contrasting that, most cat breeds were bred for looks first and personality last. Many cat breeds started because someone picked up a unique kitten from a barn and decided to breed for that kitten's traits, whether it's multiple toes or a special fur texture or a pretty color. As a result, most cats have a bit of nearly every breed lurking in them. Because of this, we have blue cats that are not Russian Blues, white cats with dark noses and tails that are not Siamese or Ragdolls, and longhair tabbies that are not Maine Coons.
With cat enthusiasts, a cat without papers can only be a moggie, which is a fancy word for a mutt-cat. In the United States we call them Domestic Shorthairs, Domestic Mediumhairs, and Domestic Longhairs. Either way, if your cat did not come with papers stating a specific breed, your cat is not of any particular breed but of many. It doesn't matter what the shelter said, what the "breeder" said, what the friend who gave the cat to you said. If there are no papers, your cat has no breed. This keeps people from picking up a random blue kitten off the streets, breeding it with another blue cat, and selling the kittens as "Russian Blues".
In addition, most moggies aren't just 2 or 3 breeds. Purebred (and papered) cats are expensive, some even moreso than dogs, especially the wildcat hybrids (Bengals, Savannahs, Caracats, etc). An F1 (first generation, 50% Serval 50% cat) Savannah can cost more than $5000! That's more than even most show dogs! Because of the huge price, people with actually papered cats tend to follow the breeder's orders and spay/neuter their pets. If they do end up mixing breeds, it's usually to create another breed and called by another name than just combining the two (Sphynx x American Curl = Elf Cat, unlike Poodle x Lab = Labradoodle). And these kittens aren't sold to some Joe Public off the street for $5, these also would have a large pricetag and be sold to homes that are interested in continuing the breed.
Also remember, a lot of people mislabel cat breeds because they're going by coat or color! A blue kitten is not a Russian Blue, it's just a blue kitten. A longhaired tabby is not a Maine Coon, it's just a tabby with longer fur. A lot of people even get mixed up and call Domestic Shorthairs "American Shorthairs". Each individual breed has specific characteristics which help identify them from other breeds, and a lot of people only look at one trait and say "my cat is this".
So what breed of cat do you have? If you have to ask that question, it's probably a moggie. But that's okay! Moggies come in a huge variety of colors, coats, shapes, and sizes! They have a wide range of personalities and they can be as shortlived as 12yrs or as longlived as 20+! Some moggies are playful and loving just like a dog, others are "typical cat" and only want affection when they ask for it.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest